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 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.