Butterflies at Skylands
Skylands, my home in Maine, has many wonderful collections that are so much fun to pore over. Several years ago, my daughter, Alexis, had a store in the Hamptons, called the Yard Sale Shop, and she came across quite an extraordinary butterfly collection, all neatly framed and labeled as to origin, having been collected in the early 1960’s. When redecorating Skylands, I found the perfect spot to hang these frames. My friend and neighbor, David Rockefeller, was quite impressed when he saw this display.
Historically, insect collecting has been a very popular hobby, both for scientific reasons and for profit. Most types of insects, because of their hard exoskeletons, retain their appearance after death, making it easy and practical to form a collection. Because of their beauty, collecting butterflies and moths has been most popular, followed next by beetles. A butterfly collector is an entomologist who specializes in the collection and study of butterflies and moths. My preference is to let butterflies flit about freely, but I also prize this collection.
1 The butterfly collection graces the mantle wall of this stately bedroom.
2 The collection over the writing desk
3 The collection to the left of the fireplace
4 A collection of Caligo Memnon, commonly called Owl butterflies, after their huge eye spots, which resemble owls' eyes.
5 The top of the Owl butterfly's wings are rather plain in comparison to its bottoms, which....
6 Is one of the best examples of mimicry in the butterfly world. The eyes actually scare predators away. The rest of the wing even mimics owl feathers.
7 Caligo Memnon are found in the rain forests and secondary forests of Mexico, Central and South America.
8 Argema mittrei, known as the Comet Moth, is an African moth, native to the rain forests of Madagascar. it one of the world's largest silk moths.
9 This is a Queen Victoria's Birdwing, Ornithoptera victoriae, a butterfly found in the Solomon Islands in Papua New Guinea.
10 Another type of Queen Victoria's Birdwing butterfly from the Solomon Islands
11 Three neutral-toned morpho butterflies
12 A Morpho Telemachus from South America
13 This angelic-looking butterfly is the White Morpho from South America.
14 This beauty is Morpho Hecuba Sunset from South America - the largest species in the genus morpho with a wingspan than can reach 7.9-inches
15 A collection of Blue Morpho butterflies
16 The melaneus Blue Morpho (Morpho melaneus) is an iridescent tropical butterfly of Central and South America.
17 This is a Morpho papirius from Peru.
18 Morpho Aurora butterfly from Bolivia
19 A Blue Morpho butterfly
20 Attacus Caesar, or Atlas moths are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia. Considered the largest moth in the world, its wingtip looks like a snake head.
21 Another collection of iridescent Morpho butterflies
22 Morpho goderti are found in Peru and Bolivia
23 Sulkowski oppiana, or Pearl Morpho, from Colombia - it changes color depending on the angle it's viewed.
24 The other Morpho goderti
25 Goliathus regius are among the largest insects, measuring 2 - 4-inches in length. They are found in many of Africa's tropical forests, where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit.
26 A closer look at a female specimen found in the ivory Coast. These are the only beetles in my collection.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Your beautiful collection has given me an idea. My husband has some unique butterflies that I've always thought would be great to display but have been concerned that light may not be good for them (we've always kept them tucked away in a closet). Are there special framing concerns or requirements, or a special kind of glass that's needed to safely display such collections? Also, how are they attached to the base? Have yours had any discoloration? thanks!
Posted by: Kate | January 31st, 2011 at 1:25 am
Such beauty!!! Numbers 16, 18, & 24 looks like pleated and gathered silk.
Many, many years ago, I worked at the local university, very well known for it's Tiger Team, and one week, my job was to dust boxes and boxes and boxes of butterflies and moths. I've never seen so much beauty in such a dreay room as I saw that week. I never did get all of them dusted, but I think I could have looked at them for months and not seen all of them.
Thanks for sharing yours with us.
Gloria G!!!!
Posted by: Gloria | January 31st, 2011 at 1:33 am
Isn't it amazing what you can find at a yard sale/ thrift store/estate sale?! I love the butterfly collection. Someone went to a lot of time to prepare them and frame them nicely. I know they would love to know someone else is enjoying them in such a nice home. Butterfly just make you happy when you look at them. Thank you for sharing them, Joycelyn @ http://www.peacetravelers.blogspot.com
Posted by: Joycelyn Tongate | January 31st, 2011 at 1:50 am
Thank you..really informative!!
