This beautiful swallowtail butterfly stopped by our butterfly garden to pay us a vist. The lantana bush's flowers were the draw.

Swallowtail butterflies can be this darkish black coloration. They can also be a bright yellow with the same distinct markings.

A regal Queen

This Queen butterfly sat and posed on this milkweed plant in my backyard.

One of the milkweed butterflies, the Queen butterfly resembles both the Monarch and the Viceroy butterflies.

Carmel by the Sea sunset

One of the "things to do" in Carmel by the Sea besides strolling the shops and trying all the great restaurant options is to time your ocean walk to the setting of the sun.

You won't be alone. Hundreds of townpeople and visitors flock to the beach to watch the golden orb set slowly into the horizon.

One of life's best views for free.

Foxgloves

These beautiful flowers are found in gardens all over Carmel-by-the-Sea.

California travel

Let's change course and travel to a California location--Carmel-by-the-Sea. The tiny town is filled with charming dwarf-style cottages and gardens overflowing with flowers of all kinds, including foxgloves, dahlias, daisies and hydrangeas of pink, blue and lavender.

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Mesta

In the southern part of the island of Chios is the medieval village of Mesta. Tall stone walls enclose the city and create passageways between the homes.

A wonderful central courtyard is found within the walls where townspeople mingle with visitors to the village.

Inside the small restaurant, diners select their main dish.