Recently I wrote that we planted lantana flowers, and that I didn’t know it at the time, but they are butterfly attracting plants. Let me just tell you, that boy oh boy are they! It seems everyday this week I have gone out to check on my plants, there has been a swallowtail butterfly out there, just taking in those lantana like there is no tomorrow. I am not exactly sure which one it is, a giant I think Greg (hubby) said.
I know almost as much about butterflies as I do flowers, which is almost nothing. However, Greg is quite knowledgeable. Growing up in Tahoe, he, his brother, and his dad used to collect and raise them. Personally, I find the notion of collecting butterflies a bit disgraceful to collect these beautiful creatures, however Greg has a great love and respect of these creatures. So I forgive him. Plus I know he wouldn’t do that now.
Instead, he has been on a mission this week to create butterflies in glass. So far he has made three different kinds of butterfly murrini. The first one he did was a swallowtail. If you don’t know what murrini is, it is a cane of glass pulled down so you can slice off pieces, just like fimo clay, and use them in beads or marbles. Although some people just collect murrini slices also. Making murrini takes a lot of skill and patience. I have made two in my glass career to date, one with the help of Greg at my side the whole time and the other one with out. Both came out fairly nice, but then I do have a master (at least I think so) at my beck and call. There is so much detail in a butterfly murrini, I am not sure I even have the guts to try and tackle it. So let just say, I am rather impressed. Here is a marble on ebay with the new swallowtail butterfly murrini. Check it out, you’ll be glad you did.
