Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly Friends

Great Spangled Frittillaries share the landscape of Buddleia.

Far away from Flower Hill Farm an enchanting city nourishes a friendship 

before only known through the virtual world. 

Endearment abides as we take in the nectar of Venice. 

Venetian intrigue with the delightful and dear Hattatts! 

Painted Lady and American Lady Butterflies in Purples and Greens

Twenty-twelve was a wonderful year for butterflies here at Flower Hill Farm. 

All over the northeast butterfly enthusiasts were reporting sightings of Painted Ladies 

in numbers never recorded this far north before. 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui (above)  American Lady  Vanessa virginiensis (below)

Painted Ladies in the butterfly magnet Buddleia. 

Painted Lady nectaring in our native Ironweed also a fabulous butterfly magnet. 

American Lady (above) formerly 'American Painted Lady', has big eyes on the bottom wing. 

Note the smaller four eyes on the Painted Lady's (below) bottom wing. 

Both of these beauties migrate south for the winter.

Certainly there are many other differences for the discerning human eye to determine in identifying these and other butterflies. 

Studying butterflies surely enhances ones ability to truly see the intricate beauties in nature.