Category: Garden

Both my gardens and ones I visit

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Pause 4: Sensation and Emotion Class -May 15, 2026

I am continuing the “Photography & Mindfulness” online class with #4 being day before yesterday or done yesterday for me. And of course a blog post each time with a link to my notes, comments and one or more of my photos that I think sort of relate. I’m not quite as “ethereal” or maybe it’s “psychological” as my teacher in Spain, but hoping this focus on mindfulness will help me to be more mindful and sensitive in making creative and meaningful nature photos. If interested, go to my online notes on this particular class at : Pause 4: Sensation and Emotion -May 15, 2026 NOTES.

I think that a red flower always produces more “sensation or emotion” than any other color. 🙂

And About the Feature Photo . . .

Dying Cecropia Leaf with green spots or “Green Islands”

From Google AI: “Green islands” on a browning leaf are caused by living pests or pathogens that manipulate the plant’s hormones. They excrete cytokinins (plant growth hormones) that trick the leaf into delaying its natural death and keeping its green chlorophyll active in that specific area.

¡Pura Vida!

See all of my notes from this class at my Photography & Mindfulness page.

+ My Friday Trip to Immigration

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Photos of 350 Species!

I just published what is probably the largest Costa Rica Butterfly & Moth book available anywhere. Click the front cover below or go to this bookstore link for a free preview of all 86 pages! https://www.blurb.com/b/12881815-350-costa-rica-butterflies-and-moths

CLICK above cover image to go to a free preview of all pages.

This will probably be my last butterfly book, so I encourage you to get one now or at least go look at it. Every species includes the available English & Spanish Common Names plus the Latin Scientific Name which is available for all, while a few species don’t have “common names.” 🙂 There are three rare butterfly species included that are rarely ever seen.

And for you neighbors of mine in Residential Roca Verde, don’t forget that I have a smaller 7×7 inches book of just Roca Verde Butterflies with 180 species photographed here, mostly in my garden.

¡Pura Vida!

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Laverna Metalmark

One of the most seen butterflies in my garden was seen the first time this year a couple of days ago, so maybe we are about to get back to normal (if the wind will just stop blowing!). 🙂 See my photo collection at Laverna Metalmark.

Laverna Metalmark, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Juno Silverspot

As butterflies slowly return, even in the wind, I welcome another former regular, the Juno Silverspot (my gallery link) even if not really good photos. I’ve seen him flying by more than landing anywhere, but barely managed to get these two shots, side view & top.

Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Juno Silverspot, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Yigüirro Work Satisfaction

The rainy season here is believed by many to have been “sung in” by the Yigüirro or Clay-colored Thrush. Rain usually starts around the middle of May, while this year it started in early May. And sure enough, the Clay-colored Thrush sang almost constantly throughout April and the rains started the first week of May! I think this image of a Yigüirro in one of my Nance Trees has that look of a “job well done!” 🙂 And it continues to rain almost every afternoon.

Yigüirro or Clay-colored Thrush, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

See more photos of this National Bird of Costa Rica in my gallery: Clay-colored Thrush.

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Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak

I’m trying to be more patient, just sitting on the terrace long enough to see something like this hairstreak land on one of my flowers for maybe 20 seconds, meaning that one then has to be quick to snap a photo! 🙂 This one is not a stranger to my garden as you can see in the gallery: Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak, Strymon ziba. The former English common name was “Red-spotted Scrub-Hairstreak” and the Spanish common name still is. I guess some committee somewhere makes all these name changes for both birds and butterflies.

And, with it still being quite windy, I’m forced to be patient and wait for one to show up in the lulls of the wind. And the same patience is needed for an interesting bird to land in a tree too, as they eventually will, even on windy days. 🙂

Ziba Scrub-Hairstreak, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Copper Anole

Rainy Season has definitely started, with rain every afternoon now, BUT it is still windy! Meaning that there are still not as many birds or butterflies as usual. But I did find this anole on my terrace the other day, and fairly confident of the identification of Copper Anole, Anolis cupreus (my gallery link).

Copper Anole, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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An Old Regular is Back!

This Banded Peacock (my gallery link) was back in my garden yesterday for the first time in a while. I’ve also seen a couple of species of Sulphurs and the Yellow that flies around high up in the trees. But the only regular continues to be the Polydamas Swallowtail which seems to handle the wind easier than the other. The wind is lessening some now, but there is still wind and those gusts which are difficult for butterflies. I’m trying to be patient. 🙂 And oh yes, another big rain yesterday afternoon! So maybe the rainy season has started early this year! 🙂

Banded Peacock on a Lantana flower (Lantana camara ), Atenas, Alajuela

¡Pura Vida!

And I hope that any readers who live in Residential Roca Verde will check out my new photo book: Roca Verde Butterflies with 180 species photographed in Roca Verde. Click that link for a free preview of every page! Roca Verde seems to be a significant haven for butterflies! Including a couple of species rarely seen according to iNaturalist.

🙂

CLICK the above book cover for a free preview of all pages.
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Yellow-faced Grassquit

Looks over the grass (where they feed) from a neighbor’s fence. See more of this interesting bird in my Yellow-faced Grassquit Gallery. They are plentiful in the cow pasture across the street. Grass seeds are their favorite food.

Yellow-faced Grassquit, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

¡Pura Vida!

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Minding the Flowerpots

And that would be “cuidando las macetas” in Spanish! The motivation for this little job was the large flower pot of potted palms at the entrance of my terrace had grown so much (in maybe 10 years) that the growing roots broke the terracotta pot. I had the gardeners plant those palms along the southside palm row for a thicker screen from the street and bought a new smaller pot with smaller palms to still visually separate my outdoor dining table from the driveway to the top of the hill. And while at the Vivero (plant nursery) I got two small red anthuriums for the old white pot that has seen many different flower over about 9 years and the one in it last week had become ugly!

Next project is to paint the Frog Pot and two other terracotta pots, after sanding. Always something that needs to be done! 🙂

Entering the terrace from the driveway, the potted palms sort of shield the dining table, even this smaller bunch of palms.
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