IMGP1113, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

In the last week or so I have seen an occasional Monarch Butterfly around the yard. I’ve tried a time or two to get a photo but they would fly off before I could get close. Today I saw a couple fly by and got my camera. After a few minutes standing near the butterfly bush I saw six or eight flying around the bush and got a few shots after they became used to me being there.

IMGP9463, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

A few days ago I took this shot of a butterfly I have not seen this summer. The bright colors of the butterfly and the flowers I think make a nice photo. [Edit on 9/14 - I uploaded this photo to another web site that I check from time to time and today received a note that it was selected as the Photo of the Week there.]

IMGP6375, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

As summer nears an end we have seen an increase in the number of butterflies, especially swallowtails. This evening I saw two large swallowtails on the butterfly bush as I drove into our driveway. This shot is a crop from the original. If you click on the photo and view the original size print there you can see more detail as this one feeds on the flower. I also got several shots of a dragonfly that posed for a while on the antenna of the car.

IMGP5389, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

I’ve seen these insects hovering in our butterfly bush lately. It is an odd creature resembling a bumblebee but it feeds like a hummingbird. I shot this photo using my DA* 50-135 with a fast shutter speed so I could see the wings (which are a blur when watching them live.) I also have photos of a female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on my Flickr page.

IMGP5149, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

We continue to have a number of bumblebees attracted to the flowers around the yard. Most flock to the butterfly bushes but this one was on the lantana in the back yard. I like this closeup shot that I took this morning.

IMGP5124, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

I saw this guy this evening on our butterfly bush in the front yard. While the Tiger Swallowtail that I photographed in the back yard was quite content to sit still and allow me to take multiple shots, this one was easily spooked and flew off and returned several times. I was able to get a few shots befire he flew away.

Butterfly 7, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

Sometimes being lucky and having the camera handy can result in getting a photo. I got home this afternoon after going to the school to get a photo and had my camera when I went to check on the clothes on the line. This Tiger Swallowtail was moving from flower to flower in the backyard. I took a few shots with the lens I had on the camera and then went in and got a longer lens to get this shot. The butterfly was not too concerned with me being there and even stayed on the flower when I reached out and moved it around. Other shots are on my Flickr page.

Day Lily and Butterfly Bush, originally uploaded by GvilleRick.

Despite the lack of rain our lilies have bloomed well for a few weeks now. I took this photo this afternoon and used part of it to create the title graphic at the top of this page. There are more shots of flowers on my Flickr site. I’m hoping to work in a trip the the NC Arboretum before the summer is done so that section should have plenty of shots later.