Posted by: softstars | January 31st, 2011 at 2:06 am
hi marta
im ensieh. im frome iran
im very happy see u
Posted by: Ensieh | January 31st, 2011 at 2:11 am
hi martha
im arta
im frome iran
very happy see u
Posted by: arta | January 31st, 2011 at 2:12 am
Martha-- What a great collection. My boys have for the past couple years collected insects for the county fair here in Wisconsin. It has become a summer past time for our whole family & friends. Our family has learned so much about insects & their impact on our lives. The boys haven't figured out how to carefully mount a mosquito without it falling apart, but they have caught many small & large specimens that have made them research & learn more. Thanks for sharing the collection. A
Posted by: April Daniels | January 31st, 2011 at 2:39 am
Butterflies mounted for display are better than looking out the window and seeing endless snow..
Thanks
Posted by: ann | January 31st, 2011 at 2:58 am
Isn't that something! Other than the fact that I love everything skylands and Maine. This is a really interesting collection. http://www.themalemartha.com This type of collecting is rarely seen anymore. Spectacular and informative. Another hidden treasure of Skylands.
Thank you!!!
Dan Viger
Hollis Center, Maine.
Posted by: Dan Viger | January 31st, 2011 at 3:11 am
Thank you for sharing this collection. 19, such a hearty icon butterfly!
Luc
Posted by: Luc | January 31st, 2011 at 5:28 am
Martha, what a wonderful collection! Do I see a new lines of Martha Stewart colors in the future?
Posted by: Barbara | January 31st, 2011 at 9:28 am
Those butterflies are natures lesson in colour theory! Fantastic inspiration. I see a few other posters picked up on that too... not hard to tell its winter when a bit of colour gets everyone all riled up
Posted by: R. | January 31st, 2011 at 10:24 am
Hi Martha, Your blog posting is absolutely wonderful! Every posting is delightfully interesting, intreging, fascintating, inspiring, etc.,etc.etc.! I love seeing it everyday! Alexis sure did a great job collecting all of these butterflies and moths and all of these photos are certainly stunning!! My exceptional favorites are #6, 8,9,14,16,18,20,24&26!!! I agree with your love of these collections and seeing any of these beautiful butterflies and moths flying around my yard or elsewhere is so much fun and beautiful to photograph. How was your snowy weekend?! Sure hope all of you stayed warm! Will you be on Letterman's show tonight?! It wasn't listed on my TV Guide today, but I sure hope so! Waiting to see your new Martha Bakes Show on Hallmark Channel Home today! Have a great day! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 31st, 2011 at 11:29 am
Dear Martha:
I have been wanting to write to you to say how much I enjoy your craft items from Michael's. I truly love you small ink pads they do not dry out. Since I am on a tight budget I look for things that will last and these do. I have been a crafter ever since I can remember. Even as a child I can remember my mother giving me her scraps of fabric for me to use in making something. My glue was flour and water. Now I make cards, do some woodworking, scrapebooking, and sewing which is my favorite. My mother taught me to sew when I was about 5 or 6 years old plus I love to cook which she taught me when I was 5. She even taught me to knit. I enjoyed the times we had together.
I have several of your punches, glues, and stamps. I retired several years ago and my crafting has kept my mind and spirit going. Thank you for coming out with the Martha Stewart line for us crafters.
Plus I really do like your new shows on the Hallmark channel.
From a dedicated Mathera Stewart crafter.
Eileen Cordova
Posted by: Eileen | January 31st, 2011 at 11:54 am
Hi Martha,
That's really a great looking room and I love the mirror over the fireplace. What a great butterfly collection! Someone really enjoyed their hobby and it looks so nice on those walls! The frames are a perfect color match.
~
Right now I'm watching your new BAKING show which is one area I could use some help in. I need to get a stand mixer which might give me even more inspiration to turn the oven on. Anyway, you make baking look so easy. I’ve always thought that. I know you would have a good laugh if you could watch me trying to handle flour and eggs. I make the biggest messes. So far the show reminds me of your Martha Stewart Living show - even the music is familiar. I think I'm going to like it a lot! Thanks. Trish
Posted by: Trish @ Trish_EllenC | January 31st, 2011 at 12:18 pm
That is quite a beautiful collection! The owl butterflies were especially fascinating.
Posted by: Judy | January 31st, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Hi M,
Only you could pull off mounted beetles on your wall.
My family would think I'd lost my mind!
ha : )
Posted by: Debra | January 31st, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Martha,
The next time your travels take you to Chicago, be sure to check out the
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum where you can walk in a huge atrium amidst 100's of butterflies. I took a plethora of photos the last time I was there for an event.
