What Will 2018 Bring?

Posted December 31, 2017

Earring Series - Jeff with Black Swallowtail Earrings (Best shot), at "Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch," Eatonton, GA

This is the shot with the Eastern Black Swallowtails fully on my right ear.

No way I can count the different ways that this shot moves me. I must start with that double-headed tear slowly working its way down to my mustache. On to that ‘Jeff’s Earring’ of a mated pair of Eastern Black Swallowtail butterflies, flew they did to my hat, then shoulder, then my right ear. The red, white and blue head band symbolizes much here, what with the tumultuous year we have all endured. The kind of ruddy look to me here makes some sense, this being the guy/kid who never even saw the golden spoon, growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. There’s so much more talking to me here, in this image captured by Sylbie.

The thing is that this for me is an iconic shot, caught by a friend who was not supposed to be there then, with a pair of G-d’s most beautiful adorning my ear, and she with wings fully shared.

Just back from being Wow’d!!! in the Rio Grand Valley, and hours from New Year 2018, I am buzzed by expectancy. What will ’18 bring? And, as Jan shared, will our path’s cross?

Jeff

2018 is in with a Bang!

Posted December 29, 2017

Filed under Pearly-Eye, Raccoon Creek State Park, PA

Northern Pearly Eye Butterfly, photographed by Jeff Zablow at Raccoon Creek State Park in Pennsylvania

I’m back from the Rio Grande Valley, Mission, Texas to be exact. Just flew home less than 24 hours ago. Wow! I repeat, Wow!

This accompanying image of a Northern Pearly Eye Butterfly is one of my favorites. An elusive species of butterfly, but that day there it was, and how fine a Northern Pearly Eye, this one. This is one of those images that, back in the early ’90’s, I hoped, hoped I could ever share. An image that stands on its own merits, and that encourages and reminds that we are surrounded by G-d’s magnificent handwork.

I’m now shipping my 27 rolls of Fuji Velvia film to Parson, Kansas. You will not believe how many very, very rare and, very very beautiful butterflies we saw in very southern Texas. Short of a couple of cloudy, cool days, my Life list of butterflies ballooned out, in just that one week in Texas.

So, I wish a Happy New Year to you, and if Dwayne Photo’s returns good stuff to me, I look forward to sharing dreamy images of Erato heliconians, Red rims, Malachites, Gold-bordered hairstreaks (last seen in the U.S. in 1968), Tropical leafwings and so many more. Those and the largest, freshest male Monarch I’ve ever seen, and his quick, successful flirtation with an equally Big female Monarch.

To 2018!

Jeff

Greetings!

Posted December 19, 2017

Filed under Eatonton, GA

Jeff Zablow and his dog, Petra, photographed by Jenny Jean Photography.

Merry Christmas!! Happy Chanukah!! and a Happy New Year!!! to you all.

What an extraordinary year it’s been, and how Thankful I am to have shared so many of our happy surprises with you. You.

I’m off to very southern Texas, NABA-land to make the acquaintance of a whole slew of new (to me) butterflies. Those common to the southwestern USA and perhaps some rarities (let’s hope!).

Petra prefers this look at both of us, as it hides some of her 95 pounds of Black Russian heft.

To ’18 and Health and Happiness for us all!

Jeff

Hackberry Emperor (In the Delta)

Posted December 18, 2017

Filed under Hackberry Emperor, Leroy Percy State Park, MS

Delta Blues? Not on this Trip. This time, it’ll be Delta Browns and greens . . .

Winged Beauty Butterflies

We drove nearly 900 miles from Pittsburgh, down to Greenville, Mississippi. It helped that my grade school teachers made the spelling of this beautiful state an absolute must. You had to be able to spell M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I. Greenville was a bustling cotton town, cotton brought to the docks was loaded on ships and sent to all corners of the globe. Although Greenville no longer thrives, the wildlife in the Mississippi delta region was all new to me.

Well, almost all new. Asterocampa celtis is also found in Pennsylvania. We have posted several images of our northern hackberrys. The Hackberry emperors and Tawny emperors (Asterocampa clyton) flying in western Mississippi were impressively rich in color. Their appealing coloration often led to confusion, i.e., was this one here a Hackberry or a Tawny? Leroy Percy State Park offered both hackberrys. Ours here is a Hackberry emperor.

A trip…

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HolyLand Thistle Plus . . .

Posted December 17, 2017

Filed under Mishmarot, Israel, Native Plants and Flowers, Other Insects, Wildflowers

Honeybee Flying to Thistle photographed by Jeff Zablow at Mishmarot, Israel

Know from earlier posts, that we remain impressed by the saber-sharp armament borne by HolyLand thistles, and many, many other wildflowers in Israel. This healthy flowerhead was so armed. The needle-sharp points and the attractive purple of the whole flowerhead earned a long look. I searched a goodly number of these flowers, and chose this one, abutting the agricultural fields of Mishmarot, Israel. A 20-minute drive west to the Mediterranean Sea, and a 55-minute drive to Tel-Aviv, this valley bears rich farmland, and wildlife.

Shooting a goodly number of exposures, to insure getting a suitable one, this honeybee showed up, and that was good. The oranges, tangerines, pomegranates, lemons, grapefruit, grapes, figs and other fruit of this valley all depend on these honeybees for pollination. It’s that thing about being in the Land of Milk & Honey.

Jeff