Phantom of the Mexican Sunflower
Butterflies are gradually becoming more scarce as we slide into the last week of September. However, this weekend I got a lucky capture of a Black Swallowtail on a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia).
This guy’s stance and coloring made me think of Phantom of the Opera, plus it kind of looks like he is wearing a mask. Oh, and look – this photo is a pollinator twofer. There’s a hoverfly at the base of the central disk.
gardeninacity 
Super photo!
Thanks!
What a great photo, the black and orange against the greenery is very effective. To get a shot of the butterfly with the wings spread out like that, yes, it has a Phantom of the Opera look indeed!
That’s what I thought.
What a great shot!
Thanks.
Fabulous photo of the phantom and its companion.
Did the phantom of the opera have a sidekick?
Oh, nice!
Great shot.
Thanks.
Beautiful photo, Jason!
I am kind of proud of it, though it was certainly a lucky shot.
How pretty this shot is! Nice work. I think I’ve seen a wider array of butterflies in my yard this year than in all prior 13 years I’ve lived here. Today I saw a question mark, a first for me! Have you had any butterfly firsts this year?
Yes – the brilliantly named Red-Spotted Purple.
Nice shot!
Lovely photo! We’re just seeing bumblebees and other flower visitors now — no butterflies.
There have been lots of butterflies this week, somewhat to my surprise.
That is a lovely butterfly looking picture perfect on the orange flower. Beautiful
Thanks. Tithonia is a great butterfly plant because the butterflies love it AND they look great on the orange flowers.
A great photo, Jason! The butterfly looks stunning and the flower is beautiful too.
Thank you for your comment. It’s just a dark cloud in my photo (I don’t know the name of the type), not smoke or anything like that. I tried to take the photo from the lowest possible location to hide its lower boundary behind the trees and to make it look like a tornado. 🙂
Happy gardening!
What a great capture! I often think that I should always carry my camera with me as so many shots are missed in the garden.
I know that feeling. Although I find to get really good shots I have to go out with the camera and wait around for something good.
Things are beginning to fade away a bit, but your sunflower and butterfly clearly are holding on. It’s a lovely photo, with one of my favorite of your flowers highlighted.
Thanks.
Oh…beautiful!xxx
Thanks.
LOVE IT!!
Thanks!