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Butterfly playing cards – fun and educational

With help from my artistic friend, Amanda J. Cawby, I have created a set of butterfly playing cards that I hope will combine learning and fun. I would like to encourage kids of all ages to learn to identify and appreciate our native butterflies.

When I know the name of a plant, bird, butterfly, etc., I’m more likely to notice it and connect with it in a different way. There’s a big difference for me between “there goes a big orange butterfly” and “there goes a monarch!”

This deck of cards contains 22 pairs of common Kentucky butterflies that I have photographed in our backyard in Lexington, Kentucky. These butterflies can also be found in most of the eastern United States. The cards are packaged in a clear plastic case, and come with tips for how you can help butterflies, and directions for playing games like “Go Fish,”  Monarch (similar to “Old Maid”), and Memory/Concentration. They can also be used as flash cards.

Butterfly card game graphic

To order, please send your name, address, and phone number, with a check for $15 per set (includes taxes and shipping) to:

Betty Hall Photography
224 Leawood Dr.
Lexington, KY 40502

As of November 1, cards will also be available at Good Foods Market and Café, 455 Southland Dr. in Lexington.  

These cards make great stocking stuffers or birthday gifts for grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends. I like to think of adults using these cards with children as one way to encourage them to enjoy nature and being outdoors.

Tagging a monarch

I finally saw monarchs in the backyard in late August. Soon after that, I found several small caterpillars on my tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) and butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). I brought the caterpillars inside, and they eventually made chrysalises. Recently the first butterfly emerged. The dark spots on the lower wings indicated it was a male.

photo by Amanda Cawby
Photo by Amanda Cawby

Continue reading “Tagging a monarch”

My first monarch of the year!

I’ve missed having monarchs (Danaus plexippus) in the yard this summer, and was delighted to see one nectaring on our Joe-Pye weed (Eupatoriaum fistulosum) recently. However, I didn’t have the camera and didn’t manage to document it.

Joe-pye weed
Joe-Pye weed, a good nectar source for monarchs and other pollinators

Continue reading “My first monarch of the year!”

2nd caterpillar weekend at Natural Bridge

2013-Caterpillar-weekend
Click the image to open the 2-page PDF (700 KB)

Natural Bridge State Resort Park is holding their second Caterpillar Weekend – August 23-24; view the two-page flier (700 KB PDF). I attended this event last year, and was amazed at the variety of caterpillars we discovered.  It was great fun and I learned a lot!

I wish caterpillars were better understood and appreciated. It seems many folks think of them as bad ‘worms’. Caterpillars are not worms – they are one stage in the life cycle of butterflies and moths. Although a few can be classified as pests, most are beneficial. All of them are an important part of nature and the food chain, especially for adult and baby birds.

I am fascinated by caterpillars and appreciate the chance to learn more about them. I look forward to this year’s event and invite you to join us. It’s a great chance to meet others who appreciate nature, and to enjoy one of Kentucky’s beautiful state parks.