Tag Archives: showy orchids

Things Changed . . . Ohio!

Posted
Filed under Hairstreak, Lynx Prairie Reserve, Adams County, OH

Edwards Hairstreak Butterfly photographed by Jeff Zablow at Lynx Prairie, OH

New or familiar, you may have read of how I have near zero folks to guide/lead me to new butterflies. As one decade lead to another, this absence of willing guides did sort of displease me.

In 2017, I think it was, Barbara Ann made friends with Angela, just over the border in Ohio. Angela invited some to explore Ohio, and I requested to go too. Request approved, and soon I was with them in the very southernmost county of Ohio, Adams County. Wow!

Here’s one of my many new finds there, in Lynx Refuge Preserve. They must have nearly all eclosed (left chrysalis) the day before, or . . . that morning.

Edward’s Hairstreak, in one of Lynx’s several pristine meadows. I loved them from first sight, those red epaulets and that patch of blue/blue. Those white stripes. Edward’s Hairstreak were more than just a new Lifer butterfly for me. They were placid in the early morning, posing gracefully, and enabling lots of camera shots, lots.

I’d lived next door to Ohio for what, 23 years, with no one inviting me to see zip. Barbara Ann and Angela introduced me to Ohio, and what with Showy Orchids and dozens of new butterflies and wildflowers to me, Ohio is a treasure, much of which I have yet to open.

Jeff

Brunching With Edwards’

Posted
Filed under Hairstreak, Lynx Prairie Reserve, Adams County, OH

Edwards Hairstreak on Butterflyweed photographed by Jeff Zablow at Lynx Prairie, Ohio

Funny that. You are encouraged, for months, by new friends in Ohio . . . that there will surely be butterflies in those Ohio prairies that are new for you, lifers as some call them. The arrangements are made, cabins reserved, days calendared, and that June 2017 day arrives.

The drive to Dayton, Ohio and not a single wrong turn, not that fancy computerized stuff, but printed directions from Google Directions. Cedar bog and more, Showy orchids don’t disappoint, and then the drive down to south-central Ohio, Adams County. Angela has been touting Adams as a nature bazaar, and I’m the whole time trying not to be too excited. How can Adams County, Ohio be as good as she suggests it will be.

Easy! With beautiful June days, Adams County totally delivered. Lynx Prairie and Kamama Prairie, both wildlife reserves, were stunning! Just stunning!

It’s a Hit! when you see a butterfly all new to you, and then you see more and more of them, as here, Jeff buzzed! with Butterflyweed ( an Asclepias milkweed ) covered with a fresh flight of Edwards Hairstreaks. Sweet colors that douse your eyes with beauty! These hairstreaks worked the flowerhead methodically, and courteously allowed my approach, and presence. Angela delivers, for sure.

Jeff

Excitement about a Monarch Butterfly on Beechwood Boulevard

Posted
Filed under Monarch, Pittsburgh, PA
Monarch butterfly photographed by Jeff Zablow at Raccoon Creek State Park

Monarch butterfly photographed by Jeff Zablow at Raccoon Creek State ParkA

A sight for sore eyes! Petra and I arrived home last night, completing an 188 miles drive down from Frewsburg, New York. This image was captured in Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County, southwestern Pennsylvania. This very morning I looked out of our window, to the side yard, and its ‘peanut’ garden. And what did I see? A female Monarch butterfly, like this one, flying to and fro amongst my 26 common milkweed plants. Yippee! She may then head to the 30 or so milkweeds in the front garden, and set her Monarch Caterpillar eggs nicely there, too.

This is the 4th year that our milkweeds ( Asclepias syriaca) are in, purchased from Monarch Watch at the University of Kansas. They are beautiful this year, 5-6 footers, with big round flower heads.

We pushed off for this most recent trip on June 12th, and arrived back home on June 21st. Adams County in the south of Ohio was our destination. We met other naturalists there, and spent days visiting fens, wooded trails and prairies. Fantastic , it was, with knowledgeable friends, discovering rare orchids, showy orchids, rare botany. Why, why did America allow its prairies to be developed? They are habitat of boundless life and beauty.

My slide film ships to Kansas tomorrow, and I wait. Images of Northern metalmarks, coral hairstreaks, Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars, Zebra swallowtails on butterflyweed(!), Common ringlet, robust pipevine swallowtails and Edward’s hairstreaks, abound. I simply cannot wait to share.

Pumping that anticipation is my desire to see the fruit of my new Cannon 100mm/2.8 lens, with, with image $tabilizer. Will it, can it, deliver?

Appreciative, I am.

Jeff