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Butterfly eyes

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance

Good morning everyone-On a recent trip I experienced for the first time seeing butterflies in a butterfly house. It is rather like a greenhouse for butterflies with plants and such that butterflies love. It was so fun and so cool to have all these different butterflies flitting all around you. There were so many pretty ones that I had never seen before.

This one particular kind called (forest mort bleu) was very elusive to capture with its wings open. I tried many times with no luck. I discovered it looked totally different with the wings open vs with its wings closed. This is the picture I captured of several of them all on one of the walls of the building they were in with their wings closed.  The contrast with their wings open and closed is incredible. They have the most beautiful blue that covers the entire portion of the inside of their wings.

Picture of the forest mort bleu butterfly with their wings open.

The other thing that I found fascinating about these butterflies is the part on their outside of their wing that looks like an eye.  They have many predators so this maybe a way they camoflauge themselves or scare their predators away with something that looks like a scary eye.  One fact I learned when I was there is that an average buttefly only lives about 40 days.

This garden is called Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens and is located in Richmond Va. If you are ever in the Richmond area this would be a great place to visit.  It is one of the top gardens in the U.S. and voted America's #2 public garden by USA Today and by the Travel Channel as the best botanical garden.

Posted by

Sharon Lee

Comments (40)

Steffy Hristova
HomeSmart Elite Group Tempe AZ Tel: 602.710.8161 - Tempe, AZ
Tempe AZ Realtor - Your Home Close to Your Work!

Sharon, it looks similar to the Buck-eye that I saw at the Butterfly Exhibit in Desert Botanical Gardens.

Quite fascinating.

Buckeye in Desert Botanical gardens

Aug 08, 2015 10:36 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Debbie Gartner -I think it is anywhere between 30-40 days. I was so surprised of the difference between the inside and outside of their wings.

Steffy-They are fascinating for sure. I will have to visit that place when I visit Arizona.

 

Aug 08, 2015 11:28 PM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Sharon Lee My Dad is a Ph.D Entomologist and I took Insect Taxonomy while in undergrad school. Butterflies are perhaps one of Nature's  more beautiful creations. They really are facinating to study. Good post.

Aug 08, 2015 11:29 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I am so glad that I didnt miss your post, thanks to Kathy's weekly summary!

Aug 08, 2015 11:30 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I have seen a few Butterfly Gardens that were inclosed in screen but I never went inside.  I think I might need to do that now. 

Aug 09, 2015 01:44 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Thank you Sandy and Norm-I love butterflies and have many things they like in my garden

Thank you Kristin

Evelyn-I think you would enjoy it immensely. It is a cool experience.

Aug 09, 2015 09:36 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

How lovely. Nothing can ever compare with the wonders Mother Nature provides.

Aug 11, 2015 05:21 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

I totally agree Barbara Jo

Aug 11, 2015 07:05 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

They are exquisite! 

Aug 12, 2015 09:25 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Pat Starnes I totally agree

Aug 12, 2015 07:08 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I'm stopping by to say hello. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Aug 17, 2015 10:09 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Hi Debbie Laity Thank you and I appreciate that and wishing you the same.

Aug 17, 2015 11:00 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Hi Sharon, Butterflies with large eyes!! A great way to fend off preditors!  Great photos and lovely blue wings!

I bet you have butterflies in your garden!

Sep 01, 2015 02:33 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Gloria Todor -I would think it would scare lots of predators away, Those blue wings on the inside were stunning and a huge surprise. I have several butterfly bushes in my garden. I have had some this year but not as many as the first yr. More bees than butterflies.

Sep 01, 2015 03:27 AM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

We are experiencing the same thing with our butterfly bush Sharon. Actually many little butterflies or moths....many bees.  I am thinking of planting milk weed to attract monarchs.   Next year!

Take care!

Sep 02, 2015 02:32 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Gloria Todor -Same here too. Now I have butterfly weeds which is in the milkweed family and this year I have had these on them.Milkweed bugs

I do hope they come back and they didn't kill them. I read where milkweed is invasive. Here are my butterfly weeds which butterflies and bees like but there again this yr more bees than butterflies

 

Sep 02, 2015 02:55 AM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I love the blue on the inside of their wings. With their wings folded, they look more like a moth. Thanks for sharing your pictures, Sharon. 

Apr 01, 2016 09:51 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Debbie Laity -I agree they do and I loved the comtrast.  Enjoy your weekend with Mike.

Apr 01, 2016 05:40 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

They are neat looking on both sides, Sharon. I like planting to attract butterflies to my garden. I'm starting to see more swallowtails, and I really enjoy them. 

Jan 17, 2017 04:56 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Debbie Laity They are indeed. I had quite a few swallowtails in mine

Jan 17, 2017 06:21 PM