A Productive Saturday

     It's been a pretty productive Saturday. I got some things done around the house, ran some errands, made sure to pick up fish food for my Angels and still had time to spend an hour or two with the butterflies.

  

     The one year pass that I bought for Butterfly World is really paying off, it gives me great photo op so I can get plenty of practice in with my camera.

     Having the opportunity to visit the garden at different times of day, different times of year and in different weather conditions is a good thing. Every time I go, I see things just a little bit differently.

 

     Today I went late in the day and took some photos of a few of my favorites and also fell in love with a new guy, I haven't seen him here before, he's not even in the Butterfly World Identification Guide.

     It's the huge black and yellow one below and this photo in no way does him justice. This must be the largest butterfly in the park, (not moth). The large yellow section of the wing unfortunately folds under when he is sitting still so you can't begin to see how beautiful he is. The body it's self is huge and bright yellow underneath although it's black on top and on the head. Absolutely gorgeous, I'll try to get better photos if I ever see one again.

 

     The Orchids were exceptionally beautiful today, wish I could post photos of all of them. There were other beautiful flowers that had the full attention of my camera as well. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I'm there, sometimes it almost seems like to much of a good thing. 

 

     OMG all of the different varieties of passion flowers that they grow there. I would visit the park if all it had were the passion flowers, I absolutely love them. If I had enough room I would grow one of every each. Maybe I'll post an entry of all the different varities I have photographed so far, there have been many.

 

     Couldn't leave this flower out, this was the first time I saw it in bloom this year. It must have a very short blooming season. Below is a front view and a side view, How cool is this flower?

   

     The birds are the real challenge because of the lighting in the aviaries. There is a lot of tree coverage and it's just kind of a hit or miss situation. It's possible that it may have something to do with all the time I spend with the butterflies, by the time I get to the birds I may not have a whole lot of patience left. Maybe I should go one day only to photograph the birds. I love them. Check out the Jamaican Streamtail hummingbird, that's a lot of tail to carry around.

 

     Well, that's all for this visit with the butterflies. Maybe I'll feel a little more like writing soon, wouldn't want you to start thinking that this is a photo blog only.

                          *** Coy ***