These very large Monarch butterflies were certainly free - flying high and low on a stiff breeze. The first butterfly photo I've been able to get in 2 years!
Three good things;
1. The lovely two coloured dahlias these butterflies liked.
2. A pleasant walk through the Asburton domain with its magnificent trees and many small lakes.
3. Our outside deck cushions didn't fly too far in our high winds!
it's beautiful Maggie, I can share a tip for photographing butterflies. A member of our camera club said photo them early morning or late evening, when it is a bit cooler and they are not as active and a bit tired (sounds reasonable to me)
@phil_howcroft thanks Phil - this was the garden of the hotel we were staying but if I'd known they were there - it would have got me out of bed a lot earlier!
So bright & beautiful maggiemae.....the colour & subject just gives such a summer wow even though you are into autumn........that butterfly is stunning!
Lovely capture of the glorious Monarch. We have them here, but their numbers are greatly depleted, partly becuae there is not enough milkweed for them. When i was growing up they were everywhere--not now. Sad.
Lively!