***Published in National Wildlife Federation's August/September 2014 issue*** **Published in National Wildlife Federation's August 2012 issue.** This group of Two-tailed Swallowtails was just a few of the approximately 30 butterflies that were "puddling" in the parking lot of a picnic area in the Huachuca Mountains in southeastern Arizona. Whatever they were licking from the mud and gravel made them so "stoned" that I was able to get very close to them for this shot.
Garden Visitor ~ I had always seen photos of Praying Mantises before, but had never seen one in real life. I was watering my Boston Fern on my patio, and there it was. He was a welcome visitor.
