I had lots of fun today watching many Mourning Cloaks in the willow tree and a few Angelwings also, the tree is blooming, saw a few of the small orange ones that flitted over the fence before I really got a chance to get a good look at them.
The Angelwing looked a bit beat up

Bothe sides of the Mourning Cloak

Taking a rest

Beautiful! That Angelwing is a little beat up, though, isn't it? I was explaining to folks at the museum this weekend how butterflies can lose a pretty significant chunk of their wing(s) and still fly. I still feel guilty when I accidentally knock a tail off a Swallowtail (it doesn't happen often, folks). I know they'll be fine, but still...it's like I've wrecked one of God's creatures and I always feel bad about it.

It's raining here so I'm stuck inside.

I know what you mean, Melanie.

Raining here, too, Tee. The electric company called Monday saying they would be shutting our power off today to work on it and when I saw the forecast I was like, "No way." Granted, this is the third time they've called and said that and they still haven't replaced the line like they said they needed to so I was doubtful anyway. Weather was really bad yesterday afternoon and night. We had a construction worker killed by lightning. The Tampa area happens to be the lightning capital of this hemisphere (some place in Africa has us beat for the world record) so unfortunately this kind of thing happens every summer - but usually to golfers. These are the kinds of days I tell the butterflies to stay in their chrysalis!

Melanie, you mentioned comment on disposal of expired BF from site where you work. Pic is from BF House at Houston Museum of Nat. Sci., they apparently collected the deceased flyers, but then I don't know as this tray was just laying around in there.
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I liked your comment regarding Zebra Swallowtails and Paw Paw trees - I also grow Paw Paws, the 2nd year they were there, I saw my first, and only (so far) Zebra ST; as you indicated, its a host plant therefor. Time permitting, I'll try to find pic of the Zebra ST, it's on a separate backup drive, about 9 yrs old.

Wow! That's quite an assortment of butterflies in there! At MOSI we (pretty much) only stick to native butterflies so we don't always have that much diversity of species but it's a good way to start a conversation about planting natives. And we like to tell everyone that they are capable of attracting all the butterflies they see into their yard. Which is true, most of the time.

I'm too far south to grow the Pawpaw trees that grow in WV and your area (and most of the East Coast, I think). In Florida, we have Asimina species that are small bushes, growing about four feet high at most. Makes it much easier to catch caterpillars when you don't have to climb trees! Not that I can climb a tree, anyway (never could).

True story, when I was about ten or eleven we were visiting the grandparents in WV. Well, we're sitting on the porch and this butterfly lands on my brother's shoulder. And we're all "oohing" and "aahing" at how magical it is that it landed on him. And someone had a camera and took a picture. And you know what, that butterfly took a dump on my brother's shirt. I swear, it's the only time I've ever seen this happen in my life - and you guys know I've watched a LOT of butterflies. But out of its rear end came this substance like a clear gel which is I guess what butterflies excrete. And that's pretty much been a metaphor for my brother's entire life.

So Mom was up at Grandma's one year without me and took a bunch of digital photos of Grandma's photos for my genealogy files. And she finds this picture! So I zoom in real close and it was a Zebra Swallowtail that took a dump on my brother's shoulder. Check it out. My brother is on the left and you can see the butterfly on his right shoulder. Mom is in the middle wearing a butterfly T-shirt, oddly enough, and I have no idea which cousin that is on the right (I should probably ask Grandma). The only moment better than this involving butterflies and my brother was a couple of years ago when I had a Giant Swallowtail caterpillar gut purge just as he was walking by me and it totally grossed him out. I loved that caterpillar so much. It's like it timed it just for me. Can you tell my brother and I don't get along?

J, that sure is a lot of dead butterflies, kinda sad to see so many like that.

Today's garden visitor:

Tarev, looks like you've got a boy there so don't expect eggs quite yet (if you were expecting them) but good to see the Monarch!

I went out this morning to pick some pellitory for the Red Admiral cat. A cold front came through so it was really nice outside today. A little cool, even. Here's a picture of the Red Admiral chrysalis. See how it has a little gold on it? Cool, huh? You know, the word chrysalis is based on a Greek word meaning "gold" because of the gold on the chrysalises of various species (but I suspect the Monarch is the inspiration). Incidentally, my name is based on a Greek word meaning "dark" or "black". Note that the chemical that makes your skin darker (whether because of your race or if you get a tan) is called melanin. See, you learned something new today!



The Duskywings usually don't eat the jatropha but I think this one was just basking.



I have a Monarch, too! And I'm pretty sure mine's a boy, too.



The Gulf Frit was basking, too. It was a little cool this morning, no kidding!



Now, this afternoon the family went to see "Godzilla". It was AWESOME! But I really need to start carrying my camera in my purse again because when we came home I had another Swallowtail on the plumbago! Luckily, this one waited while I ran through the house and grabbed my camera. It was an Eastern Black Swallowtail! Only got one good picture, though.



And here's a Monarch that just molted on one of the columns of my house. You can see the stem of the plant is right next to it. I've seen some people confused when they see a just-molted caterpillar so here's a picture of what it looks like. I remember one person had a Gulf Frit, I think, and they thought one cat had eaten another one and I was like, "No, that's just it's old skin!" Most caterpillars don't eat each other - except for Zebra Swallowtails. I can't decide if they're aggressive or just dumb but they will attack each other. I can never keep too many in one container and I have to separate them by size. And you know, it's the medium-size ones that are the meanest! They chill out once they get big; it's weird.

Now I'll know what it is when I see a just molted one.

You're welcome! I'm glad there have been lots of example of things around my house I can share to educate everyone. The caterpillars and butterflies are being most cooperative lately.

I'm just wanting to find some of that giant milkweed!

Yesterday I bought a Joe-pye weed, Meadow sage, and Black Night Buddleia, I hope the butterflies like them.

Oooooooooooooooooo Margaret! Nice!

Margaret I can tell you that Joe Pye weed is mobbed by the butterflies here in Tennessee...Tigers, Pipevine, Skippers of all kinds, Painted Lady have all visited mine. It's only about 6 inches high right now but will be nearly 6ft by the time it is done. It is one of my favorite plants and as a bonus it is a native plant here in Tennessee.

Dave, that is awesome, mine is a dwarf variety and I sure hope it is as successful as yours .

I tried the Joe Pye Weed last year when Select Seeds had their close-out sale. It grew, it bloomed, and then it never came back. Not sure what I did to it but it hasn't come back. But they are indeed, a butterfly magnet. And native, as Dave said! Double bonus points!

Mararet, here are a few photos from last year. As you can see the flower heads are beautiful and long lasting and the butterflies love it.

Dave, that is awesome, beautiful blooms, I am excited and I hope I get lots of visitors to my Joe-Pye weed plant too.

you will Margaret

Neato picture just snapped: