SUNDAY MORNING WALK

Off on my morning walk 

on the trails through the South Carolina

Botanical Gardens, accompanied by my camera.  

I keep thinking that the butterflies should have disappeared by now, 

but it seems that only the swallowtails that are diminishing in number each 

week.  The monarchs and fritillaries are still in abundance, and I'm still finding

many in the caterpillar stage.  So wonderful, this seasonal unfolding of beauty—of new life.

Shortly after making the image 

of the Monarch in the header photo,

I came across this Great Spangled Fritillary

enjoying breakfast on top of a zennia.  It was the tip of his 

wing catching the early morning  sunlight that caught my eye.

Down the trail a bit, 

I came across some of the last 

cherry tomatoes growing in a small garden.

This is a Gulf Fritillary, 

also munching on one of the 

many zinnias (which are great for

attracting butterflies).  Whenever possible, 

I try to photograph butterflies against a dark 

background in order to highlight their colors and designs.

Another Monarch.

The wing designs and

color placements are amazing.

Notice how the white dots on the 

edges of the wings are matched with white dots on the head and neck.

This image is not 

as crisp as I would like, 

but you can see that I discover

other types of weird creatures on my walks.

This is the back side

of a Gulf Fritillary feasting on a zennia.

 Another Monarch

A Few Parting Words

from

The Tao Te Ching

(translation by Ursula K. Le Guin)

The Way bears them;

power nurtures them;

their own being shapes them;

their own energy completes them.

And not one of the ten thousand things

fails to hold the Way sacred

or to obey its power.

Their reverence for the Way

and obedience to its power

are unforced and always natural.

For the Way gives them life;

its power nourishes them,

mothers and feeds them,

completes and matures them,

looks after them, protects them.

To have without possessing,

do without claiming,

lead without controlling:

this is mysterious power.

LaoTzu