With 32 pages of full-color inserts and black-and-white illustrations throughout. From one of our most highly regarded historians, here is an original and engrossing chronicle of nineteenth-century America's infatuation with butterflies—“flying flowers”—and the story of the naturalists who unveiled the mysteries of their existence. A product of William Leach's lifelong love of butterflies, this engaging and elegantly illustrated history shows how Americans from all walks of life passionately pursued butterflies, and how through their discoveries and observations they transformed the character of natural history. In a book as full of life as the subjects themselves and foregrounding a collecting culture now on the brink of vanishing, Leach reveals how the beauty of butterflies led Americans into a deeper understanding of the natural world.
* A stunningly designed book featuring all of Wallace Chan's butterfly creations* Leading jewelry historians discuss the famous butterfly motif of Wallace Chan* Foreword from the artist himself in interview with Melanie Grant* Contains new and unseen images of Wallace Chan's work"When I was a young boy, butterflies were flying colours - I knew not their name. Then butterflies became the Butterfly Lovers: a tragedy, a love story, a symbol of eternal love. As I grew older, I found them to embody the words of a great philosopher: life is but a dream; only we need to decide whether we want it to be the dream of a man, or the dream of a butterfly. I could not decide, and so I became The Butterfly Man." - Wallace Chan Father of The Wallace Cut - an illusionary three-dimensional gemstone carving technique - and The Wallace Chan Porcelain - a ground-breaking material five times stronger than steel - Wallace Chan is a guiding light in the world of jewelry design. Always innovating, always testing boundaries with his materials and technique, Chan's creations are as stunning as they are intricate. Compiled by jewelry experts, this book explores the cultural and personal significance of Wallace Chan's most famous emblem: the butterfly. Wallace Chan: The Butterflies of Wallace Chan features approximately 30 of his finest pieces. Enter a butterfly house of colorful gems, with brooches and necklaces so delicate they might have flown down and alighted on the page.
Few subjects are more appropriate for coloring than the dazzling, multi-hued butterfly. This accurately rendered collection introduces colorists and nature lovers of all ages to 16 of these lovely creatures — among them the Monarch, Zebra Swallowtail, Baltimore Checkerspot, Viceroy, and Peacock butterflies.
This is the first of three spectacular photo books for children, teenagers, adults, seniors, seniors with Alzheimer's, adults with dementia, disabilities and others who enjoy beautiful photographs of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). The books in this series are easy to read, full-color, soft cover, and are printed on a square 8.5" x 8.5" bright white paper stock. Each page shows a vivid, full-color, photograph along with a unobtrusive description. Each photograph in this series was selected for its evocation of beauty, calmness and serenity. Photographs of wonderful butterflies and moths, from around the world, found in their natural habitats provide a delightful visual stimuli on every front and back page. While this book does contain text and descriptions, the photos are the main focus. With 158 amazing photos (79 pages, front and back) in bright, vivid full-color, almost anyone will find enjoyment reading this book from cover to cover. About butterflies and moths: Butterflies are insects in the clade Rhopalocera from the order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises the large superfamily Papilionoidea, along with two smaller groups, the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) and the moth-butterflies (superfamily Hedyloidea). Butterfly fossils date to the Palaeocene, about 56 million years ago. Butterflies have the typical four-stage insect life cycle. Winged adults lay eggs on the food plant on which their larvae, known as caterpillars, will feed. The caterpillars grow, sometimes very rapidly, and when fully developed, pupate in a chrysalis. When metamorphosis is complete, the pupal skin splits, the adult insect climbs out, and after its wings have expanded and dried, it flies off. Some butterflies, especially in the tropics, have several generations in a year, while others have a single generation, and a few in cold locations may take several years to pass through their whole life cycle. Butterflies are often polymorphic, and many species make use of camouflage, mimicry and aposematism to evade their predators. Some, like the monarch and the painted lady, migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have parasitoidal relationships with organisms including protozoans, flies, ants, and other invertebrates, and are predated by vertebrates. Some species are pests because in their larval stages they can damage domestic crops or trees; other species are agents of pollination of some plants, and caterpillars of a few butterflies (e.g., harvesters) eat harmful insects. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts. This book contains 158 full-color photographs of Lepidoptera.
Explains how to attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the backyard garden by creating an ideal habitat and provides a field guide to the sixteen hummingbird species and seventy-five common butterfly species that make North America their home.
Butterfly enthusiasts will delight in the 200 vivid images from across the globe, accompanied by informative and engaging text from preeminent writers in the field.
In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.
Welcome to the wonder and beauty of butterflies! Look through the wings of a Transparent, marvel at the size of the Queen Alexandra Birdwing, and try to find the camouflaged Indian Leaf Butterfly! Learn about these amazing butterflies, and more, as you read from A to Z about a group of the world's most beautiful insects. Jerry Pallotta and Brian Cassie's fun, informative text, accompanied by Mark Astrella's detailed and breathtaking illustrations, will be a sure favorite with both the young butterfly lover and the experienced lepidopterist!
