Thursdays at Reynolda Gardens

This may be a new trend.  I went to Reynolda Gardens on Thursday again.  It has cooled down a little this week, and this time I went after work.  Of course I would go every day if I could!  Maybe I can just move into the play house.

Lots of butterflies today!  I even saw a Monarch, but it was too fast for me.

Common Buckeye

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Some kind of cool drangonfly.  Blue Dasher I think.

Early Morning at Reynolda Gardens

One thing I used to do years ago was go to Reynolda Gardens before work, so I decided to do this Thursday morning, since the days have been so hot.  When I got there the sprinklers were on.  Oh yeah, now I remember!  They weren't on everywhere, but the ground was wet pretty much everywhere.  My feet got soaked, but I did not care, it was so nice.  And I saw some of these:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

And the water made for some pretty cool pics:

This is my fave.  I used the florescent white balance.  I love the blue tones.  Part of my homework for a year-long online (free) photography class called 'A Year with My Camera'.  It's pretty cool, check it out sometime.  I used the MCON-P01 macro converter on this one.  Not sure if they make these any more, I found one the other day for a pretty decent price and ordered it.  The one I have is kind of old, and has some scratches, but still works good.  I'll be curious to see if there is a difference with the new one. 

Better Late Than Never?

So I am going to pick up where I left off - almost 7 years ago!  Let's just say sometimes life circumstances take over, and not always in a good way.  Anyway, I'm back and excited to get out there again.  I have taken some pictures on and off, but not like I used to.  One thing that happened in my absence was that I got a new camera, an Olympus OM-D E-M5.  A great camera I am sure, but I never really got to know it like my E-PL1.  So this past week-end I decided to go back and try the E-PL1 again, and there was that old spark!  I don't have any new butterfly pics yet, but here is one I did take with the E-M5 5 years ago.  This one was featured in 'Explore' on Flickr, so that was pretty exciting for me.

Monarch at Reynolda Gardens

Reynolda Gardens - Bonus Coverage!

Today was such a nice day, and I finished my lunch early (Malay - yum!) so I decided to take a quick trip to Reynolda Gardens.  I didn't have my "fancy" camera with me today, but I had my little pink Sony Cybershot, the one that started it all. :)

 Common Buckeye

 Painted Lady

Viceroy - I was pretty excited about this one.  I have never seen one, or if I did I didn't pay much attention and thought it was a Monarch.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

It was a rough week, but as soon as I got to RG Friday after work I felt instantly better!

Eastern Tailed-Blue

 Common Buckeye

 Fiery Skipper

Another Long-Tailed Skipper!

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens and Sundays at Little Walden

So many cool things to post last week I am behind schedule!

Friday:

Common Buckeye

 The lion head fountain is one of my favorite features of the Gardens.

 Ailanthus Webworm moth on Sedum, got some of this for my butterfly garden, I hope I don't kill it, I don't exactly have a green thumb.

Sunday:

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

 Dragonfly - lucky shot, he was fast!

 Little stone building on the nature trail

I know most people call these Daddy Longlegs, but I have always called them Grandaddy Longlegs.  Probably something my Grandaddy told me when I was little. :)

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens and Tanglewood Arboretum

Yahoo!  10 glorious days off in a row!  And I had a wonderful start at RG Friday morning.

 Painted Lady - you can tell Painted Ladies from American Painted Ladies from the eyespots on the lower wing.  American Painted Ladies have 2 and Painted Ladies have 4.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Water Lily - love this one!

Then after RG, I swung by the Arboretum at Tanglewood.  I didn't stay too long though because it was a tad hot and the mosquitoes were eating me up!  Still saw some butterflies though.

I thought this was a Pearl Crescent, but after looking at my book I think it may be a Silvery Checkerspot.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Went to Reynolda Gardens early again, and no butterflies.  They must be late sleepers.  Anyway, I did see something that made me happy:

Because when these pink fuzzy flowers are in bloom, that means we'll have these:

Common Buckeye - These are one of my favorites, of course I probably say that about most butterflies!  This one was taken in September of last year at RG.

I planned on going back to RG after work Friday and ended up working until 7:30.  Still went, but no butterflies.  I still enjoyed it and stayed until it started getting dark, I love it there even without butterflies!

Also on Saturday I saw something that made my heart fill - a Monarch!  It's about time for them too.  I actually saw lots of butterflies in my yard Saturday, but I was pulling weeds - so no camera. :(  Oh well, since my vacation (woo!) is coming up soon, I will have lots of opportunities for butterflying.

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Beautiful morning at Reynolda Gardens!

I hate to think why this spider was lurking in the phlox, but I have to admit he was so pretty!

Green Lynx Spider

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens - Take 2

I got up early Friday morning to go to Reynolda Gardens - and no butterflies!  I did get some yummy veggies from the farmer's market, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, peppers and crowder peas (which I have never had before!).  There were lots of bumble bees though.

Loving my new lens.

So, of course I had to try again after work and I was not disappointed.  Swallowtails and Skippers everywhere!

 Sharing.

 Yin and Yang.

See the little skipper shadow?

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Lots of pretty butterflies at Reynolda Gardens today.

Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  I set my white balance to fluorescent-1 on this one.  I like to use that setting because it gives photos a vintagey-purply quality.

Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  I used the popart filter on this one, which sort of super-saturates the hues.

Silver-Spotted Skipper

And a few moths, that you wouldn't really think were moths.

 Yellow Collared Scape Moth

Ailanthus Webworm Moth - love these!

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

I have been playing around with the double exposure feature on my Olympus E-PL1.  It's so much fun!

Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

I noticed this one little skipper that seemed to be staring at me.  

He seemed very interested in what I was doing, so I put my finger in front of him and he climbed on!

I have never seen purple basil before, and this one had a bonus:

Gray Hairstreak

Peek-a-boo!  Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

2 Fridays at Reynolda Gardens

Last week my wireless router was misbehaving so I am posting for 2 Fridays.

 Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

 This is one of my favorite shots.  I love his antenna!

American Painted Lady