Holly blue butterfly

[nanila]

I was very excited this weekend to have gotten some of the best macro shots I've ever taken of a holly blue butterfly in my garden! They are tiny and infrequently settle at eye level so this was a treat.

Comments

[kaberett]

STRIPY ANTENNAE.

[nanila]

AND LEGS. <3

[shirebound]

Beautiful shot! I need to plant more butterfly-friendly flowers and shrubs.

[nanila]

Thank you! The ladies who owned the place before us were keen gardeners, and we've discovered that they deliberately planted many bee- and butterfly-attracting plants. One thing I didn't know before we moved here is how much butterflies love oregano flowers. I recommend planting some. It seems to be slug-and-snail-proof, likes partial shade and blooms like mad all summer. A guaranteed hit with the winged beauties!

[shirebound]

Thanks so much!

[felis]

Oh, very nice! They are really hard to photograph indeed.

[nanila]

Thank you! This is the closest I've ever gotten to one - in full sun, no less - and had it stay still.

[yourlibrarian]

Great shot! I've had trouble getting pictures even in butterfly gardens so kudos for getting this.

[nanila]

I've spent hours in butterfly gardens waiting for perfect butterfly shots (and not getting them because lighting or excitable small children, usually my own). Sympathies!

[turlough]

Wow, what a STUNNING photo! And what a cute little butterfly. I usually think they look vaguely scary in close-up but this one is so fluffy and delicate.

[nanila]

Thank you. I'm glad someone else thinks butterflies are a little scary close-up - I thought it was just me who didn't like my butterfly macro shots to be too macro, especially around the mouthparts, haha. But this one is fluffy and stripy and lovely.

[kk1raven]

Very nice! Little blue butterflies can be so hard to get good photographs of.

[nanila]

Thank you! Yes, I once spent an afternoon chasing little blue butterflies around a meadow nearby where they're known to gather (and settle) in numbers. Couldn't get a single decent shot. It was most aggravating.