Come with me while I do a bit of time travel. Leaving the snow, ice and invigorating cold, we emerge in the sweltering heat and humidity of midsummer. Be sure to bring along your insect spray. Ticks are everywhere. And watch where you step, snakes are active too.

I’ve come upon these photos of Hackberry Emperors (Asterocampa celtis) as I’m going through my innumerable images, giving them keywords, so that I can find them. An ever present task. A must. You wouldn’t believe how many picts I have. Impossible to find things without those keywords.

And here we have brown winged insects. These Hackberry Emperors are not moths but are butterflies. Not impressive colors like many would expect but nonetheless butterflies. The “Hackberry” of its name is this butterfly’s only host plant and is the food source for its larvae. And now, traveling back to beautiful cold winter.