Escaping the ice cold South -Easter sea winds; one of the many the things to incorporate in a country day drive is a trip to Butterfly World, near Paarl in the Cape Winelands. http://www.uncoverthecape.co.za/indoors/animals-indoors/butterfly-world/index.htm It's really a interesting way to experience some tropical-ness with all these unusual creatures fluttering by.

It does not get more tropical than this...

How about some orange flame, well that's its name.

The pattern on this owl butterfly lends itself beautifully for inspiration on some handmade glass work or translucency of porcelain...

Why on earth did we come up with the most strangest names for these exquisite creatures? Butterfly? I ask you, a fly in the butter? In German: Schmetterling, so harsh, the sound of a trumpet "schmettern", correct me if I'm wrong...In Afrikaans: Skoenlapper, movement of wings on a shoe? The French have a nice one, not sure what it means directly translated: Papillion, must have something to do with the pupae that the insects morph from? I'm open to corrections and suggestions and would love a new name for the" flutterbyes"...