Saturday, July 26, 2008

Just Hanging Out

I was a bit stumped by this week's 'Hanging' theme for PhotoHunt because the photo I wanted to use happens to be one of my favorite photo's. Unfortunately it was of another button bush and since I used that plant for last week's theme I didn't want to over do it. Then I thought of this photo and realized it should fit the theme nicely.

Many little creatures perch on flowers to feed, but in some cases the flowers may protrude in all directions so what else can they do but try 'hanging' upside down to get a meal. I'm not sure of the species, but it resembles an Appalachian Brown (Satyrodes appalachia) except the coloring is a little more purple than most of the photo's I've seen online.

I went back through some of my other photographs and found a couple more with hanging insects that I thought were interesting. Here's one of a damselfly hanging from a slender blade of grass. Normally they perch on top of a blade of grass or on a leaf. Some damselflies lay their eggs in a slit they make in a blade or leaf over or near water so you will sometimes see them in unusual positions when they perch. I find it interesting that they appear to use their front legs to actually grasp their perch while the larger and longer back legs are normally used for balance. The back legs have little spikes or hooks that penetrate into the perch to hold them in place.

And speaking of hanging in unusual positions check out the one below.

Here we find two damselflies in a circular mating embrace while hanging from the end of a stick out over the water. (CAUTION: Do not try this at home. These are professional damselflies taking advantage of over 250 million years of evolution in the perfecting of this technique.)


Weekly Theme - 'Hanging'

Post edited to add the following:

I noticed from the comments that several visitors really like the second photo, the one of the blue damselfly. If you happen to like it perhaps you would like to check out some of the other posts about damselflies and dragonflies. Just check out the labels list near the top in the sidebar for Dragon/Damselflies. If you don't have time today (and I know many of you photo hunters are like me, trying to visit as many of the theme posts as you can) then perhaps you might want to do what I do when I run across a blog I want to spend more time on in the PhotoHunt. Bookmark us and come back later for a more leisurely visit. We would love to see you again anytime.

70 comments:

  1. I've never seen a purple butterfly before. This is really beautiful!

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  2. An absolutely beautiful and educational post and the photos are simply marvelous. Baker, you've done it again !

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  3. How pretty it is amazing how thier coloring helps them to blend in! Kim

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  4. What a delightful butterfly.

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  5. that's a beautiful color of a butterfly! great post. enjoy photo hunting!

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  6. Nice capture of the butterfly which looks like it's hanging for life on the stem!:P
    Happy weekend!

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  7. these are pretty little creatures. The colours of the dragonfly is simply amazing!

    Pearl - have a good weekend and do "hang" abit at my site when you have the time ;)

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  8. Beautiful choice of photos - and a great explanation too.

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  9. Great pics and your final comments got me chuckling, as you might well imagine! :b

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  10. Those are cool shots... it amazes me how you manage to capture them posing so naturally!

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  11. Amazing photos! Thanks a lot for sharing them
    Have a nice weekend =D

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  12. i love the color of that insect! soo pretty :) have a great weekend =)

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  13. That butterfly is just so beautiful and fits so perfectly to the theme.....what colour....

    The mating damsels are exquisite....who would even try to compete with nature....I know my place!!

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  14. Three delightful "hanging" photos - and a good chuckle, too!

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  15. Ohhhhhhhh my, such beauty!! Love 'em.

    Mine's posted, hop on over if you can find time! Have a super weekend.

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  16. because I came on before I was awake, I put my comment under little Blogspot. Silly me.

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  17. very pretty shots.
    God bless!

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  18. Nice creatures. They really hang indeed. Happy hunting!

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  19. Fabulous photos. You do wonder how they can eat upside down!

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  20. Great shots, they are definitely hanging around and lookin' pretty.

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  21. Great photos, I love the butterfly.

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  22. Those are amazing shots! The purple butterfly is captivating.

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  23. Wow, they are wonderful shots. The damselfly is so cool looking. Awesome!

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  24. Awesome--love the damselflies..

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  25. Those are some great photos. The butterfly is beautiful!!!

    Mine is up over at Flo's Place

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  26. What a great series of images for the theme. The second one is my favorite, though I adore your disclaimer on the third.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  27. I love how you try to relate the themes each week to your blog. I have a few butterfly pics but it didn't occur to me for this theme. I went a different route. http://ladykli-goingonaphotohunt.blogspot.com/

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  28. Reading your post as I'm reading a National Geographic magazine..

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  29. Awesome photos of some beautiful creatures. Love that lavender butterfly. Happy weekend!

