Exotic Blooms in the Land of Milk and Honey

Posted March 31, 2019

Filed under Flowers Loved by Butterflies, Golan, Israel, Mt. Hermon, Israel, Native Plants and Flowers

Just One Hour To . . . Capernum

Two Unforgettable flower stalks, perched on a rocky hill edge, overlooking the verdant (OMG! green) northern border of Israel. I was determined to save my film for butterflies, but c’mon, how could I not succumb to this temptation? March 2015 in the Golan Heights region of Israel. A wet winter insured the arrival of a Spring with flowers blanketing the land, and rare wildflowers determined to capitalize on the excellent growing conditions.

These Hyacinth Squill blooms (Scilla Hyacinthoides) dotted the sides of these hills, on the SPNI Hermon Reserve. They enjoy a short growing season, and are listed as a Protected Species. The expanse of view looks to the northwest, into Lebanon. Lebanon, a country wracked with violence. A pastoral view then, with bad-boy land to the horizon.

Yes, this is primarily a butterfly blog, but . . . the camera made me do it!

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Blue Butterfly at Lynx Prairie

Posted November 8, 2017

Filed under Blues, Lynx Prairie Reserve, Adams County, OH

Eastern-Tailed Blue Butterfly II photographed by Jeff Zablow at Lynx Prairie Reserve, Ohio

The big boys at Lynx Prairie Reserve were there, flying in good numbers to Butterflyweed, Coneflower, and other wildflowers. Examining those great Spangled Fritillary butterflies, Edwards Hairstreaks, Monarch butterflies and those other butterflies I saw there.

I was on the lookout for other fresh butterflies. Adams County, Ohio was just what Angela said it could be, a rich land, nurturing rare wildflowers and orchids, as well as big flights of butterflies, moths and other insects.

What and how would I react to say a fine, fresh Eastern Tailed Blue butterfly? Shoot it of course. I did and here it is.

Jeff

Exotic Blooms in the Land of Milk and Honey

Posted September 19, 2015

Filed under Golan, Israel, Mt. Hermon, Israel, Native Plants and Flowers, Wildflowers

Yes, this is primarily a butterfly blog, but . . . the camera made me do it!

Jeff . . . Sigh! . . . .

Winter Antidotes V

Posted January 23, 2015

Filed under Flowers Loved by Butterflies, Golan, Israel, Native Plants and Flowers, Wildflowers

This rare, protected Hermon Iris startled me, on that trail near Israel’s border with Lebanon. Startled me? Yes, there they were, a handful of them, unexpected and starkly beautiful. A trail that sees few, though you may have seen a post on this site of cattle grazing here about.

It was nicely warm that day, and butterflies and wildflowers lined the trail, Nirvana! The kind of morning that we in the U.S. are just some weeks away from enjoying. A winter antidote, No?

What brought this to mind, now? This spot is a 5 minute hike from the border. At this moment that I write, Israeli IDF forces are massed nearby, reports anticipating Hezbollah terrorism in this very area. Very rare wildflowers, butterflies, cattle foraging and terrorists from Lebanon nearby, terrorists who were not born in Lebanon, who trained in Iran, and whose work is training to kill civilians.

Jeff

Golan’s Protected Species of Pink Butterfly Orchid in Israel’s Northernmost Region

Posted February 11, 2013

Filed under Flowers Loved by Butterflies, Golan, Israel, Native Orchids

From reading and watching TV you’d think that since we’re about one mile from the border between Israel and Lebanon, the habitat would be a hardscrabble mess, pock-marked by old ordinance. Funny, kind of.

Ah, no. Orchis papilonacea is doing just fine along this northernmost Golan in Israel. The plant’s delicate pink blossoms were borne on an elegantly vertical, strong stem. Butterflies are zooming this way and that on this gently descending trail. There were about 8 of these Pink orchids in sight. There weren’t any blossoms beyond this grouping. As with our post of several other Protected Israeli wildflowers, this March bloom was a boon for the plants, with minimal human presence here at winter’s end.

2013 has brought near record rain to this region. We cannot imagine how verdant this habitat will be in the very near future.

Yes, yes Angela, wingedbeauty.com is a blog featuring butterflies, but let’s repeat again, these rare wildflowers were so beautiful, so fragile and it’s butterflies that brought us to them in the first place.

Jeff