Istockphoto exclusive photographer
Living in the north of Israel is a challence, but also extremely beautiful in a unique way. We have a chance to follow the footsteps of ancient civilizations and three climates come together bringing from each the flora and fauna. As a a visual artist I am attracted to the natural and organic. My Istock portfolio expresses mainly these same interests. Be it an interesting beetle landing in my back yard or the sun setting over Galilee.
My portfolio contains nice photos for Travel and Tourism and many are of historic, religious and cultural value. Bird watchers and nature lovers will find many suitable images for any nature related project. Thank you for your visit to my Istock portfolio and please come again! I would love to know how you used my images..
Swallowtail Update
The instars from the last post grew have long flown as butterflies during winter. Sometimes weather was bad and I installed a homegarden in my studio to have them wait for take off in sun shine. Swallowtails are long distance fliers and hopefully they made it south.
Trough the growing of swallowtails I see climate change or at least a change in conditions. The last two years I had swallowtails stop by in the garden laying eggs until deep in October.
Now with the shortage of water and summer at our garden doorstep I make sure to give a little water every few days to the Rutha – Herb of Grace – Pigam – the main food plant for the swallowtail caterpillars – which came up after the last late rains. Also I have some flowering fullgrown plants.
I have this year also a lot of fennel which is frequented by the Anise swallowtail lNo swallowtails in sight yet, but plenty of other butterflies.
Additional update June 15, 2011
First Swallowtail sighting of this summer in the garden, laying eggs on the fennel. This must be an Anise Swallowtail preferring fennel over Rutha.
Probably last Swallowtail instars before winter
Unusual late for the season I have about 10 small Swallowtail 2nd instars.
Hopefully they make it as pupae through the winter indoors and fly out as butterflies in appr. Febr March 2011
Butterfly Swallowtail on IstockPhoto
Also “my” Swallowtail butterflies I try to add to my Istockphoto portfolio. Here one of the images which only has one DL but hopefully more to come.
Yesterday on a walk in the fields I met a swallowtail on the water reservoir. Her wings were quite torn, but still able to fly and flutter…. The struggle for life is always so visible in nature…. it made me a little sad….
Good news from the Swallowtail sanctuary
First BIG swallowtail caterpillars instars in final stage in the garden …whole bunch of smaller ones…. have tons of foodplants in the garden , fennel & rutha ….
We have many food plants for grown butterflies, so butterflies: please do stop by:)
People: Grow Rutha [Herb of Grace, Pigam, Wijnruit] plants in your garden or on your balcony….see what happens.
Update: 21.04
First caterpillar started cocooning process. I will describe about this amazing process is a next post.
Needle Felted Easter chick
This little one was a custom order….for someone who ran out of $$…so if you want an adorable little needlefelted Easter Chick visit our Etsy shop at http://orchidee.etsy.com its waiting there…
We are preparing for Passover and since half of the family are vegetarians I even needlefelted the zroah for the Seder plate (which is supposed to be the bone of a lamb)
First two swallowtail butterflies emerged and flew in February 2010
A little belated with the post: but a little while ago in this month during the unusual warm weather two swallow tail butterflies emerged and flew off succesfully. I hope sourthward….. in the meantime we are experiencing another cold and rain spell.
Here a picture of the second one, nicely sitting on my hand before leaving…
Update Dec. 1st 2009
From the Swallowtail Sanctuary:
On December 1st. 2009 there are around seven pupae and tree in pre-pupae stage in several places around the house. All sit in the voile pink netting in groupes of three and more. Three attached themselves to the side of the big terra cotta pot they were feeding in as caterpillars so eventually I will have to take that post inside. Three small caterpillars are still feeding on a new batch of Rutha. These three refused other foodplants. 
Three other caterpillars died, who knows if it is from the pecticides on the petrosil i had to buy for them… Weather is still extremely nice during the day and the nights are getting coller. I think I will keep all eventually on the screened front porch which will be cool but without a lot of wind.
World in a Net
I made my very first clip for You Tube today of the feeding Swallowtail caterpillars.
At this very moment some are wandering around the premises to find a good place to settle and cocoon. One actually sat down attached itself with the very thin silk rope and is weaving inside. I clearly can see the movement and at some point – probably tomorrow the back of its striped coat will burst open and like a Houdini it will wriggle out of the outer jacket. Left will be the pupae still attached to the same silk wire.
The color of the pupae will change from a bright light green the very first day, and will probably turn greyish. This winter I have to be sure to put the pupae in a room without heating, so not again we will have butterfies in February!