Posted by: Lauren Romanowski | January 31st, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Indeed, a very impressive collection!
Posted by: sherey | January 31st, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Martha,
Thanks so much for taking our minds off the cold and snow. We would never appreciate your butterfly collection as much in July as we do now. In July we would be more worried that our gardens were being devoured by unknown flying "things" that laid eggs on the leaves. Today we can truly marvel at the creation of such wonderful "things". They humble us all.
Posted by: Margie | January 31st, 2011 at 5:43 pm
Beautiful!
Posted by: June Rouse | January 31st, 2011 at 8:05 pm
I love the beetles and the butterflies. Beautiful display in a beautiful room. The desk is nice beside the fireplace. I watched your new baking show today. Edward's cake looks scrumptious. I wish you well with this new endeavor.
Posted by: Rickey Westbrooks | January 31st, 2011 at 10:43 pm
What a stunning ballgown the color and texture of Morpho Aurora (#18) would make!!
Posted by: Mary | February 1st, 2011 at 3:24 am
Martha, did you happen to see this article on Nabokov's butterfly collecting? Some of your specimens look like his http://tinyurl.com/6cop42v
Posted by: Karen | February 1st, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Run to the nearest Butterfly garden to witness these creatures of beauty in person! Many gardens open to the public have butterfly habitats to visit Callaway Gardens and The University of Florida has an exhibit. check them out. Now the article on the web regarding the upkeep of former President Jimmy Carter Plains Georgia home the upkeep footed by the taxpayer of the US at 67 grand a year. granted it will be deeded to the national historic trust some of the grounds appear to be open to the public the Farm House and farm which i have visited is beautifully kept and I am sure it is a historic site that the citizens of Plains are proud of it. It cites the daily sweeping, pool cleaning, road trash removal if only the average person took such pride in home ownership it would help in Keeping America Beautiful. So many historic sites are rarely visited But I make a point to visit national cemeteries Andersonville and Chicamaugua should be seen by everyone.
Posted by: Kathleen | February 2nd, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Sorry, this has nothing to do with Skylands but I didn't know where else to post this. I recently went to Rwanda to see the Mountain Gorillas. Martha you must go there! It is an amazing thing to do if you are an animal lover. Rwanda itself is a surprise. The genocide was 20 years ago and the country has a very progressive approach to the future. For instance, plastic bags are illegal, to cut down on garbage. Once a month there is community clean up day and everyone cleans up around their home. As a result Rwanda is beautiful and very clean. It is illegal to marry before 21 years old to encourage girls to go to school. They export coffee beans and there are no factories so the air is clean and pure. In the rural area by the gorillas the children run out to the safari jeeps every morning to wave and shout "Hallo!" We stayed at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Though it is expensive, the profits go back into gorilla conservation. The Lodge is beautiful. The food was the best of the entire safari ( Serengeti, Zanzibar). The chef uses local, organic ingredients. Martha you have done everything else- you have to see the gorillas. there are only about 500 left and you can only see them in the Virunga Mountains. They do not survive in captivity.
Posted by: Mary Ann Rouse | February 2nd, 2011 at 5:42 pm
Back in the 60's I had a large collection of Indiana butterflies and moths. I took this project in 4-H. Donated them to a local school. Wish I had kept them now.
Posted by: Linda Collins | February 2nd, 2011 at 8:03 pm
I've collected insects as a child and the collection has followed me into adulthood. Most of my insects are those that I've already found dead. My fascination came when I found a Cecropia Moth (Garden Giant)cocoon. And without knowing, brought it into the house, where the largest, most beautiful moth I've ever seen emerged. I let it go, and sadly (for the moth) but lucky for me I found it dead a day later in our rock wall. I collected it and framed it and haven't stopped keeping an eye out for an in- tact specimen. Your collection is beautiful!
Posted by: Jennifer Sartell | February 4th, 2011 at 12:16 am
I've been collecting framed butterfly art for about twenty years. My source is the most beautiful store in the world called appropietly "Butterfly People", located in Old San Juan Puerto Rico. The store is an experience by itself. I recommend a visit if you are interested in this art. Their specialty is to frame butterflies as if they were flying in acrilic (or lucite) shadow boxes. They have stock and do special orders.
Posted by: Jose F Santiago-Llorens | February 4th, 2011 at 8:59 pm