Swallowtail

The curves on the edge of the Swallow Tail Butterfly make interesting patterns - it wasn't until I looked at the whole circle that I saw the heart shapes toward the center. One never knows.

delicate butterfly cross

A different butterfly in the cross shape. Spring is officially here! am now patiently waiting for things to green up and start blooming!

black and orange and white

Another butterfly - I like the colors and the patterns!

butterfly parts

There was a collection of mounted butterflies in a case at the Butterfly Pavilion, to include a Blue Morpho and the edges of a swallow tail. Because there are spaces between the specimens there are spaces in the cross shape that do not have butterfly parts as well. Thought I'd try this as an experiment.

the eyes have it

Always liked the "fake" eyes on butterfly wings, it distracts the butterfly's prey and it makes for an interesting pattern in a mandala.

black and white butterfly

When I made this mandala, I just said yes! It pops, the purple adds a touch of color. Went on a photo shoot at the Butterfly Pavilion a couple years ago, love the color of their wings! Just a fun experience if you have a similar place near you - go!

monarach butterfly

Went to the Butterfly Pavilion several years ago and thought I'd revisit what I saw in mandala form. Here's monarch wings

butterfly wing

Butterflies are movement in the garden - beautiful, colorful movement. I enjoy having them in the garden. The speckles in the middle are reflected by the speckles on the edges of the wings in this mandala.

painted ladies

Painted Lady butterflies are migrating through Denver area mid September. I have seen a lot of them about on my flowers. They are in the previous mandala and this cross.

study in orange

Butterflies again, saw some this morning flitting around my lobelia.

butterfly in black and white

The photo club I belong to has competitions in color and black and white, so this is butterfly in black and white. Some pictures lend themselves to this others not so much.

butterfly

Patterns, Patterns, patterns - the scalloped edges of the butterfly wings were wonderful repeated patterns.

And if I should go before you

My sister passed away - she will be missed!

Butterfly on Orange

I was sitting by a pot of flowers when a butterfly came down for a drink. I watched for a while and took some pictures, in Sedona where it was shirt sleeve weather a couple weeks ago. 

Temporary Fairy garden

A reminder Fairy Gardens are temporary constructions. In this basket garden I discovered the Flower Fairies of Cicely Mary Barker have been translated into 3-D versions about 3 to 5 inches tall.  Above is Buttercup, with a real pansy, a log with glass butterfly and a blue bird.  I put the garden out under the apple tree only to discover the next day that the squirrels like them too.  For some reason the little log the butterfly was on disappeared - the tail of the bird was bitten off and I had attempted to start a couple avocado seeds in a nearby pot, only to discover the squirrels took bites out of them as well.  Fortunately they don't like plastic as the buttercup fairy is still intact.

hidden butterfly

Sometimes it's hard to tell where the butterfly is as above, but it makes for interesting patterns.

colorful butterfly

Repeated patterns all over with the bright yellow, red and black. Was even glad to get the butterfly's antenna. 

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch's are the queen of butterflies with such a migration story. You have to admire them for their long flight.  There is a novel by Mary Alice Monroe called "The Butterfly's Daughter"  which has a young woman following the Monarchs to Mexico. 

Butterfly on a cold day

This Butterfly from the Butterfly Pavilion got into moisture condensing on their windows - because it was a cold day outside, just like today.  He did fly off after getting free of the surface tension. When I measured outside today there was about 6 inches of snow in my back yard.  It was melting and turning to slush on the roads, driving was a bit iffy.  We need the moisture - it is just sloppy to get around in when it's snow and it's supposed to be spring - as in April showers bring May flowers!

Adding Color to the B&W Butterfly

Adding color to the Black and White butterfly was easy in this mandala, because the butterfly was sitting on a wonderful purple flower.  I like the patterns and the pop of color.