Hello Hello there!
Come on over for a visit at my house, won'tcha?
The butterfly bonanza has gotten insanely unbelievable over the last handful of days.
There are so many butterflies I can hardly believe it.
I know I talked about this the other day, however, I don't want my photos to stay hidden
in my photo files forever, so I just had to share.
I took all of these yesterday and today.
I think my nature loving senses are heightened because I have been in grueling 24 hour renewal courses for 3 days, for my previous career (real estate, you have to renew every 2 years).
9 hours for two days, and 6 for another.
I keep everything up to date and my license active, just in case, you know?
I am fond of back-up plans myelf.
I mean myself.
Well, my elf too.
But you know.
😉
So…
You have to pass all these on-line exams with 80%, it's insane and long.
Long long long.
Pleasant, but very long.
While I was attending the University of Arizona, my junior year, my dad convinced me to spend my summer in real estate school. (I was 21 or so)
Then you have to take national and state exams.
So I did. It was hard studying times.
And 2 years after graduating from the U of A with a bachelor's degree, I went into real estate.
After doing a little interior design, and running my jewelry making business simultaneously.
All the while painting and painting and creating by night.
I did so many jewelry and art shows throughout those years.
Boundless endless energy I had.
I was in real estate for about 8 years (doing art/jewelry shows still),
and then I plunged into my art world full time.
And so, here we are.
Almost 6 years now.
Not that you wanted to know all of that, haha!
Anyhow, I am bewitched by butterflies these last few days, after that visit into my past life.
Just when I thought it could not get any better in the butterfly department.
Here's the thing.
Over the last week, the butterflies have multiplied in numbers you only dream about.
I am not stretching the truth either.
There are some places in the garden where you can stand and be enveloped by about 500 butterflies, of all types.
Especially between two tree height desert broom bushes, that are flowering, not far from the cottage.
The photo below was my attempt to share the experience.
Multiply the amount of butterflies in the photo below by about 6, and you can imagine how many butterflies flutter around you.
It's just that they move so fast, it is impossible to photograph the experience properly.
I stand in the middle of them, and I feel like I am in an otherworldly fairy tale.
It is truly worthy of the word, magical.
Truly.
I wish you could see it for yourself.
It feels like a dream.
How on earth did this happen?
I just don't know.
I can't photograph them all, as some are so quick.
But I try as I might.
There are these big sherbet orange ones.
With a tinge of grey on the top wing edges.
And there is this elusive medium/large white one.
With a tinge of ultra light lavender on the wings.
I am on the hunt for that one, camera at my side.
Although I broke my really fancy camera (sobs on floor), so I hope these photos are okay.
(It's at the camera doctor. I hope he can fix it, my extended warranty had expired at Sony)
Sometimes there are 5 butterflies on one flower, but they take off so darn quick.
And fragile little yellow ones…
There are also these below, when open are bright orange. While closed, they meld into the tree bark.
I wonder if these are moths?
Super orange and butterfly-ee once open though.
And of course, the giants below…
I like the photo below because sweetmeanie Matty is in the background.
(Matty short for Matisse)
He is like a cat.
Loves you do death, on his own terms.
Although, he loves me the best.
Then Lovee, then Miles.
Only, he doesn't let me have any friends.
He hates them.
All of them.
He doesn't care how nice anyone is 🙂
(although he seemingly likes grandma)
Last night he slept on the couch, while we watched a movie, with his super warm body pressed up against my left arm so tight, and his head on my chest. Practically purring.
Then I moved less than an inch, and he scoffed angrily, so annoyed was he, and moved to the chair.
Then he shot me a dirty look.
🙂
That's my Matty.
They (Matty and Miles) both just stare at the butters though.
They don't try to catch them like they do with the bees and flies.
Love the wing shape below…
I think butterflies have some fantastical secrets they hold near and dear.
Don't you?
Some wonderland world they come from, bringing a little into this world.
Yes yes, that must be it.
I am so glad they chose to live here.
Right before I took the photo below, there was a butterfly on each flower, but when I snapped, they took off.
Poof.
Just like that.
The towering 8 ft. plant below (there are two next to each other right in front of the cottage), is called a Mexican sunflower. I think.
Pretty sure.
(Tithonia rotundifolia)
Yay, so glad to be back!!!
Woo hoo!!
I felt like those 3 days would never end 🙂
Party time!
Loove, V
Vanessa….
I am speechless! I can’t believe all the butterflies. I my heart is a flutter! I adore butterflies. I even put them into my art.
Oh to live in a desert wonderland with so many many many butterflies.
Thank you for taking the time to share the photos. My heart feels better now. I was exhausted. I got up at 4:30 am to set up my annual buy one get one free sale in my shop and, well, I ended up having one of my silly panic attacks, which always leave me so tired. I guess I didn’t get enough sleep last night. But, your butterflies reminded me that there’s still hope! 🖤🖤
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
It looks to me like you are smack in the middle of their migratory path! They were probably flying over head and saw your beautiful magical gardens and just couldn’t resist making a pit stop! Lucky you!!
