Tiger swallowtail mandala card is digitally printed using archival pigment inks on silky, bright white, acid-free paper. Folded card is 5.25" by 5.25" and comes with a beautifully made, bright white envelope. The photograph I used to create the butterfly mandala is printed on the back of the card with the photo location. Interior of the card is blank and the paper is super smooth, not slick, and takes gel, ballpoint, and other inks well. Perfect as a note card, any-day card, birthday card, or thinking of you for a gardener, child, biology teacher, or anyone who loves butterflies, grows native plants, or is concerned about sustainability. Butterflies also carry the energy of transformation, making this card a nice gift for anyone going through a life change. The card and envelope are packaged together in a plastic sleeve and mailed in a stiffened mailer.

Framing. This tiger swallowtail mandala card is created using high-quality materials, such as might be used in a museum. The print is sharp, bright, and frameable. To protect the vibrancy of the artwork, I frame using UV glass or acrylic, and I recommend it. If you use plain glass or acrylic, make sure you hang this sweet, little piece and all your beautiful art away from direct sunlight.

Postage. Because irregularly shaped mail, like this square tiger swallowtail mandala card, must be canceled by hand, the U.S. Postal Service requires extra postage to deliver them. Special "butterfly stamps" carry the exact right postage to mail your bee card within the U.S. If you would like me to stamp the envelope with a butterfly stamp so it's ready for you to mail, please choose that option from the menu.

About the Art. The mandala art on this card, titled Swallowtail Power, began as a photo of an Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly taken in one of my gardens on Pleasant Hill, near Morgantown, West Virginia. As spirit animal, Butterfly carries the energy of transformation and a change of perspective. Sometimes we fall asleep as caterpillars, seeing just a few inches beyond our noses, but dreaming of bigger things. The lucky among us awaken like a butterfly to find our wings and a higher and wider view of the world. Beyond the existential energy of this piece, did you know Eastern tiger swallowtails can be either yellow or black? Many people don't realize and misidentify the black variation as a black swallowtail, which is a different species. The markings on the wings can be used to tell the species apart, as can the behavior of the butterflies. Black swallowtails are so active while feeding that it's difficult to get a clear photo of them; tiger swallowtails are much more sedate and easy to photograph. Both species are drawn to common garden flowers, particularly zinnias, but also favor native species such as milkweed, clover, echinacea, and thistles. Grow extra angelica, dill, fennel, parsley, carrots, and celery to host their feeding caterpillars, which are beautiful green, yellow, white, and black striped creatures.