Eliot Hodgkin is best known for his still life work in tempera, but before he got into his stride making these subjects, he painted scenes in London showing the devastation caused by air-raids during WW2 and the resulting wasteland. This work is entitled: 'Undergrowth.' (1941)

13... considered unlucky for some. But not for us! We've seen 13 species of Erebia ringlet in just four days here in Austria, the full anticipated set of this varied and attractive genus in the beautiful montane area we're exploring. @europebutterfly.bsky.social

Tour update 🚨 The 2027 edition of Butterflies of the Hautes Pyrenees, led by @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social & Mariposa founder David Moore, has taken its first booking within 24 hours of dates being confirmed. We expect this one to fill quickly. www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Yesterday we completed the @mariposanature.bsky.social Butterflies of the French Alps trip, adding Silky Ringlet, extending the record species count to 151. I'm leading the trip in 2027 & there's just 8 spaces left. If you're interested you can book here www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

We are honoured to announce today that @chrisvanswaay.eurosky.social has joined Team Mariposa! One of the founding fathers of @europebutterfly.bsky.social, Chris is widely recognized as one of the most influential and knowledgeable butterfly scientists in Europe... (1/2)

Morning from Marbury. We are absolutely blessed with sunrises at the minute. The beauty of nature never ceases to amaze me! Hope everyone has a lovely day 😊

Last day of @mariposanature.bsky.social Spanish Pyrenees holiday finished on a high with unexpected find of a Dryad on the scree slopes on the Spanish/French border. Thanks to Peter & Pau for excellent guiding - a brilliant holiday with over 100 species.

I had a camera by a gap in the hedge last night hoping to see the young Hare come through it... This creature turns out to be quite a character - here pausing to show us some of those Mad March sparring techniques... #Hares

Today has been a *good* day here in the Arctic. A close encounter with a favorite of mine, Northern Clouded Yellow. And equally close encounters with further desirables - Arctic, Lapland, Freija's & Frigga's Fritillary; Arctic, Arctic Woodland & Lapland Ringlet; and more still! #butterflies

Final butterfly of the day yesterday with my @mariposanature.bsky.social group was a lovely Frigga's Fritillary. Named after the Norse goddess Frigg, the queen of Asgard, famous for her ability to see the future, and to weave the destinies of humanity. I had a quiet word...

Fox Family of Kent . . General early morning bickering 🦊❤️ @chrisgpackham.bsky.social #FoxOfTheDay

This was part of the thorough groundwork we undertake before this flagship tour begins each year - we know the island's orchids intimately, but there are always new treasures to find! If you'd like to join the ultimate Rhodes orchid tour, more info here: www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Orchids of Rhodes

Led by Jon Dunn, author of 'Orchid Summer', and professional plant photographer Sarah Cuttle , our time on Rhodes will be packed with colourful orchids - depending on the season, perhaps approaching 5...

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Jon Dunn@dunnjons.bsky.social · 2mo ago

That was the day! Three months ago in Rhodes, Sarah Cuttle and I enjoyed one of the most productive days orchid-hunting I've ever known in terms of brand new, one-off rarities found - hybrids and wild colour variations abounded. #ThrowbackThursday #orchids

Postcard from the field from tour leader János Oláh, in super Serbia with our group this week: Serbia really is the gift that just keeps on giving... and giving. Today's been another remarkable day, with fabulous Spinose Skipper and Zephyr Blue two most enjoyable highlights. #butterflies

Of course, there's another @mariposanature.bsky.social orchid tour I lead that qualifies for #Twosday, and that's the flagship #OrchidsOfRhodes. It's full for 2027, and for 2028, so we're running a second week in 2028... which has 2 places left available... www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Mariposa Nature Tours@mariposanature.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Tour update 🚨 As of this evening, Summer Orchids of the French Alps 2027 is now fully booked, which leaves Orchids of Sardinia 2027 as our #Twosday special, with just 2 places left available on it to join @dunnjons.bsky.social & Michele Viganò next April... www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Good morning and welcome to a new week! Our Serbian butterfly tour, currently running, is full up for 2027, but we're getting enquiries for 2028 - so it's now open to book! A tour in unspoilt countryside, where myriad rare butterflies abound. (1/2) www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

I *cannot* wait to co-lead this stunning tour next year! 😍 My Team Mariposa pal @selbypaul.bsky.social had an incredible time there last year with his group, and my Mariposa co-founder David Moore, in Serbia with our group right now, described the butterflies yesterday as 'viscerally good'!

