"Variety of Passion"...

The Gulf fritillary or passion butterfly is a striking, medium-sized butterfly. I was fortunate to get to photograph several of these over a long period recently, and I have the sunburn to prove it. (ha)
With many attempts, including this one, I tried to capture each side of the wings in a single frame, so you can easily see how stunning it is on both the dorsal (top) view and ventral (underside) view. The top view is a deep orange with black streaks, with the underside an amazing mix of colors and white spots. The top view has many cool facets that I will explain in more detail on future photographs, where I have captured more awesome detail.

Gulf fritillary (Dione vanillae).
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # DSCF5980c16x9.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

 

"Nature's Pathways"...

I like how these trees seem to create a fork in the path, as if there's a path to the right that is inviting, but also that begs the question, what about left?

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # DSCF5785bws.
(c) Kelly Shipp

 

 

"The Queen"...

The Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus) is a stunning creature. If you can catch the sunlight on their wings, they become a spectacular deep orange. The white spots are mesmerizing as you look more closely. It's always a treat to photograph these creatures.

The Queen is a moderately large butterfly, with an average wingspan of approx. 3.2 inches. It is easily distinguishable from its relative the monarch by its darker brown ground color, and lack of stripes decorating the wings. It possesses a very tough and flexible chitinous exoskeleton, unlike most other butterflies. I'll be sharing more photos that depict this detail.

Taxonomy: The Queen is a member of the genus Danaus, which includes D. plexippus (monarch) and D. eresimus (soldier). It is of the family Nymphalidae of the order Lepidoptera. There are as many as eleven subspecies recognized.

Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Arkansas.
Photo # K05_7851_16x9c.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Nature's Mix of Leaves"...

Trees in forest, Dancing Rabbit Trail,
Crowley's Ridge State Park, Arkansas.
Photo # IM7_3792bwb.
(c) Kelly Shipp

"Cadron Dreams"...

There's just something about the trees in this park. They each have their own place in the landscape, as if they have their own message and story to tell.

Cadron Settlement Park is a 150-acre park maintained by the City of Conway, but owned by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Cadron Settlement Park is 99 miles by water from Indian Territory, the end of the Trail of Tears Water Route.

Conway, Arkansas.
Photo # P1030403bw16x9m.
(c) Kelly Shipp