Saturday, May 3, 2014

Jiffy and Flowers (This week's Photo Hunt themes)


For a place that many people tend to think of as a concrete jungle, Hong Kong actually has an incredible amount of green areas and biodiversity.  About three quarters of its approximately 1,100 square kilometers of land is rural, not urban -- and around 40 percent in total are in country parks and nature reserves.  Additionally, within them can be found more than 3,300 varieties of flowering plants, 240 species of butterflies and myriad more wild critters than is often realized!

So it was only natural that very early on into my hiking explorations of Hong Kong, I got to focusing on the flora and fauna around me rather than just scenic landscape views (however impresive these could be) -- this not least because, as it so happens, I actually started my hiking in the summer, when flowers are in bloom and all kind of critters are out and about.

Although there are people who think that the winter is the best time to hike in Hong Kong as the humidity levels as well as temperature is lower then, there are occasions when I do look forward for those brighter (and invariably warmer) days with blue skies, and seeeing more color to the landscape courtesy of many a beautiful wild flower and critter -- with my often being unable to resist taking snaps of even the common varieties (including the melastoma flowers in the third photo from the top of this blog entry).

Pretty butterflies atop blooming flowers are a combination this shutterbug finds particularly hard to resist trying to take photos of -- note the word "trying" there because butterflies are such fluttery creatures, with certain ones seeming to be in perpetual motion, even when they're checking out a flower or two!  Put another way: you usually only have a jiffy to try to take your shot(s) -- and thus will exult whenever a photo turns out looking like the one at the top of my entry this week for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts!! ;b

15 comments:

Carver said...

Beautiful shots. I love the way you captured the butterflies on some of the flowers. Happy photohunting!

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, beautiful photo collection. And that was a great capture of both the butterfly and flower in your first photo. Love the colors. I love butterflies. In Iguazu Falls they would literally land on our arm, shoulder and legs. They were not shy, until I tried to photograph them that is. :)

Thanks for sharing all those interesting facts about Hong Kong. Have a wonderful weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

I wish I captured more butterflies on flowers -- but I should be happy with what I have, right? ;)

Hi Trekcapri --

I love butterflies too. I just wish they would love to pose for me...

And you're welcome re sharing those Hong Kong facts! :)

magiceye said...

Beautiful takes indeed!!

Photo Cache said...

wow, i didn't know that about hk. it's amazing that people go to hk to shop and enjoy the food without venturing outside to the rural area.

Gattina said...

Love the butterfly on the flower !

eastcoastlife said...

How did you manage to capture that pretty butterfly? I saw butterflies at a farm and they were gone in a jiffy before I could photograph them. ish.

YTSL said...

Hi magiceye --

Thanks!

Hi Photo Cache --

I know, it always amazes me that visitors to Hong Kong would be satisfied with just shopping and eating here. I feel they're missing out on so much!

Hi Gattina --

I'm glad you do. :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

Aaah, only people who have tried to take photos of butterflies will realize how difficult it can be to do so! ;b

Susan Demeter said...

I always picture Hong Kong as a very urban. I had no idea that much was actually rural and green space. thank you for teaching me something new :) Beautiful flowers

Anonymous said...

It is a challenge to get a shot while those butterflies flutterby . ..

My jiffy shot is posted as well.

Have a great weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Sue --

Well, my hiking posts should show you green Hong Kong. Do please check them out! :b

Hi JDeQ --

Absolutely. Those butterflies sure do like to flutter... ;b

Annie said...

Your photos are beautiful and I enjoy seeing blossoms and butterflies that are completely different than the ones I see here in NC. :)

YTSL said...

Hi Annie --

The flowers in the first and third photos from the top are actually very common here in Hong Kong. It's cool to learn that they're exotic somewhere else. :)

Goodbye HK, Hello YVR said...

Nice butterfly pics!

YTSL said...

Hi The Fragrant Harbour --

Thanks, glad you saw and like them! :)