Sunday 25 September 2011

Return to the Butterfly Valley and a butterfly winner!

Last year was the first visit we made to the Butterfly Valley during our September holiday to Rhodes. It was such a memorable place that we decided to return this year and if possible walk down as well as up the valley. It was a blazing hot day when we arrived and we were so pleased to escape into the beautiful cool valley. We came armed with a packed lunch (we always do this as there is nothing worse that finding somewhere beautiful and then having to leave it to find something to eat and drink).

We found the cooling stream flowing in front of us as we entered.
We made our way up hill until the valley opened out





If you look at the next photo, where I have zoomed in, on the bottom of the tree to the left you will see the start of the multitude of butterflies












Look carefully......














Here they are...thousands and thousand of them












Around the trunks






















And literally dripping from every leaf. The effect is quite magical and every so often a group takes off and there is a flurry of the red of their wings as they take flight.

This year we looked into history of them a little more. It turns out that all the butterflies are of one type;
Panaxia quadripunctaria. And they are actually  a type of moth, the Jersey Moth. On Rhodes they migrate to this one valley and spend from June to September here as adults.
I managed to get a of photo showing them with their wings out
On this visit we also spotted more of the wildlife, including lots of wonderful freshwater crabs





































Have you spotted him here........................


















 well hello there Mr Crab!







We also spotted some cool lizards basking in the dappled sunshine
After lunch we wandered back down the valley and saw a part we had not visited before with cool deep ponds

We felt privileged to be able to witness such a unique event which only takes place for a few months of the year.

All this butterfly talk very neatly brings me on to the other part of this post which is to announce the winner of my 100th post giveaway.

The names went into my holiday hat.......drum roll..........................

and out came....................

Teresa- one of my American blogging buddies!  Teresa chose my Gardener's Delight bag charm as her favourite and guess what features on it..
  
Yes, a little butterfly, amongst the ladybird and flower lampwork beads and the basket of flowers charms!

Congratulations Teresa, I shall be in contact with you and will get this off to you as soon as I can . Teresa has had a tough time recently as her dear little grandaughters have moved a long, long way away from her, I really hope this might cheer her up.

Thank you everyone for your very helpful comments - it really was the most useful feedback. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave them.


 As the number one favourite design was the "Tea for Two"
 I have decided to put that one for sale in my Etsy shop. I will also be listing some new bag charms in the coming weeks including a sewing and a knitting themed set. Watch this space. They are great stocking or cracker fillers (dare I mention the C word in September ;0)










Summer has returned here for the weekend and we have got back up into the mid 20oc, which is lovely. The garden is still just about hanging on to its summer bedding, a real bonus weekend. I hope you have enjoyed your weekend. I shall be back soon with one last post from Rhodes, just to keep the sunshine levels topped up for us all.

Bye for now,

Jane x

18 comments:

  1. Well we could certainly do with some top-up sunshine, it's pouring down here!!
    Those butterflies are beautiful, don't they camouflage themselves well against the trees!
    What a gorgeous place, I love all the wildlife and I'm convinced that crab is smiling for the camera. :)
    No 'C' word yet please. ;)
    Take care,
    Vivienne x
    P.S. Good choice by Teresa, I love mine!

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  2. Poor you Vivienne, it's been such a lovely weekend, I even cut my lawn this afternoon. Those crabs were such fun ;0)
    I knew the "C" word would rustle you a little-LOL
    Have a great week,
    Jane x

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  3. What fun to take a picnic in such a beautiful setting! So happy to see that you had a chance to return to this inviting spot among the flora and fauna!
    Congratulations to Theresa- Lucky, lucky gal! :o)

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  4. It was the most beautful spot Michele, the sheer number of butterflies was so surreal!
    Jane x

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  5. Dear sweet Jane! *T*H*A*N*K* * *Y*O*U*!*!*!* for picking my name, I can't wait to get my bag charm, and will hang it on my beloved CK purse that is green with cabbage roses on it.

    I loved your post, that one photo of the pool and trees was *MAGIC*! I also loved seeing the critters and moths.. amazing!

    I'm so glad you're my blog friend! And you are right, this cheers me up no end.

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  6. I'm so pleased for you Teresa and so glad to have put a smile on your face. I have emailed you...hope it delivered and then I can get your bag charm to you super quick!
    Jane x

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  7. Hi Jane,

    I loved seeing those butterflies again and the a bit crumby looking crab ;) too! And congratulations to Teresa, the charm is so beautiful! I'll be keeping my eye on to your shop :)

    Happiest new week, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  8. Thanks Mia, the crabs were such fun. The did seem to be looking at us form every angle! Have a great week too,
    Jane x

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  9. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! It looks like a magical place, and your photography of it is magical too. Monarch butterflies migrate near me and turn the world orange for a few days, but they keep going to Mexico. I've never heard of butterflies/moths hanging out together for months. I didn't know about freshwater crabs either. You're expanding my knowledge all the time. Thanks!

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  10. Thanks Linda, you are so kind! We also did not realise that there are freshwater crabs until last year when we first visited the valley..there were lots there form tiny to plate size...great characters!
    Have a great week,
    Jane x

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  11. Dear Jane, thank you for a lovely trip to butterfly valley! I haven't been in Rhodos but I have heard a lot about that place and even from my mother who were there long time ago!
    Your bag charms are beautiful and I want to send congratulations to Teresa!
    Have a lovely week! xxx Teje

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  12. Hi Teje, the Butterful valley is indeed very famous as it is such a unique place to find this number of butterflies settled for 3 months. It's sad to think that in a few weeks they will flying away to lay their eggs and complete their circle of life.Thanks for your kind words about my bag charms, they are fun to make and have been so well received.
    Jane x

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  13. The butterfly valley looks like an amazing place to visit, great photos. The one of the large pool makes me want to dive in it looks so inviting.

    Hope your week is off to a great start,

    Bethx

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  14. There were signs up Beth saying no swimming as yes the pool was SO inviting.Hope you are enjoying your creativity and time whilst yours boys are back at school.
    Jane x

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  15. Congratulations to Teresa for winning the lovely bag charm! I enjoyed seeing your photos of butterfly valley...we went there too and have some similar pix from a long time ago! Quite amazing to see so many butterflies..though they are more like moths I think, and my girls had been expecting loads of multi coloured ones to be fluttering all about the valley!! Have a happy week, Jane.
    Helen x

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  16. Hi Helen, indeed they are the Jersey moth and what is quite unique is the sheer numbers of them in one valley for such a long period of time...magical!
    Enjoy your week,
    Jane x

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  17. Hello Jane...Thanks so much for calling by my blog yesterday....It's lovely to be back after my Summer break and I'm having so much fun this morning catching up!...
    As always I love your photographs..such a magical place....I must show Mr.H!
    Congratulations to Teresa....your lucky winner...Your bag charms are so pretty Jane and I'm looking forward to seeing one with a knitted theme!
    Susan x
    P.S Isn't this late Summer sun lovely?

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  18. Welcome back Susan! I have just made a knitting themed bag charm..I will "show and tell" soon! Yes this Indian Summer is fab..it's 25oc here this pm!
    Jane x

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