Juniper Hairstreak Butterfly

Butterfly season is in full swing here in New England. My goal this year is to see (and photograph) as many new butterflies as I can. To that end I took a drive to Woburn Ma, in early May, for a visit with some friends and an afternoon inspecting foliage at Horn Pond. I was … Continue reading Juniper Hairstreak Butterfly

Why Butterflies?

It's almost butterfly season again. The earliest butterflies, Mourning Cloaks, commas, sometimes come out in March. It's time to start looking. When I said as much to a friend she asked what it was about butterflies that drew me. The following is my answer. I owe butterflies a debt. I discovered them during the COVID … Continue reading Why Butterflies?

Exploring Small Butterflies

I was out butterflying the other day, looking for hairstreaks. I was hoping to see either a banded or a striped hairstreak, both of which are relatively common in Vermont. That doesn’t mean easy to find. Hairstreaks are small butterflies, often with a drab background color broken up by occasional bright spots or streaks. They … Continue reading Exploring Small Butterflies

Spring Fertility

We're having babies left and right! First the Rosy Maple Moth now not one or two but 5 Cecropia Moths. They hatched from eggs given to me by a caterpillar friend (everyone needs one). Caterpillars start life as tiny things and literally eat themselves out of their skin. They grow too large for their body … Continue reading Spring Fertility