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  30. I love the 2nd one, on the blade of grass. Very nice.

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  31. steven and aisha - Don't see too many purple/lavender ones myself - At least not around here

    GG - You know those little damselflies are always fun

    Kim - Yep - It's amazing what you can see when you look really close- Hey - You live fairly close to us

    Archie - You had some delightful little homies too

    miranda - nice hanging on yours - I love your blog header - beautiful photo

    Napaboaniya - It was hanging on for sure but acted like it was the most natural thing to do

    Pato N Pearl - The vivid colors in so many dragonflies and damselflies always amazes me

    David - thanks - I like to try to give a little info that visitors might enjoy

    YTSL - LOL - Glad you liked the closing comment

    philos - 'specimen' photo's are great but I like to try to get some when they are doing what comes natural to them

    kaycee - the best of weekends to you too

    ettey - you have some great photo's on your blog - so many interesting perspectives and angles

    cheryl - My friend - Always a pleasure to have you visit

    Dragonstar - Don't be surprised if I show up for the festival one of these years, lol - Glad you liked the disclaimer

    Thank all of you for dropping by and for the kind comments.

    I try to make sure I drop by and comment on each visitor's blog so if I miss you for some reason just let me know.

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  33. oh my God! that's reallllyyyy cute! especially the damselfly! we used to catch those when we were kids!

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  34. The 1st damselfly shot was awesome, but the butterfly wing spots look interesting. It almost looks like they've got - and o's inside of them.

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  35. Hootin' Annie - They are pretty aren't they - Fun to take photo's of such great subjects

    Aileni - Not to worry - I saw the other comment and realized what had happened - Thanks for dropping by

    suzanne - thanks for sharing the photo's of Spanish moss

    genny - yep - they hang all over the place

    Liz - Seems as though it would be difficult but I guess they are just made that way

    Thank all of you for the visit and the comments.

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  36. Gorgeous photos! I love the damselflies!!

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  37. Those are great photos for the theme this week.

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  38. Oooo, I love the photo of the dragonfly. They're so fastinating to watch! Nice post for The Hunt.

    Thanks for dropping by for a visit.

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  39. I've never seen a purple butterfly before. I love the color. Very pretty Baker.

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  40. IRISHKAT - Hey - stay away from my doughnut buddha belly

    tammy - always a pleasure to have you drop by

    Rachel - you know the longer I look at that photo the more I like it - that butterfly has such simple but beautiful markings

    dawn - Yep - I love my dragons and damsels - And nice choice on your theme post - I thought that was neat

    sandy - that's some plant in your post - I see it loves heights

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  41. Hi Baker..I love the damsels that you have. One looks just like one I have a photo of and so far nobody has identified it other than a "bluet". Too many of them to know. A few years ago, I wouldn't have even known to look for them near the pond. Great idea for the theme..

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  42. I just love the second photo. The damselfy looks so lovely.

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  43. Flo- Seems like lots of folks like the butterfly - I think it is the relative simplicity of the design and the soft color

    sallyiciouis - I hope you heed the warning in the disclaimer, lol

    Ladykli - Thanks for noticing I try to make my theme posts fit within the normal subject matter of the blog. I can see some in the future that may be very difficult, lol.

    bingtang4 - What a nice thing to say - thank you

    Annie - Looks like a lot of visitors were taken by the butterfly - Its fun to take photo's of such good subjects

    tnchick - hope you let your husband down without hanging too long or he would be able to scratch behind his knees without leaning over

    Thank you all for coming by and commenting. We appreciate the visits. Come again soon.

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  44. The butterfly hanging upside down is great. And such a pretty colour too.

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  45. Yup the blue damselfly blew me away!! Awesome photo!

    Thanks for sharing! :-)

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  46. shawie - I can remember the dragons and damsels from when I was a child, too

    Brine Queen - loved that hanging net, lol - I like those markings on the butterfly, too - there is a neat, simplicity to the design

    BlurMommy - I'll be checking back to see if anyone came up with the name for that plant on your post

    starnitesky - (love that name) Consider them my own welcome sign hanging out for you

    pastormac's ann - It's always interesting to watch the damsels and dragons - always something new

    Hey Rose - Good to see you out and about on the blogs - Been thinking of ya!

    A big thanks to all for the comments and visit.

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  47. Excellent choices for this week's theme and good shots too!

