Lebanon | Winged Beauty Butterflies

On March 28th, 2017 I fly El Al back to Israel. Regretably, you will not be sitting on either side of me. I pledge though to search for worthy images, like this one, enjoyed in 2013. to share with you when I return. This ’13 post evoked other memories for me: my youthful things for redheads with green eyes and . . . my time spent in the dressing room of the Rockettes! Butterflies & rare irises can do that to you, connect to extravagant beauty heretofore unthinkable.

Winged Beauty Butterflies

Don’t we all have memories that warm us up when they flash into our consciousness? This image of a Mt. Hermon Iris just did that for me. It brought back memories of a certain moment on a streetcorner in Manhattan (New York, NY), one morning on campus in college, a stand of native Columbine I once had, and sooo much more. Oh, and then there were the magical minutes when as a college-poor messenger, I was given a package to deliver to a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall…and instead of taking it from me, the Rockettes’ staff said, “Yeah, take it in there to her”…into the Rockettes’ dressing room I went…’Nuf said?

This was such an experience. On a trail is northernmost Golan,Israel, near the security fence insuring that Israel and Lebanon stay safely apart, we turned a corner of the trail, and there they were…Iris

View original post 89 more words

This first meeting with Anthocharis damone syra was electrifying for me. On the Kodesh trail I was at the very northern border of Israel. The trail winds around, at more than one twist putting you a short walk from the Israeli-Lebanon border. You don’t see Lebanon, to your left, because this trail is in a narrow valley. That March the trail was flowered with lush blooms, and butterflies were everywhere.

I was back on this trail this March 2015, anticipating scoring new images, and perhaps images of butterflies I’d never seen before. Twice I hiked the trail, just after winter ended, a wet winter, producing a blanket of wildflowers.

My slides just came back from Kansas. Dadah! Happy Days Are Here Again . . . ! I saw and photographed new Anthocharis damone sera . . . and Anthocharis cardamines phoenissa . . . and Anthocharis gruneri gruneri. A Trifecta for Jeff. I’ve already pitched the mediocre slides into the trash basket. Among the keepers are several fine images. Endangered, rare butterflies.

Jeff . . . suitcase unpacked.

Soon they’ll be at the scanners. When Rewind Memories (here in Pittsburgh!!) scans them, we’ll share. I, I can’t wait.