The tall stalks of Liatris in our front yard have given us a variety of joy over the years. If they are not attracting bees and butterflies, they wave gracefully in the wind. Earlier, I posted photographs of a Monarch butterfly enjoying the flower nectar. Since then, the stalks hosted an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly.
Liatris Hosts Butterflies
I mentioned in the previous post that the swallowtails have not returned in two years. Well, just o make a liar of me, an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail showed up a few days after I photographed the addendum photograph in the previous post. I still had the Canon 5D Mark IV on the table and I took this set with that. On the second try, it did not feel as heavy. Heavy, but not as heavy!
The previous one I photographed had a large part of its wing missing. Yet, it did not seem to bother it as it fluttered from one Liatris to the next with no apparent difficulty. This one had one of its tails missing, also not bothered by it at all. It entertained, pleased us, and graced the Liatris.
Liatris Moves in the Wind
A few days later, when it was a little windy, I took my M5 mounted with a 24-70 EF-L lens mounted, I wanted to photograph the Liatris itself as it waved in the wind. This time, using a high aperture and slow shutter speed, I captured the graceful movement of Liatris. I am sharing with you the ones that show how well the Liatris graces the garden and pleases the eye. At least mine.
Click on the images to see them larger, uncropped, and read their titles.
Monarch Butterfly Flutterby
Aaron Usher
Nice series of images, Cemal! I really love the motion with the Liatris in the wind.
A. Cemal Ekin
Thanks, Aaron. I like that series as well. As I said elsewhere, there is a lot of luck involved. But, “Luck favors the prepared mind -Pascal.”
James Turner
Very pleasing images Cemal.
A. Cemal Ekin
Thanks, Jim. I bet they look better larger.
Cemal
Bill Clark
Beautiful images. Motion makes for a nice contrast to the sharpness of the first images. Love how your model cooperated with color and composition! Elegant series.
A. Cemal Ekin
Ah, Bill, the modeling fee was fresh Liatris nectar! You said at some point you have Liatris as well, do you get visitors?
Cemal
Paul
Love the series of images especially when the Liatris is in motion
A. Cemal Ekin
Well, what can I say, Liatris Pleases!!!
Take care, Paul,
Cemal
Haluk Atamal
Very nice shots and very pleasing to the eye those blurred flowers. I liked them most. Somehow I could not find the Turkish word for Liatris – can you hint?
Take care and best regards,
Haluk
A. Cemal Ekin
Oh, my reply disappeared! I was probably still a bit foggy from the anesthetics and forgot to hit the post comment button, Haluk. I am glad to hear that Liatris pleased you as well. Another name for it is Gayfeather. And in Turkish, I think there are two very suitable names. Değnek çiçeği and Işaret çiçeği are very descriptive. When I was a pipe smoker, I used to call them pink pipe cleaners!
Take care,
Cemal
Deb Page
Cemal,
Nicely done !! Beautiful Monarch and Swallowtail. The liatris in motion is interesting as well.
A. Cemal Ekin
Thanks, Deb,
When the subject shines, we only do the capturing. Take care,
Cemal