Category: Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

Sure glad I had Friday off work and all the chores done so I didn’t have to go outside in the snow.  Much nicer to watch it from my windows.  Of course I didn’t get any snowy canyon photos by staying in, but I stayed warm.

Must be about time to pack the lawn chairs.

And follow this western bluebird south.

The snow melted the next day under bright sunshine and cool to cold temperatures.

Butterflies flutter by so fast I rarely get photos.  Yet the other day at my lunch place on the Walhalla Plateau this almost lazy butterfly posed for a while.

As I ate my PBJ a shadowy motion caught my eye.  I just watched, being sure this little treasure would flit away before I could set down my sandwich and even reach for the camera.  Then it lingered, ever teasing.  So I tempted fate and gobbled down the last bite while slowly reaching for the camera, and still it tarried.

Zoomed full in and cautiously moving closer I took shots rapidly while the wings slowly rose and fell.

The open wings form such a striking white V-patterned contrast to the rich deep velvety brown-black accented with splashes of orange.

The closed wings remind me more of the precision of Tiffany’s fine glass work with sun shinning through.

Once home to my field guides the identification indicated Arizona Sister, a close relative to California Sister.  I guess they are kindred spirits.  Descriptions for the subtle differences can be found here.  They are not typically attracted to flowers and instead sip from sappy tree wounds, dung or rotting carcasses.  Caterpillars dine primarily on the oak tree leaves.  Yet this Sister seemed to appreciate the local flowers.

What’s inspecting your flowers?