An exquisite summer morning. This Eastern black swallowtail butterfly is nectaring on a bed of tall verbena.

People are walking nearby, as close as 10 feet away. The most eagle-eyed of them see this blackish butterfly. What they aren’t able to enjoy are the startling blues, reds, black, oranges and creams that this macro photograph have captured.

That’s why we so enjoy this image of this male and have included it. Click on the image to see it enlarged and enjoy.

Papilio polyxenes while it is nectaring moves its wings violently. This image freezes those wings in place and shares those colors with us.

The Eastern black swallowtail is one of several species of swallowtails that we encounter east of the Mississippi.

Jeffrey