So many butterflies, so little time....

These are just a few of the pictures I made at Butterfly world in Coconut Creek, FL last week. This place really surprised me. Walking in, hundreds of butterflies were fluttering around me. Such a wonderful experience! Their sound is not loud but you sure can hear them fluttering around. They move the air around you. Especially when they are in these big numbers. My camera and I didn't know where to start. So many butterflies, so little time!









One of the girls that worked there told me there are 10.000 butterflies in their facility. And that number sure looked right. Never seen this many, at the same time. She also told me that the owners of Butterfly world are second generation Dutch immigrants. She, herself even visited The Netherlands. Funny how a simple question, as how many butterflies are out here, brings me to exchanging info about the Dutch again.







Besides all the butterflies they have lots of Hummingbirds and a great number of finches flying around. Which I love hearing singing their songs. What a great place!
















Had to check this one twice.... It was hiding in one of the trees and it looked like it did not have a head.... Hmmm.... Strange right? So like I said had to check it out. But finally did find the kind of important missing body part tucked away under one of the wings. Still resulted in a funny picture, I think. ;-)




Might have to revisit, when not in Summer. Because it was very, I mean very hot this time. But still very glad I went! What a fun place to visit! 
Butterfly world in Coconut Creek near Ft. Lauderdale in Florida.

Hi there!

Little miss Harper!

Are you having some fun yet?

My kinda girl! Always, always, always, make time to stop and smell the roses pink flowers!

 

Tales of toads

Last week I went to the Cape Fear botanical gardens in Fayetteville, NC. If you have never been, try to go whenever you are in the area. It really is a beautiful garden. They have areas for children and an old farm setting with vegetable garden and all. Furthermore you can go for a nice walk through the woods and along the river. Along my walk I ran into lots of beautiful flowers and plants, but also this thing!



A playset for grownups! Totally cool right? So just had to try it! Never ever grow up!
So as I am minding my own business I hear all sorts of tales being told by frogs that must be living in the little pond right in front of it. So had to check it out and saw these two.



They weren't all that happy with me zooming in on them and their eyes were just directing me to go back to my playset!



Seriously! Enough already!



Very convincing pose too, I might say. But what a great place! And yes.... that kind of playset would look so good in my backyard ;-)

Surreal NC sunset

Last night a big storm blew through and clouds were passing by quickly. When I looked outside around 8 pm I saw these beautiful sunrays coming through.

The sky was breathtaking beautiful. I was just in awe. Had to stay outside and watch nature's sunset show!

All the colors in the clouds and the sky changed so quickly because of the strong wind. It really was a surreal sight. It had been very muggy during the day, but the storm kicked the humidity out. So nice and that all paired up with this sunset......

Just perfect!

Cat portraits....

Big cat portraits that is....









Their big cat eyes reveal their personalities in such a great way!

Wherever the camera takes me

My camera and I have seen some nice & interesting places over time. Beautiful landscapes, architecture & nature. But this one was different. It started with, "Hey Petra, I need a picture for work that shows my hobby, could you do that?". Hmmmm, that sounds like fun. Sure! And so I ended up in this different time & place!

Where they had nice bike shops and old fashioned drive-in burger places.

There was even this little gas station, where service must have been great.

I mean pretty special, if you ask me. And all was in close proximity of a rail road crossing....

And yes, trains were passing left and right....

Fun place right? Oh and then, I almost forgot, there was the picture for work of course!