It’s time to start blogging the Blue Ridge Parkway itself. But which picture to use?

The wildlife has mostly spent its time mocking me and my camera. However, late Tuesday, just before I fell into a creek, I found a beautiful Red-Spotted Purple butterfly. I think it’s more like blue with orange spots, but I guess no one asked me. Anyway, it landed near me and just sat there no matter how close I got. Very unusual. I figured it must be sick or dying or something. But no: after I emerged from the creek I saw it flying around with no problems.

But after a few minutes it returned to its rock and wouldn’t budge. It repeated this cycle a couple of times while I was there. I’m not sure what accounts for it. I’ve never seen a butterfly act that way before.

UPDATE: I guess that’s not a rock after all. Perhaps something a little more, um, pungent and organic.

May 7, 2019 — Riffles Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
May 7, 2019 — Riffles Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate