In my last post, I shared some shots of the lovely Monarchs I encountered at Smith-Gilbert Gardens, but I’ve had some butterfly beauty in my own backyard as well.

This female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail popped in just prior to a storm the other day. She was flitting about the blossoms of the aptly named Butterfly Bush.

You can tell this one is a female by the wide band of blue at the base of her wings. The males have black in place of the blue.

You can also tell that she is fairly fresh from the chrysalis because her colors are still shimmery and she has both of her tails intact. Those tails, by design, make easy targets for predators!

It’s hard to believe that this beauty was once an odd looking leafy green caterpillar! I guess this is one of those creatures that reminds us that it’s possible for our lives to change in wonderful ways!