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  48. these are gorgeous shots for this week's theme. Great captures, I always have a tough time getting good bug photos - they just fly away ;)

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  49. Rambling Woods - GG and I talked about that damsel photo on your blog and wondered if it was the same - I need to check those pics side-by-side - certainly a lot to know considering male-female-juvenile differences

    mama meji - I think it is a toss-up between the damsel and the butterfly which the visitors seem to like the most

    tanabata - Yes - the lavender is so soft looking - And gotta get me some of those lanterns in your post

    admin - I see by your theme post that you just might be a butterfly-lover, too

    June - I would have hung out the banners if I had known you were coming to visit, lol

    lingovise - You gotta just think like a bug and sneak up on them, lol

    Thank all of you for your visit and comments.

    I hope I haven't missed anyone so far, lol. I try to make sure I visit all those who comment here and I have accidently missed you please let me know.

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  50. Thank you for your visit.

    I real like your blog. I haven't done much photo taking of nature yet.
    It quite inspiring.

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  51. I enjoyed your photographs a great deal. Truly beautiful captures. I've never seen a butterfly that shade and it almost looks like it has sequins on it.

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  52. Oh, all of your photos today are so beautiful - what lovely colors. And what a great take on the theme!

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  53. Right up my alley... I love observing things that are going on around me. The purple butterfly is absolutely beautiful. I've never seen one like that before either. I enjoyed the education! Many blessings. ~ourhomeschool

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  54. peppylady - you need to get out and snap a few nature shots - they are always interesting

    Carver- you know, you are right - I was trying to think of what they reminded me of - Sort of like non-shiny sequins - or maybe fabric appliques on felt if someone was making a butterfly

    sammawow - Howdy (and I'm still hungry for some of that roasted corn at the Samplefest)

    ourhomeschool - That purple has amazed a lot of visitors - I wish I had chance to to capture the other side of the wings - Might have been very interesing

    Thanks for the visit everyone - We appreciate all the comments

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  55. Oh I just love coming in here to look at your photos. :) Thank you!

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  56. Gorgeous shots and great for hanging. The first one reminds me of a beautiful skirt fabric with sequins. A lovely colour. The damsel flies are a gorgeous colour also and with the bright green of the grass, the photo is stunning. Thanks for visiting my post yesterday. I am catching up now that I am home.

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  57. leslie - and we love having you visit and really appreciate the comments

    hey yenjai - glad you could drop by and thanks for the kind words

    dawn - thanks for the comments - glad you liked the pics but most of all did the stuffies make it home in one piece?

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  58. Beautiful takes on the insects! Happy PH!

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  59. Even the littlest creatures are so amazing - how did God fit all the details in?!

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  60. Fabulous shots! Interesting tidbits about the damselfly... she's a beauty!

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  61. Thanks for visiting my site and thanks double for giving me the 'gold star'. I enjoyed browsing your site too.

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  62. jam - Thanks for dropping by - I saw our bats out over the pond at dusk and thought about your theme post

    MoziEsme - So right - Even the smallest - I enjoy taking pics of some of the really small damselflies so I can see the tiny details in the photo that aren't readily visible to the naked eye

    jc - loved your theme post - simple and elegant - super choice

    brine queen - it was a pleasure - I chuckled at the sight of your photo - It displayed personality

    Thanks to one and all for the visits and comments

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  63. Stunning series of shots. I have to agree with the others ~ that shot of the "damsel in blue" is truly eXquisite! ThanX for stopping by.

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  64. I love your photos! I love the butterfly shot. I don't think I've ever seen one that color. The blue damselfly is gorgeous, too!

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  65. Your shots are amazing. Thanks for the nice words at my blog.

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  66. Cool pictures! Bugs get a bad rap - lol. But can be really cool. Thanks for stopping by mine. Sorry to get back to you so late, but was away camping until today. Have a great week :)

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  67. dixymiss - loved those hanging baskets - gotta get me some of those, lol

    clara - if you figure out a way to keep those squirrels out of a bird feeder let me know

    miss chris - Welcome to Photo Hunt - It can be lots of fun

    sue - yep they get a bad rap but some are so beneficial like the dragonflies and damselflies - they only eat other insects, especially mosquitoes, so they are great to have around- BTW, I love that shot in your header - beautiful butterfly

    Thanks to all for dropping by and for the kind comments - I'm looking forward to the coming theme for this Saturday

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  68. oh wow! these are all beautiful pics! i love the colors!

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  69. Thanks munchkin mommy - It's always nice to have visitors who check out a few older posts and leave such a nice commment

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Thanks for stopping by to visit our little pond. We would love to see you again real soon.