During January, February, and the first week of March of last winter, I was surrounded by lovely people, tropical hummingbirds, butterflies, bright flowers, and the Caribbean Sea. A few days ago, when snow was falling all around Flower Hill Farm Retreat, I was not longing for the beauty and warmth of Treasure Beach, Jamaica. Being home is inspiring. The beauty of snow fog adds a mystical and mysterious element to being out in the gardens and landscape. The leafless trees and shrubs are like … [Read more...] about There Is No Place Like Home for the Winter
Winter Blues ~ Eastern-tailed Blue, Summer Azure and Silvery Blue
Dreaming of Blues fluttering around the garden can shake off the mantle-of-melancholy winter sometimes weaves about our spirits. Today, I gather some delightful, inspiring and tender butterfly encounters, from this past sizzling summer, and toss them on this page of white, that they may bring a ray of light, to warm the inner gardeners folded inside our longing souls. Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterflies of 2013The progeny of these gossamer-wings are now chrysalises, or caterpillars in the Eastern … [Read more...] about Winter Blues ~ Eastern-tailed Blue, Summer Azure and Silvery Blue
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ American Copper
The teeny tiny American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) packs a sizable palette for one so small. I was happy to find this little butterfly sunning in the south field back in May of 2012. Its wingspan is only 7/8 x 1 1/8 . . . a delicate, miniature, ephemeral painting belonging to the Gossamer-wings family . . . offering distinctive marks and textures that one can identify but never own. However, photos and happy memories are filed, of a late may day, walking in the south field along side a fragile, … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ American Copper
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ American Copper
The teeny tiny American Copper (Lycaena phlaeas) packs a sizable palette for one so small. I was happy to find this little butterfly sunning in the south field back in May of 2012. Its wingspan is only 7/8 x 1 1/8 . . . a delicate, miniature, ephemeral painting belonging to the Gossamer-wings family . . . offering distinctive marks and textures that one can identify but never own. However, photos and happy memories are filed, of a late may day, walking in the south field along side a … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ American Copper
Nature’s Black Knight ~ Raptor of the Dead
Dark as a moonless night, this new world vulture . . . nature's silent black knight Cathartes aura, emanates mystery, while evoking macabre images from the minds of many that view him. Turkey Vultures are truly remarkable diurnal creatures, preferring carrion to fresh meat and purifying our world as they dine. If you were to change the 'C' in its scientific name for a 'K' you would have the Greek derivative Kathartes meaning cleansing or purifier. Carthartes aura means purifying breeze. It is … [Read more...] about Nature’s Black Knight ~ Raptor of the Dead