Thanks so much for sharing these pictures! I’m glad the butterflies chose to live there, too, so you could take such beautiful photos of them. 🙂
Eeeekkk…I had to come back again and look at the photos! I can’t get over those butterflies. I have to show this to my daughter!
xoxo
Kim
Oh Miss Vanessa What a lovely sight to see. Butterflies everywhere you look. Of course all of your photos are suitable for framing…up close and personal. I bet you ae still smiling from your magical experience with you most beautiful butterflies.
Thank you for sharing.
That is amazing! Is it like that every year?
We don’t get anything like that in the Chicago area.
Hello Laura, no not very year, like this. But I did notice many many
many gobs more caterpillars this year, and lots and lots of vines eaten.
Like a whole tree covered in passion fruits vines is naked right now. So,
they really have built up over the last handful of years, more and more every
year. Its such a nature gift, its amazing. I am still in awe of it
all. 🙂
Kimcakes, I am letting some of them know to make some of your heartful
wishes come true, okay??? xoxo
Beverly, I did think that too, on some of them. Others i know were
caterpillars here, but there is A LOT of this one orange butter, so I think you
might be right 🙂
Thank you, sweetest Vanessa. I will keep my heart and eyes open for my butterfly wishes.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Wow! That’s pretty darn incredible. And so many varieties too! I can only imagine how magical it must be to stand amongst them. I’ve experienced something similar only once before – walking through the rainforest we came across a sun-dappled opening where thousands upon thousands of butterflies were fluttering around – apparently it happens once a year for only three days. Lucky.
The photos are fantastic by the way. Beautiful.
Ridiculous amount of mariposas!!!! If only I could be there and experience it too!!!!
I would not like to take a test or a class…glad it is done for you.
I GOT YOU A SURPRISE TODAY!!! Ferreal! But I don’t have your address …ya know…
It’s all those beautiful flowers that you work so hard to grow. The message went out in the plant world that yours was a safe haven garden. Then it passed from the plants to the flying creatures. I bet next year, it will be even better. The photos are wonderful! Glad to see you back and free from your classes! 🙂
love & blessings
~*~
Truly a Fanciful twist to a girl who gives her life to her lovely but challenging garden!
I do believe Mother Nature has blessed you! It is truly magical the way they flutter about you and such variety. Then again Vanessa, I am not surprised, you must have the most beautiful gardens in Arizona!!! 😉 Thank you for sharing <3
I’m Ssooo glad you had another camera for back ups. Sorry about your other camera. Hope its back in hand soon and ready for some more brilliant Fanciful business!<3
Amazing!
Wow! I’ve always heard New Mexico referred to as the land of enchantment, but I think your part of Arizona is the REAL land of enchantment! So beautiful…
Blessings,
Victoria
Wow! All those butterflies, that is incredible.
I’m sure it’s because you have created such a magical home for them. They are repaying all your hard work. 🙂
I have looked at so many blogposts of flowers today – all so beautiful! Yours is the first with a plethora of butterflies! Love these pics – they have brightened my day even more! xx
Oh wow! That is truely a magical experience. I had a recent experience while taking some photos for my Etsy shoppe. A Huge migration of ity bity orange delicate butterflies everywhere! Landing all over me and my linens I was trying to photo, all over the trees and tables. I felt so truely touched by the experience, I tried for hours to capture their beauty on film, they were quick beauties. I mannaged to get a few shots, but will forever remember the magic and pure bliss they left me with that day:) I love this post:) Xo
Holy gossamer wings of fluttery beauty, yard girl! I think you’ve seen more butterflies in 2 days than i have in my whole life!!! But I’m going with theory #2…they DO have secrets, and they decided your place made of wishes and dreams and magic was the best place to whisper them.
I bet you’ll have sweet dreams.
(and not just ’cause you finished that stinky ol testing binge. Although it’s good to think real hard sometimes, to make sure the concentrating on stuff part of your brain still works. Like mine-steel trap, obviously. BWAHAHAHAHA)
Viva la Veevala Flutter-bys!!!
XOXOVIVIXOXOX
Just a few weeks ago I was on the beach in Kennebunkport Maine and the monarchs were embarking on the end of summer migration to South America. All day they were everywhere – it was amazing to see them! Not just because of the sheer numbers but because they were MOVING, not stopping to flit about as you would expect from a butterfly. They were on their way! I smile to think maybe some of those same butterflies I saw stopped off in your lovely garden to say hello to you. Smart butterflies!
Amazing!! I’ve never seen so many butterflies at the same place at once! Not even in a butterfly house (we have one in sweden). I would think it’s because you are such a busy gardener who grows lots of flowers 🙂
Adoro a las mariposas,son tan libres y bellas.
Besos
I believe they are angels visiting us. You take care of them with all your hard work in the garden so they know exactly where and when to visit. Blessings🖤
Good for you to keep up with plan B, it will serve you well one day Miss Vanessa.
