You wait for those moments, those that offer so much promise. Moments when a memorable butterfly flies in, and nectars on beautiful blossoms. Most days don’t dish up such. Once in a while, it happens.

This was such a moment. I was working the perennial beds at the long entrance walkway to Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory. She flew in and I was ecstatic. A Black Form Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, her wings were a rich soft black, her hindwing blue flashes were gorgeous, her marginal wing spots were an elegant bone white color, and the hindwing trailing spots a rich coral in color.

The Tall Verbena flowers must have been pumping nectar steadily, for she lingered on each tiny flower, and that helped me capture lots of images, shooting away as if I had no concern of the dollar$ that the Fuji Velvia slide film were costing me.

I look again and again at this image, and you want the truth? I Thank G-d for enabling me to enjoy such moments. That my friends, is the Truth.

Jeff