By Scott Shephard

These are called Painted Ladies, which strikes me an an appropriate name. Unless you're a guy butterfly. . . .

Whether these are all female or not, it's hard not to notice that our neighborhood has been invaded by these beautiful and/or handsome members of the lepidoptera order. Where they came from and why they're here is something a lepidopterist would know. But I don't.

(Here's a closer look)