California Tortoiseshell Butterfly And Blooming Fragrant Sumac

California Tortoiseshell butterfly on blooming Fragrant Sumac – Nikon D500, f9, 1/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I had this California Tortoiseshell butterfly nectaring on blooming Fragrant Sumac up in a far northern Utah desert in my viewfinder four years ago today. When I am not focusing on birds I am looking carefully at the other things I find in nature including other things with wings like this handsome butterfly.

I’m itching to head way up north again so I can see the Fragrant Sumac and other flowering trees and shrubs in bloom. With the moisture we have received from the storms that have rolled through in the past week I hope I will see more blooming wildflowers, trees and shrubs than I did last spring. Time will tell.

If, and that is a big if, I do see more blooming wildflowers, trees and shrubs this spring I hope that I will also see more butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds nectaring on the blooms.

Before I became totally obsessed with photographing birds I spent a great deal of time focused on photographing insects and flowers. Photographing them now brings back wonderful memories of my best friend Patty and me wandering around various botanical gardens in Florida looking for insects, spiders and flowers to take images of. We had such great fun together in those gardens. We were never in a hurry and we thoroughly enjoyed every second we had together plus we saw some pretty amazing things together too.

Ah, what great memories.

Insects and spider may repulse some people. Biting insects such as fleas, mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks and no-see-ums gross me out but the rest of them I truly appreciate.

Why?

Because without insects and spiders we wouldn’t have many of the birds I photograph in the field. I am deeply and truly grateful that we have them.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my insect and spider images. Click here to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos.