This summer, I've been making a practice to carry around my Nikon DSLR. I've had it for 10 years and for a long time thought it was "too nice" to actually carry around with me and use day to day. For the past 3 years since moving to the homestead, each year I've said more and more:
I want to start getting into photography more.
And you know what, this year I have actually followed through on that. Probably early on, my lack of follow through had something to with Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the fact that I didn't have a place to charge the battery or my computer, but I digress.
The important thing is each day basically I'm getting out there with it and snapping some beautiful photos (sometimes!). Sharing what happens at the homestead feels purposeful to me. I can feel that when I get responses that people are nourished, delighted, inspired, and more in relation to what we share. Thank you for your feedback, it keeps me encouraged to share!
What has been an absolute delight to try to capture this year are the butterflies. And flowers, but for obvious reasons butterflies pose more of a challenge as they're such light flitting creatures who stop a moment and are off again. I have witnessed much more beauty that I could ever capture through a lens, but a few times I have been so blown away with delight, I've literally run to retrieve my camera in hopes of getting a few good photos.
What follows are butterflies mostly on 2 milkweed species. One batch I even planted which feels so special to be providing more habitat and nectary for these lovely creatures! The butterfly weed (or pleurisy root- orange one), has come up naturally each year, much to my delight! Without further ado:
Spangled Fritillary Butterfly on
Asclepias syriaca or Common Milkweed
I started this native perennial from seed last spring which makes this extra special. As humans, we can direct our energy in ways to make space for other creatures to thrive. In times when there is so much habitat devastation and extinction at alarming rate, using our human life for this purpose is a good endeavor. Plus, what a sweet relationship!
This little guy (I didn't look up what s/he is), I spotted on a wild patch of Common Milkweed on our land. We make a point to leave the milkweed patches when we brush scythe and also encourage the spreading of seed.
Butterfly Weed Interlude