The Butterfly – Harbinger of Spring?

Posted on 15/03/2019 by Ol' Big Jim

Two days ago, I saw a butterfly flitting about in the back garden. Today I saw another one. Can Spring be far away when these beauties begin to thrill us with their delicate colors and graceful flight?

Way down south, here in Alabama, we share out environment with upwards of 50 different butterflies. They add more color to our world, pollinate flowers, and eat undesirable plants. They represent endurance, change, hope, and life. What butterflies would we see if we kept our eyes open?

Without a doubt, the king of butterflies – the Monarch is the most gorgeous, and best known. Native to North and South America, they can be seen now as far away as Australia, the Pacific Islands, and even in some places around Europe.

1-Monarch

Picture Credit: inaturalist.org

My favorite, and the one I see most often, is the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. These butterflies, with a wingspan of 8-14 cm, produce 2-3 broods per season. They lay their eggs in certain trees such as poplar, tulip trees, apple, and several others. They are a real joy to watch!

2-Eastern Swallowtail

Picture Credit: inaturalist.org

The Viceroy closely resembles the Monarch, but has a black median line across the hindwing. Their territory covers most of the contiguous US as well as Mexico and Canada. Gorgeous creatures, they are!

3-Viceroy

Picture Credit: inaturalist.org

As an old Navy man, I’m naturally partial to the Red Admiral. Just look at him; ain’t he a beaut? He flutters about here in North America, but can also be seen in Europe and Asia. Admirals like the nectar of Buddleia and overly ripe fruit. In northern Europe you’ll find them feeding on the flowers of ivy on sunny days.

4-Red Admiral

Picture Credit: inaturalist.org

Lastly, I’ll include the Eastern Pine Elfin. He’s an oddly colored creature and if I’m honest, he creeps me out just a bit. As his name implies, he spends his time in pine thickets and around juniper trees. He’s terrifyingly pretty, but I generally get a bad case of the heebie-jeebies if he lands on me!

5-Eastern Pine Elfin

Picture Credit: inaturalist.org

What kind of butterflies might we see in your area? Are you a butterfly watcher? Do you, as I do, plant flowers with butterflies in mind?

As always, I sure do appreciate you coming by today. When I see you’ve visited or liked a post it makes my heart sing. If I see you’ve left a comment for me, I’m just right over the moon! Being that you’re out and about on the web anyway, why not pop over to Amazon and get a copy of New Yesterdays for your reading pleasure? Pick up an extra copy or three for the young folk in your life. They’ll thank you for it and Ol’ Big Jim will too! Just click either of those highlighted links and, presto! Like magic, you’ll be off on a delightful journey!

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About Ol' Big Jim

Jim L. Wright is a storyteller with a lifetime of experiences as colorful as the characters he creates. Born and raised in Piedmont, Alabama, Jim’s connection to the land, history, and people of the region runs deep. His debut novel New Yesterdays is set in his hometown, where he grew up listening to stories of the past—stories that sparked his imagination and curiosity for history. Today, Jim lives in Leeds, Alabama, with his husband Zeek, a tour operator who shares his passion for adventure and discovery. Known affectionately as “Ol’ Big Jim,” he has had a diverse career that includes time as a storekeeper, an embalmer, a hospital orderly, and a medical coder. There are even whispers—unconfirmed, of course—that he once played piano in a house of ill repute. No matter the job, one thing has remained constant: Jim is a teller of tales. His stories—sometimes humorous, sometimes thought-provoking—are often inspired by his unique life experiences. Many of these tales can be found on his popular blog, Ol’ Big Jim, where he continues to share his musings with a loyal readership. Jim’s adventures have taken him far beyond Alabama. For seven years, he lived in Amman, Jordan, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. His time there, spent in smoky coffee shops, enjoying a hookah and a cup of tea while scribbling in his ever-present notebook, deeply influenced his worldview and his writing. When Jim isn’t writing, he’s thinking about writing. His stories, whether tall tales from his past or imaginative reimagining is of historical events should read from his past or imaginative reimaginings of historical events, reflect a life lived fully and authentically. With New Yesterdays, Jim brings readers a rich tapestry of history, fantasy, and human connection. Visit his blog at www.olbigjim.com to read more of his stories, or follow him on social media to keep up with his latest musings and projects, one of which is a series that follows Bonita McCauley, an amateur detective who gets into some very sticky situations. His book, New Yesterdays, can be found at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.
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5 Responses to The Butterfly – Harbinger of Spring?

  1. John W. Howell's avatar John W. Howell says:
    15/03/2019 at 07:09

    In South Texas, we see many Monarchs but few of the others. I’ll have to keep an eye out. Thanks for the photos.

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  2. jaysquires's avatar jaysquires says:
    15/03/2019 at 12:18

    Lovely bunch of photos and some good info. Probably Monarchs here. I need you to ship me out some of the ones that eat undesirable weeds. My Dandelions are growing so tall in my rose garden that birds are building their nests in them.

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  3. jaysquires's avatar jaysquires says:
    15/03/2019 at 12:20

    By the way, I think you need to RE-follow http://www.bondingfyre.com. I see you have my Jaysquires’ Stickywords as the blog you follow. That is defunct.

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    • Ol' Big Jim's avatar Ol' Big Jim says:
      15/03/2019 at 13:03

      I think I may have already followed bondingfyre. I got this message when I tried to subscribe:
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