Homage

My latest miniature painting is a tribute to the beautiful Swallowtails that grace our springtime with their bright colors and delicate beauty.

Black Beauty

The black coloration version of the Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly ~

This particular azalea bush is a butterfly favorite. Can you find the 5 swallowtail butterflies in this photograph?  (Left click on the photo for a larger size)

Butterflies are Back!

The azaleas and lilacs are in full bloom, and the swallowtail butterflies are back to enjoy them :)

Easter/Spring Art

Here are a few of my miniatures … special to this time of year 🌼

Easter Sunday 🐇

🐰🌷🐰 Happy Easter 🐰🌷🐰

Beautiful Spring Day

A sparkly day here today with a gentle breeze blowing through the trees.

Montage of budding trees

The scent of lilac blossoms is heavenly!

Patio garden is starting to take shape

Pretty Full Moon

Full moon through the treetops ~ with a little color added for dramatic effect :)

Today's Sights

Such a beautiful day here today, with bright sunshine and cool, comfortable temps. Spring's beauty continues to unfold daily. This afternoon, we got a closer look at the largest woodpecker in our area, the pileated woodpecker. One of these huge, red crested birds bonked into our front window. Alarmed and worried the bird injured itself had us racing outdoors to check on him, only to see him fly off to a nearby tree. He took his time resting in the tree after the incident, allowing me to get some photos. After I was done taking pictures, he found his home tree and was out of sight. Apparently, he was not the worse for the wear and was doing okay after his ordeal.

Pileated Woodpecker

Newly opened violets

Praying Mantis Egg Case in Azalea Bush

Pendulous Bleeding Heart Blossoms

Flicker Fun

One ...

Two ...

Three Flickers!!!

The flickers in the final photo appeared to be doing something equivalent to a high-five with their beaks … it was some sort of happy greeting anyway :)

More Welcome Sights

Spring continues to unfold around our home in the mountains ...

Grape Hyacinth

More pretty daffodils

Peach tree blossoms unfurling

Spring Chronicles Continued

When Spring finally arrives, there are daily changes … more flowers blooming and tree buds opening, and everywhere more refreshing emerald green colors. Our yard goes through a succession of colors. The earliest part of spring is dominated by yellow. The yellow of the ornamental cherry tree blossoms, of forsythia bushes, and daffodils blooming. Next, the pinks of the peach tree blossoms and azalea bushes come alive. As the outdoors awakens from it's winter dormancy, the earth celebrates in a tapestry of living color.

Clump of daffodils in bloom

Bright yellow forsythia

Peony sprouts

Periwinkle Vinca flowers

Return of the chives to Gerome the Gnome's Garden

The woods coming alive with budding trees