BUTTERFLY ART

My obsession with butterflies and moths has grown over the past few months. It began out of a need to identify and showcase the caterpillars that had invaded my community garden in Harlem and to pair them with their adult butterfly or moth stage. I also wanted other gardeners to understand the reasons why I grew particular 'weedy' plants and did not share their habit of cutting back or removing every spent plant from each bed during our winter clean-up sessions.

However, my fascination with butterflies and moths dates back to my early childhood when masses of Urania leilus moths floated on the air in search of food and breeding grounds. We called them 'police butterflies' for their black coloring with highlights of blue, green and white. As kids we often found hundreds of these day-flying moths along roads and sidewalks as many were damaged or perished during their migration across the Caribbean and South America. Sadly, the phenomenon has become much less common in recent years. 

I've absorbed lepidoptera information and started a little painting project. Unlike the abstract paintings 'field paintings' of the past 2+ decades, I rekindled a practice from my childhood: an exercise in seeing and reproducing details. I studied my many photographs of butterflies and moths and also looked at tons of images online. I wanted to give each painting a level of realism and render the subjects with their approximate wingspans and each in a size relative to other species. After a few hours of painting I found myself enjoying the focus on symmetry and detail. Now, a few months later, I have amassed a small collection of paintings.

You can find various versions of these paintings on Etsy under the shop name NaturalArtScapes.

Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)

 

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

These small paintings were made with acrylic and permanent  ink  on wood. They are meant to free stand or can be easily hung.

Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)

Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Two Monarchs

 California Sister (Limenitis bredowii)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

This swallowtail is depicted on Buddleia davidii, a non-native species. Buddleia is considered an invasive weed by some gardeners. I've even heard it referred to as junk food for butterflies. I like it. I always have since I noticed it attracts hoards of butterflies. I am also fond of buddleia because I remember it growing as far south as in my mother's garden when I was a child in Trinidad. Very strange, knowing what I know now of this plant's growing range. But, I dare say that my mom was a miracle worker and grew all sorts of unusual plants. There is a Hydrangea macrophylla growing in her garden today.

Red Admiral, Red Spotted Purple and Buckeye

Other butterflies depicted include a Sulfur, Cabbage White, Painted Lady and a Fritillary. My personal favorite is one of the least colorful and not a butterfly. It is the Sphinx Moth. I will soon add the Mourning Cloak butterfly and Dog Face to my collection.

These and other lovely visitors are regulars in my Harlem garden. I have created a haven for them with attractive plants for food and habitat. They add a bit of magic to the garden and to a home.

THE MOON IN BLOOM

THE MOON  (excerpt) - Robert Louis Stevenson

 

“The moon has a face like the clock in the hall; 

She shines on thieves on the garden wall,

On streets and fields and harbour quays, 

And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees."

Mysterious, night-blooming vine in the morning glory family, Ipomea alba was a highlight among tomatoes, butternut squash, peppers and herbs in my little vegetable garden in Harlem. I grew a few plants from seeds collected the previous fall and last summer I was rewarded with an abundance of blossoms. Here are a few more reasons to love the moon.

#1. LOVE IN THE LEAVES 

 Large, medium green heart-shaped leaves soak up the sun's energy to prepare for stages to come.

#2. CURIOUS BEGINNINGS

Young tightly wrapped flowers emerge from curious purple tentacled sepals, elongating with each spiral.

  ENJOY THE JOURNEY THERE.

WAIT 

WAIT

#3. WORTH THE WAIT FOR BEAUTY

  'Heavenly' is the word that best describes moonflower. The large tubular flowers can be 5"-6" in diameter. They are pure white with hints of green and subtle petal venation. 

#4. FOR FRAGRANCE

 Soft evening perfume float on the wing as you walk along West 146 Street in Harlem.

#5. FOR SUSTENANCE

Moonflowers are intoxicating to insects that detect the strong fragrance from far away. Markings on the soft petals guide them towards the long tunnels that lead to nourishing nectar. I have not seen them but bats also love the scent of moonflower and are regular pollinators.

#6. LONG NECK + LONG TONGUE - A PERFECT ECOLOGICAL MATCH

The extremely long proboscis of the sphinx moth is well suited for retrieving nectar which is located at the base of the long throats of moonflowers. The compatible morphology and physiology of both species ensures pollination.

#7. DYING YOUNG AND BEAUTIFULLY

Flowers fade just after one night of radiance but still look lovely with pink flushes.

 #8. PURPLE PEARLS

Beautiful beads of fruit appear and grow more bulbous as they mature.

     

#9. CAPSULES THAT RATTLE WITH THE WIND

Delicate skins enclose pale creamy seeds that resemble pebbles and are almost as hard. Ideally pods should be left on the vine until seeds are mature and rattle when shaken. However, frost damages seeds. Be vigilant and harvest mature pods to dry indoors before frost hits. 

# 10. STARTING AGAIN

Each seed hold the sparks for a new pant. The temperatures and moisture of late Spring are perfectly combined to trigger the beginning of another purposeful, beautiful and abundant new life.