The Butterflies of Texas

Among the items we picked up that day at the grocery store was a container of ice cream.  It was hot outside, and even though it was in an insulated bag, I had second thoughts about getting out to photograph a few cows in a field.  But the road was quiet, so my wife left the motor running, and I hurried out to snap a couple quick photographs of the cows.

As I turned back to the car, I noticed a butterfly fluttering by my legs. He alighted on a flower, flapping his wings and crawling around on the petals as he sucked the flower nectar.  Despite thoughts of softening ice cream, I took a quick photo, then bent down to take another.  

The flower really must have been giving off some prime nectar, for he didn't seem to mind my presence as I bent progressively lower, taking shots closer-up, and orientating the camera as he moved around.  He kept flapping his wings, so I had to guess at my timing, and snap quickly when I guessed his wings would be at their widest.  This was my best close-up.

That evening, I really enjoyed my ice cream.  Despite the afternoon heat, it wasn't soft at all.  So I suppose you could say I had my treat and ate it too, even if the treat wasn't cake, but ice cream on a hot day, and photographs of cows and butterflies that I'll enjoy long after I forget the flavor of the ice cream.

Now that I've mentioned it, I think I need to have a talk with my wife. It's been a while since she's made us a really nice cake.

Dragon Dave

P.S.  As best I can tell, this particular type of butterfly is called a Border Patch, or a Chlosyne Lacinia.  Personally, I prefer the first name, but then Latin was never my best language.  

Related Dragon Cache entries (other photographs of butterflies)
The Significance of Butterflies Part 1
The Significance of Butterflies Part 2

Related Internet Links (facts and photos of this butterfly's lifecycle)
Butterflies and Moths of North America