Gulf Fritillaries' Delight - Emerald Isle

Life slows down on the Island in the fall. 

Traffic jams cease, even on the weekends, 

and the surf shop parking lot is virtually empty.

As a few bargain hunters venture inside to search for late season deals, 

we are drawn to the vacant lot next door, 

occupied by an army of golden asters,  

holding fast their sandy keep, 

despite an onslaught of ocean gusts,

hinting heavily of winter's chill. 

Dune camphorweed, Heterotheca subaxillaris, 

thriving still on the emerald isle, 

in spite of the imminent arrival of November.

Late season larder for the last of the lepidopterans,

gulf fritillaries galore, 

here on the island's leeward shore.

Mingled among the asters are other hardy sand-lovers, 

forb and graminoid alike.

Maypops and sandspurs, 

both right at home here in the dunes,

but passionflower claims the most credit for the fritillaries' abundance.

As host plant for the gulf fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, caterpillar, 

the myriad maypop vines explain why a dozen or more brilliant orange butterflies patrol this particular patch of golden asters in a late fall frenzy of nectaring.

Among the Southeast's most striking nectarers, 

this fritillary is not as frequent back home in the Sandhills, 

and our lens is quickly addicted to the remarkably beautiful pattern 

of silvery white underwing markings.

The sun, passing lower now in the autumn sky, 

flirts with flowers and flyers and photographers alike,

none of us in any hurry to part company just yet...

Pine Barrens Blues...

Remnants of the old forest still exist, 

here on the silent straw-strewn ridge,

ancient thick-skinned trunks blackened by last season's fire, 

perfect backdrop for the tender green buds of autumn gentian, Gentiana autumnalis.

The seeker might find solace in this singular place,

strolling in solitude among the stately pines and glorious herbs,

soothed by the sympathetic sighs of the forest giants,

swaying 

ever-so-slightly under the influence 

of the cool autumn breeze, 

and the solitary blossoms of exquisite azure.

Solitude and silence

and breath-taking beauty

bring a measure of peace to the world-weary soul; 

here in the flickering shade of the pines,
where the pine-barren gentian gently unfurls in hues of heavenly blue.

Pinus palustris, 

scion of the Sandhills;

mighty longleaf,

noblest of the Southern trees;

born of poor sandy soil and daunting summer heat, 

scoured by flames of fire so wild, 

and watered at nature's whim,

sentinel species,

ruler of a precious and dwindling domain,

and here at their feet,

we pay homage

'long side the pine barrens blues...