17 May 67 Species of Butterflies
By taking action, planting POLLINATOR HOST PLANTS, TREES, & NECTARING FLOWERS, and co-creating a POLLINATOR FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT, we have more early BUTTERFLIES this year than last. It is HEART-en-ing to see so many so early this year. Everyone is fluttering fast it is a challenge to take photos yet. I think they are mostly mating and laying eggs right now. I still have much to learn.
At the end of 2016 we were up to 67 SPECIES of BUTTERFLIES! Most of them we have at least one photo. Several of them at least one of us saw it. Now that is pretty exciting when you consider that these were all seen either in GardenSong or somewhere in our POLLINATOR HABITAT or surrounding MOTHERLAND.
Here are a few photos from last year nectaring on FLOWERS that are VERY POPULAR with the Butterfly Crowd:
1. ^^^Top Photo: Variegated Fritillary and Skipper on Marigolds^^^
2. Common Buckeye on Brown Eye Susuns.
3. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush on Pink Phlox.
4.Variegated Fritillary on Giant Orange Cosmos.
5. Orange Sulphur on dried Grass.
6. Red Spotted Purple on Stone.
This Red Spotted Purple one is feeding at the Butterfly Feeder; fruit laid out on a plate in one of the metal Birdbaths. Many Butterflies are nourished by rotting fruit, manure, and tree sap. This is just a handful of the GORGEOUS PHOTOS we have gathered and we plan to publish a colorful book of the BUTTERFLIES of BOONEVILLE.