That is the only regret I have, other than marrying badly, that I choose rebellion over education. Your magical creativity is a joy to many. Nature will show us the way…..🖤Debi
Wow, that is truly amazing! I’ve never seen anything like that. What a mystical place you live, my friend. Such beautiful photos as well! xo
A fairy tale land of butterflies! And such gorgeous photographs you’ve taken of them! Enjoy being back in your natural wonderland Vanessa p.s. I thought Matty was probably short for Matisse, knowing you! Great name for the beautiful boy x
Absolutely incredible! Thank you so much for sharing! The pale yellow with the fancy wings!!! Amazingly beautiful. Oh how I wish I was there.
Probably because of all the watering you do you probably have the best flowers in the area! Their favorite diner so to speak! lol. So lovely for you……I remember while in TX how incredibly magical the Monarch migration was…I had never experienced that before and may well never again….just kinda left one speechless…hugs! deb
Oh they are so pretty!! They must congregate there because of all your beautiful flowers. When my boys where little they got to the place in Mexico where all the Monarchs migrate to. They said it was amazing, wish I had been with them that time. I would love to see that. Maybe these guys are all migrating through your yard on the way to their winter lands.
Thank you for sharing your lovely photos!!
Tracy M.
Wow its a butterfly surprise party just for you!!! How wonderful is that!!!
I think they threw this huge butterfly party because they knew you have had some bumpy events this season and needed to close summer with total magical awesomeness.
Enjoy this glorious butterfly happening!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie
I am amazed at how many butterflies are in your fairytale gardens. I haven’t even seen some of the types you snapped photos of. I haven’t seen that many butterflies gathered together EVER in one place! Wow…. I am in awe. I love it when their delicate legs tickle your hand or face in passing…or when they land on your head or arm. I am so glad your furry boys don’t bother the butterflies…they must know the butterflies are magical and that they are your FRIENDS! Probably the only friends Matty doesn’t growl at! Hope your brain isn’t ‘fried’ by the real estate license renewal…but I am sure it is worth it in the long run.
Gosh! This year has flown just way too fast and was full of so many bizarre things at every turn. I am glad we all survived whatever it was we were dealing with. This year made life more precious than ever before for many people.
Wishing you more magic as the year flows into this beautiful fall season…
hugs, and butterfly kisses, which I am sure you are receiving lots of those!!!
Miss Teresa
Vanessa dear, the butterflies are SO amazing! I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in a whole cloud of them! You zinnias are still wonderful, as well!
Hugs,
Anne
What an enchanted world you live in!! I love the pics where you can see the flutter of the wings…what a talented photographer you are!!! I am jealous of your warm sunny days and butterflies at this time of year…but here in Canada we have the most glorious fall colors! (((Warm hugs)))
Wow…it’s like being in one of those Butterfly aviaries at a museum…but at your own house….and they’re free…
Free to enchant, delight and propagate as Nature intended!
What a show!!
Your butterflies are phenomenal. The shots are just amazing. I think if I were you I would leave my camera at home sometimes and just stand in the middle and relish their magic. It was great reading about your past life – it’s always a treat to read your post. Diane
Diane,
Oh I do, everyday. Its wonderful!! I had to remind myself to
take photos. They are so very magical!! Thanks for saying that about
past life tales. Makes me feel good to know, you are
lovely!!
it must have been like being in a butterfly exhibit…except BETTER! How amazing, what a wonderful gift to have experienced.
You are lucky. It would be dreamy to be surrounded by butterflies like that. Someone may have posted this, but I think moths have fuzzy antennae and butterflies have smooth antennae. So I think that bark colored one, if I was seeing it correctly, was a butterfly. I love the purpley bluey ones.
Oh butterflies I love them we have a few here in Alaska but not the ones you have. By the way I love using your sweet post cards in gifts and for short notes. I adore the one of the cute shoes, so magical, but that is you! Nan
Oh honey! This is just so magical!! I have been surrounded by butterflies these past months. So happyto have stopped by!x…x
sorry for the fat finger phone typing 🙂
Holy wow… I simply cannot BELIEVE how many butterflies you have there! =D
It’s like magic… ^-^
Glad to hear you made it through your renewal course, but hope you don’t have to go back to being a real estate agent any time soon (ever…), unless you reeeeeeeaaaaaly want to. ^-^
XOXO
It would be amazing indeed to have all those butterflies nearby. Just beautiful!
Me tooooooooo!! ;))))
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 10/13/2012 12:46:07 A.M. US Mountain Standard Tim,
Fat Finger phone typing, tee heeeeeeeeeeeee!! Oh its so good to see
you!! xoxo
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 10/12/2012 8:20:18 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Sweet Erin, oh that is a great tip!! I had not idea 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 10/12/2012 8:05:14 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Val, yes! it is awesome out there. Sort of other worldly, like
the brain wont compute 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 10/11/2012 9:23:12 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Butterflies are sooooo very magical. They amaze me with their beauty and fragility. And I feel graced by their presence. Oh to be surrounded by so many – what an enchantment! There is a place I like to visit called Magic Wings in Massachusetts. http://www.magicwings.com/ It’s like fairy land.
Ooooooooooooooo!!! Awesome!! Hellooo Miss Theresa!! You lovely lovely
friend!! xoxo
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 10/16/2012 6:02:28 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I love this photos, they are all amazing!