Mourning Cloak Butterfly
for the last few weeks I have observed a Mourning Cloak Butterfly
www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1765
flying and gliding around the apple tree (going for rotten apples!)
and also approaching me and landing in front of me while sitting and reading
on my garden bench...
"""Range:
All of North America south of the tundra to central Mexico;
rarely in the Gulf States and peninsular Florida.
Also native to temperate Eurasia.
Comments: Adults live 10-11 months and may be our longest lived butterfly."""