On a roll

Today we visited Rock City at Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by a trip to the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, which spans the borders of Tennessee and Georgia.

Rock City is something else: Located atop Lookout Mountain, just 6 miles from downtown Chattanooga, it is a true marvel of nature featuring massive ancient rock formations, gardens with over 400 native plant species, and breathtaking "See 7 States" panoramic views.

Me being me, I can never overlook the small stuff - not that this butterfly is small - not at all.

It's the Gulf Fritillary or Passion Butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) is a bright orange butterfly of the family Nymphalidae and subfamily Heliconiinae. It was formerly classified in a separate family, the Heliconiidae or longwing butterflies, and like other longwings this species does have long, rather narrow wings in comparison with other butterflies. It is not closely related to the true fritillaries. It is the only member of genus Agraulis.

Hope you don't mind two butterflies in two days - but they are so gorgeous, and this one is in superb shape.