A Black Swallowtail in Cherry Blossoms – and a Spring Azure
Late in the morning, under a sunny, deep blue sky, the air cool and calm, a Black Swallowtail butterfly flew into the lush, filmy pink blossoms of a cherry tree in a neighbor’s yard. It was the first butterfly I’ve seen this season, and it made a very pretty picture, nectaring in the cloud of pink flowers, its big black wings tinged with blue, and spots of white and orange all fresh and bright. Looking very content to be where it was, it moved only from blossom to blossom, and obligingly turned all around as it moved, showing first its upper side, with wings spread; then the lower side, with wings folded; then the upper side, wings spread again. With wings folded up, at one time, the sunlight shined through them so they looked a clear brownish-black with orange spots.
Only a few minutes later, and further down the road toward home, a Spring Azure fluttered by me, a transitory puff of powder-blue, quickly gone. My second butterfly of the season, and I’m sure there are many more around, if I only stayed outside to look.