The Butterflies and Blooms exhibit is back and better than ever at CBG.  People who know me know I love butterflies and photographing them.  I think my fascination with them began when I started teaching 3-year-olds the life cycle of the butterfly every spring.  We would raise butterflies in the classroom and then let them go towards the end of the school year.  When you begin to see the world through the eyes of a preschooler, it reawakens that sense of wonder about nature and its creatures.  The more I read about butterflies and the more I photographed the varieties, even those found in my own gardens at home, I was hooked.  They are gorgeous, interesting creatures and their progression from egg to caterpillar to pupa to butterfly is magical to witness.  For more info on Butterflies and Blooms and on how to photograph butterflies, read my article on the 'Out of Chicago' website posted today.

http://outofchicago.com/butterflies-and-blooms-at-the-chicago-botanic-garden/

Here are a few of the images I have taken since the exhibit opened two weeks ago.

Red Lacewing
Lacewing

My lucky day...I was able to catch a Red Lacewing with wings open!

Red Lacewing                                       

A Paper Kite

Paper Kite              

A Blue Tiger, just released and letting his wings dry, so he was very cooperative with the camera.

Blue Tiger     

Best of all...an Atlas Moth!  He is huge! His sole purpose once he emerges from the pupa is to mate.  He only lives 1-2 weeks, has no mouth parts and lives off his stored fat. Atlas Moth