Mariposa Nature Tours@mariposanature.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Good morning and welcome to a new week! Our Serbian butterfly tour, currently running, is full up for 2027, but we're getting enquiries for 2028 - so it's now open to book! A tour in unspoilt countryside, where myriad rare butterflies abound. (1/2) www.mariposanature.com/tours/butter...

Tour update 🚨 With two more places secured today, just two places now remain available to join Orchid Summer author @dunnjons.bsky.social and Italian orchid-hunter supreme Michele Viganò next April for Orchids of Sardinia: www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani... #orchids

A fine array of butterflies and orchids alike yesterday here in Abruzzo. Baton Blue were particularly numerous, while with every passing day we're seeing more Ophrys dinarica too.

Postcard from the field from tour leader David Moore on our Butterflies of Marvellous Morocco tour: Quite simply one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life - Allard's Silver-line. We were all, guides and guests alike, absolutely awestruck. #butterflies

Postcard from the field from tour leader David Moore in Morocco: Euphoric scenes today as our group connected with the unicorn, the mythical Vogel's Blue. Obliging insects allowed all superb views. What a result!

Postcard from the field from orchid tour leader @dunnjons.bsky.social leading our Late Spring Orchids of Sicily tour this week: With new species coming thick and fast today, we're sailing into the 40s for the week with two full days left to us here. There's nobody better at finding the rarities!

Jon Dunn@dunnjons.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Italy serves up another fabulous hybrid orchid - it really is the gift that keeps on giving. I popped out for a little pre-dinner recce yesterday evening and found this, Ophrys biancae x O. lacaitae. A cracker in warm evening light, and every bit as good shared with Mariposa guests today. #orchids

Just some of the 49 species of orchids we have seen last week at @mariposanature.bsky.social Orchids of the Gargano Peninsula tour + lots of fab insects, birds and reptiles. Many thanks to our wonderful guides @dunnjons.bsky.social & Andrea Corso for sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with us!

Naturally, like every single one of our orchid tours since Mariposa's inception, our Orchids of the Gargano Peninsula tour generates a donation to support the superb and vital conservation work of @bsbibotany.bsky.social. That support matters deeply to us, and we know it matters to our guests too.

Mariposa Nature Tours@mariposanature.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Well, that's a wrap for our #OrchidsOfTheGargano tour for 2026, with a very pleasing 49 species logged. Chief among them were many gorgeous Ophrys bee orchids & their hybrids. Our 2027 tour, led by Italian naturalist legend Andrea Corso, now available to book: www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Postcard from the field, where Team Mariposa are firing on all cylinders on our #OrchidsOfCrete tour led by @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social: 40 taxa in one day is a stunning achievement, testament to Richard's deep knowledge of the island's orchids, and our group's sharp eyes and teamwork.

Dr Richard Bate@thenewgalaxy.bsky.social · 3mo ago

22/4/26 #OrchidsOfCrete - What a day in the field with our party in #Crete who have been treated to 40 #orchid taxa in a single day; a record here at @mariposanature.bsky.social. Highlights include (L) Ophrys leochroma and an awesome patch of Ophrys helios (R), found by @rogercharding.bsky.social

Tour update 🚨 Today saw one of our two Kent orchid days this coming May now fully booked. Places remain available to join @dunnjons.bsky.social & @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social for a day of colourful orchids, orchid lore, and a fine pub lunch on 31 May: www.mariposanature.com/tours/botani...

Postcard from the field, from tour leaders Dave Fairhurst & Brian Small in southern France: Our A Spring in Provence tour is under way, and we've spent a wonderful day in the wetlands of the Camargue, with masses of birds on show. More birds, butterflies, wildflowers to follow in the coming days...

I've never yet met an Ophrys reinholdii I didn't like, but some I've encountered this week with my @mariposanature.bsky.social guests were love at first sight. What a stunning #orchid species this is, and there's nowhere better to enjoy its many iterations than on Rhodes with Mariposa.

Tour update 🚨 Just two of the many faces Ophrys cretica presents here in the orchid wonderland that's the #OrchidsOfRhodes tour. Speaking of twos, two more places have been taken this evening on the second week we're running in March 2028. See you there! #bloomscrolling (1/2)🧵

...and a myriad of colour forms and possible hybrids too in the space of week. Staying in a comfortable, family-run hotel set on the slopes of Mt. Attaviros in the heart of the island, we're in prime orchid-hunting country every moment of every day. It's the ultimate European orchid tour. (2/2)

Good morning and welcome to a new week! Our featured tour this week is Orchids of Rhodes, a flagship tour we're incredibly proud of and one, like ALL our orchid tours, that generates a donation to @bsbibotany.bsky.social. We anticipate seeing c.50 species...(1/2) mariposanature.com/tours/botani...