Hartman Arboretum, always a butterfly paradise....

If it hadn't been so hot...with the sweat dripping in my eyes....I might have never left the arboretum today! There were butterflies everywhere and I never did get a good shot of a couple....the Monarch in particular. This bluish butterfly was very colorful on the pink flowers....is this a Hairstreak? It was bigger than the little blues I normally see. It looked like it was rubbing its wings back and forth while sitting there.

Cabbage White.....they never seem to hold still!

There were dozens of these Silver Spotted Skippers and they love these tall spiky flowers!

Actually, they love all the flowers! I tried to take a video of them on these purple spikes....there were so many flying around.

.....even on the non-spiky flowers :-)

Sulphur.....they always seem to like the yellow flowers that they "match".

Several Tiger Swallowtails were flitting around

I like when the light shines through them :-)

I don't know how this one still flies, it was so tattered. Such a contrast for that beautiful orange flower it was on.

Black female Tiger Swallowtail

I've always been confused when I see black colored swallowtails as to whether they are the black colored Tigers or a different kind. Today I saw both and have finally figured out the differences once I get the photos on the computer. They move so much, that they all just look like "black butterflies".

1. The black Tigers have the faint "stripes" showing on them.

2. The body is solid colored.

3. There is only one row of orange dots on the hind wings.

Another black Tiger Swallowtail in different light.

This is a Spicebush Swallowtail. Note the differences:

1.No stripes.

2. Polka dotted body.

3. Two rows of orange spots on hind wings.

Another Spicebush

A pair of Spicebush....female on top, male on bottom.
They are suppose to look more "greenish", but I can only really tell that on the male.

A Zebra Swallowtail with its lovely long tails.

I spent most of the morning chasing this Clearwing Hummingbird Moth. I love these things and there were 2 of them flying around.

Catching up with them is the hard part! They just never hold still.

They are so fascinating to watch.

This shot is distant, but shows the clear wings better.

They like all the flowers! I had more unfocused shots than good ones, but it was worth the chase!

Except for the heat...a great butterfly day! I also saw a Buckeye, a Monarch, and a Pearl Crescent....but no photos. And at least one other skipper.