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At the end of April last year we took a short car ride up to the Cary Hill Sculpture Park.
While not impressed by the art, we enjoyed the vista and intended returning in the Fall but when that time came, maybe we were pre-occupied with the losses of three beloved feline friends. Somehow we forgot.
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We set off yesterday for Eagleville intending to have another look at the river, totally overlooking, as retired folk are apt to do, the fact that it was a Saturday.
Arriving at the river we found numerous cars parked. Outrageous! We immediately decided to put this idea on hold and drove on with no destination in mind.
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It was a lovely day for meandering…
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Turning this way and that, we soon realised that we were near the art park, so we continued in that direction.
Luckily, it is not a favourite weekend destination.
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Here, we were going up the road we’d come down back in April last year, when I took that earlier photograph.
We had been asking ourselves when that first visit had been. One thing I was certain of, the grasses had not been anything like as long.
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Bee balm was all around.
(aka wild bergamot.)
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It was so nice to be able to get out of the car to take some pictures without being bowled over by heat.
The day was warm but quite pleasant, which was good because suddenly there was a challenge…
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A large butterfly was flitting about.
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Briefly it settled.
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As it flew off I got an imperfect shot for the sake of identification.
While I’m not certain, the closest match I found was of a Giant swallowtail.
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We carried on up the hill which looks nice in its summer incarnation.
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The town of Salem lies below.
The orange sculpture is still an eyesore in my opinion.
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Despite the haze, it was a pretty sight.
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A small memorial monument had been erected, identifying the distant hills.
One could only agree with the sentiment.
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On a clump of thistles, more butterflies.
This one, sadly torn. But it was still flitting about.
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Another one came to perch for me.
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A Canadian swallowtail?
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It seemed to like being photographed!
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So I was happy to keep trying for a perfect pose.
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As before, when I attempted to photograph a butterfly, I didn’t think I had caught any shots worth seeing.
Credit goes entirely to the camera.
Nikon CoolPix 9500.
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Then I captured another fine but more modest flier that I cannot identify.
Possibly a silver-spotted skipper.
It had a sweet face!
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Until I saw the memorial sign that identifies those hills, I had been quite convinced they were due north of where we stood.
My internal compass is off!
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How nice it would be to view sunrise from atop this hill.
It’s unlikely to happen.
Cat breakfasts, you know.
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This year we really must try to view this terrain in the Fall.
You did well with the butterfly photos indeed. I agree the one you identified is a Giant Swallowtail.
That red metal ‘sculpture’ is totally incongruous in that setting and looks like a military tank trap!
Best wishes, Pete.
It’s huge. Ugg.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your wonderfully meandering post with beautiful photos of butterflies!
Joanna
I’ve not been to Cary Hill but i have found that most outdoor sculpture is an eyesore. (There are exceptions. Storm King in NY has some of them.)
Yes, I looked at their website. It shows insight and planning. I doubt Cary Hill has any money and very few artists. The hill is such a wonderful vantage point.
Great pictures of the butterflies. That vista would be so much better without the imposing orange sculpture!
It’s huge and ugly!
Wow, you guys are lucky to have so many beautiful roads to choose from! And then to see a green field, lovely butterflies and amazing views all in one go … I’d say it was an excellent day to explore! The camera can’t take the beautiful photos on its own – it needs the hand of a human – so, well done to both you and the camera … the butterfly pictures are stunning!