I never knew my mom named me after painted ladies. But, she also never told me until very recently that my great-grandmother was a Roma (gypsy) and my grandmother was half Polish…. It’s amazing the stuff your parents never tell you until they get older….
Anyhoo, I digress, here is a painted lady, scientific name Vanessa Virginiensis, part of the Cynthia group on our statice or sea-lavender plants. Someone took a bite out of this Cynthia’s wing.
Initially I thought this was a moth because of the kinda-creepy looking proboscis, but nope, it’s apparently a Cynthia. And nope, don’t ask, my nose is only a little big…….and no, I’m pretty sure this is not why my mom named me Cynthia. Although lately I’m learning a lot from her that is surprising. So, I can’t be too sure on this one…..
These butterflies usually live in mountains, in the warmer parts of the US. They also live in Madeira and The Canary Islands, and of course, The Holler, which is mountainous all the time, but only warm sometimes.
Before this very post I thought I was the only Cynthia living at The Holler…..but no, there’s a bunch of Cynthia’s and Vanessa’s living here too. My husband thought this was funny until I told him not to be too smug. He may think he’s the only James living at The Holler, but et tu Brute……..
This is important. You bloggers need to help me with this. Does anyone know of any bug named James??? Don’t worry if it’s not native, I’m not above planting one here…….it’s for an important cause after all….
Cheers, from all of the Cynthia’s…… (and hopefully Jame’s) at The Holler.
Ha ha that’s so funny! Sorry I don’t know a James bug though…
Dang….I hope someone does. Jim is being smug and saying there are none….HA! I say….HA!
LOL! Cheers to you & thank you too~
Stunning photos!
Mil grazi my friend~
I can’t get over your amazing photos! What type of camera do you use?
I use the newest sony HX300 with a 50x zoom….Such an intelligent camera. I feel the same about your gorgeous photos~
Looked it up!! Fantastic – thank you for the lead…
Aren’t bloggers the best people in the world????? YAY! I am jazzed! James the stonefly…too perfect!! 🙂
🙂
“It’s amazing the stuff your parents never tell you…” 🙂
Isn’t it though…..I am now a proud Polish American, Roma, Bulgarian, Scot…….person!! LOL! I wonder what else she hasn’t told me…..
Hopefully not that you were accidentally switched at birth
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/360/switched-at-birth
Hi Cindy (Cynthia), Never heard this name for butterflies but they resemble some I see around here in the summer. Really stunning photos, Cuz. The color is just awsome. Ya done good !!!
Paul
Painted Ladies !!!!!!!
Thanks cuz….love your last poem!
How awesome… The photos and this family history. Wonderful that your mom shared this with you so you could share it with us. THANKS!
Who knew? I really like being all these things!! 🙂
painted ladies & gypsies, that is pretty cool!!! seriously, beautiful shots Cindy…sorry don’t know any bugs by the name of James…lol
I know!! How cool is that….A Polish, Gypsy, Bulgarian, Scot, Painted Lady!!! I am so proud~
🙂
The butterflies and flowers are beautiful! And I love your little side-story, even if you did digress 😉
Thank you Denise, digressing is always at least as much fun as the topic on hand!! Cheers to you~
Your butterflies are so very cooperative for photos! Stunning flowers, butterflies and wildlife — you do have a paradise all your own out there!
They obviously knew my name is Cynthia! 🙂
Lovely photos and how special to bear the name of beautiful butterflies. As for your heritage – marvellous. There is Jimminy Cricket!!! LOL.
OOOOH! So SMART!! Jimminy Cricket and James the stonefly…..He’ll rue the day he laughed at my butterflies!!!! Thank you~ 🙂
I am sure you wish you had wings like those other Cynthias. I am a big fan of statice by the way.
Yes I do wish I could fly!! And I agree with you about statice…..I planted it all over and it is multiplying like the good plant it is!!! 🙂
Wow! Pawesome photos! I love all the colours and how cool is it you share your name with such beauty! Bisous Bailey
Sweet Bailey!! You are such a smart cat~
No I didn’t find a bug named James.They of course mentioned,Roald Dahl’s book ,”James and the Giant peach. How silly.I gave up.When someone finds one ,I’d be happy to know. You have close connection with butter flies.While my name ‘Chaman’ means a garden.Isn’t it interesting?
Ranu
It is very!! Thanks for the info~
What the beautiful photographs! Amazing colors and butterflies! I haven’t heard of a bug James though yet, if i do, will sure forward you a picture ;))
We’ve gotten Jiminny Cricket and James the stonefly, so we are rocking the James bugs……:) Thank you for your kind words! Cheers~
These are stunning Cindy.
Awww. Thank you Duncan!
Well, you’re certainly in good company among the butterfly group. And, these photos are so lovely. You are masterful. 🙂
I think the butterflies deserve the bulk of the credit!! But thank you my friend!
you did such great close up work, I feel like I KNOW that butterfly personally!! Amazing colors…details…focus. 🙂 brightened my day!
Oh, that makes me happy! Thank you~
Gorgeous colorful photos! 🙂
So kind Danna! Thank you & cheers~
Nooooo … I don’t know of an insect called James … but very happy to name our pet spider James if it will help 😀
Oooh it surely would!!! Now we have Jimminy Cricket, James the stonefly, and your spider named James!! WOO HOO!!! 🙂
heh-heh … hope Jim feels honoured … heh-heh 😀
He’ll learn of it when I post it!!! He is sure to enjoy this little levity…….. 🙂
http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantnop/plectfrutjames.htm
Amazing what a little Google will do ya.
I just put in ‘plants named James. You were looking for a plant too?
http://troubadourtribune.com/2012/08/03/insects-named-after-james-taylor-and-carole-king-apparently/
I found a bug…a stonefly.
I just plugged in ‘insects named James’ and there you go. 🙂
Genius! Genius! Genius!! I love blogging!!! What could be a better et tu Brute than a fly??? And a stonefly to top it!! Hugs & a million thanks. You are a true gem you!!! I will do a post on this and credit you along with the lizard survey results!! 🙂 🙂
Beautiful colors Cindy! Just lovely! 😀
Thank you so much Keli!! Appreciate the kind comments~
Oh, I love the beautiful butterfly 😀
Thank you Yoshiko and cheers to you!
Cindy, welcome and cheers to you too 🙂
These colors are so amazing that they didn’t even really seem, fantastic pictures! 🙂
Very kind my friend! I love the amazing colors in the natural world and I am glad you do too! Cheers to you~
Butterflies and flowers with depth and clarity of colour. Wow. 🙂 jk
So kind of you! Thank you & cheers!
Your world is beautiful. Lovely pix.
Thank you Richard! I enjoy your guitar posts as well! Cheers to you~
Cindy, this is gorgeous!
Very kind! Thank you my friend~
Hallo Cindy das sind ja berauschende schöne Fotos bin total egeistert richtig wundervoll, freue mich schon auf die neuen tollen Fotos die du von deiner Reise mitbringst danke dir für diese schönen Bilder Klaus
Love the story of your name and the connection to the painted ladies…
excellent post.
Peace
That gave me a proud chuckle or three two!! Thanks & cheers~
Have tweeted this post. https://twitter.com/joseph_kanski/status/966493665374982149
So kind, and so appreciated! Thank you & cheers to you~