beautiful, thanks! I haven't seen a yellow swallowtail for a long time. Longwood?

butterflies and the echinacea purpurea. I used to grow them in California and didn't have much luck with them here in Oregon. These days with climate change or permanent el nino's, they would most likely flourish here in the Willamette Valley. That Question Mark butterfly is gorgeous and it's name suits it. Great photography Joe. I hope Marilyn will post some of her photography work here. She too, does inspiring work. I used to paint both insects and echinacea. I liked the caterpillars best as far as subjects for painting. Butterflies are already, ready made art and seem to be redundant in painting. I haven't seen many butterflies this extreme hot year but the bee's in my yard are abundant. Our lavender plants usually kind of anemic are loving the heat and sun. They have gone nut's and are covered with a variety of bees. I also love painting the bees they intrigue me. Thanks for the art it's a reminder of how great life and nature are.

Thanks for sharing.

We have tons of swallowtails in downtown but not many others. The swallowtails seem bigger this year.