Seeking Monarchs

Our first day here is taken at a very slow pace. There’s the fabulous breakfast buffet, then back to our room for a rest, read and further unpacking before popping over to the SPA (shop that is) for some essential provisions.  

I know today my blip will rely on the hotel gardens, so in the afternoon we set off to explore. The gardens round the pool etc are beautiful but very ordered; I’m hoping for some monarch butterflies but for this we’ll need to go a little further into the older, wilder gardens between the two Savoy hotels. 

Sure enough, one or two butterflies flit and glide around the rich vegetation; it’s the graceful gliding that I love, those magnificent orange wings spread wide and elegant. 
At first, they seem reluctant to drop down on the flowers, and I’m not convinced I’ll manage an in-flight shot. But then one obliges and I have my chance. 

I suspect it won’t be the last monarch in my journal over the next few weeks. Having spent last year with so few butterfly sightings, this really is a glorious novelty.