Intriguing orange
butterfly love on a leaf—
October surprise!
From a distance, I first thought I was looking at one large orange butterfly on a wax myrtle tree branch. But when I came closer with the camera zoom lens, I suddenly realized there were two butterflies intertwined.
These two lovers are Gulf Fritillary butterflies. In the photo above, the lighter colored female hangs onto a leaf while the bright orange male dangles in a precarious, provocative position beneath her.
Ah…the glorious thrill of love!
Without warning, he opens his wings, she loses her grasp on the leaf, and they fly off together rather clumsily (still connected). Due to technical difficulties, they don’t fly that far before she reaches out and grabs onto another leaf for support. Why is he making things so difficult?!
There is definitely a special sort of October autumn ‘spring’ going on here in San Antonio, Texas!
Before I Forget 
Lovely shots of the Fritillary beauties. The colours and the spots – thank you for giving us a glimpse of summer!
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Hi Leya! It is almost 3 a.m. here. These days it seems easier to sleep during the day than at night. It is late October and still 80 degrees here in Texas. It doesn’t feel like autumn!
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I can understand that! Stay cool!
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Spectacular captures! It feels like autumn in Vancouver, Canada. The leaves have turned and the rains have returned. I love this mellow time. I thought of this quote when I came upon your post: “Butterflies are self propelled flowers.” Robert A. Heinlein.
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I agree…butterflies are like colorful flying flowers!
I do miss the changing colours of autumn leaves. It is still hot and dry here in Texas. Hoping it will cool off a little by November.
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Beautiful photos Mary! What a lovely chance encounter.
Alison
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Thanks! I have to go over to your website and see what you two have been doing lately! I have fallen behind in my reading.
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These are beautiful photographs, Mary.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
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You too, Lisa! There is wonder all around…
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Thank you Mary for your wonderful visit, and what a delight to visit here and see these amazing pictures of these beautiful butterflies… Just fabulous to see. Thank you for sharing them. 🙂 Sue
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Thanks Sue! The weather is finally starting to get a little cooler here. Don’t see as many butterflies anymore, but people have seen a few skunks wandering around in the evening. Don’t want to startle one of those creatures, that’s for sure!
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🙂 yes you don’t want to be messing around with those little guys lol..
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Lovely photos! We enjoyed a beautiful butterfly season well through October and even a few November visitors here in Central Maine this year…
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It is December here…and it was in the 70s up until today when it dropped into the 50s.
Tomorrow it will be in the 4Os all day. Finally feels a little bit like winter. Kind of.
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Thanks! Old as I am, this butterfly dance was something that I had never seen before. 😉
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How very fortunate that you took the time to closely observe this delightful dance. Lovely post, Mary, and much enjoyed.
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Brilliant photography and words to match. Thanks for ‘liking’ a few of my recent posts. May 2018 bring you lots of joy and much more ‘butterfly love’.
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Thank you (I just saw your comment)!
2018 started out with a blast of cold, cold air (I don’t know where the butterflies went)!
I have been busy outside for the past couple of days, trying to make sure my plants don’t freeze to death. They need frost blankets over them at night for protection (when it’s 20 degrees F), and then they need to breathe during the day (when it’s 50 or 60 degrees F), so I take the frost blankets off. So it’s on and off–and then on and off again. It’s time consuming but (finally), I think tonight is the last freezing cold night for awhile. Many of the plants in San Antonio, Texas aren’t made for this kind of cold. Sigh. I know if I don’t keep my plants warm enough–in the spring, there will be no leaves in my yard for the butterflies to hang onto, and no flowers for the hungry bees and hummingbirds.
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Beautiful 🙂
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Thanks Joshi! There are no butterflies around now….it is COLD.
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one of them is gorgeous, two together are divine! you are one lucky girl!
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Thank you Sharmishtha. Their beautiful colors did stand out with a background of green leaves.
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