Celebrating the ordinary
I like butterflies!
In mid-May, my friend Connie May brought me a tiny yellow-and-black caterpillar to raise. For four weeks it ate tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) leaves and grew to be two inches long.
I especially liked its yellow “booties” and red spikes. Continue reading “Promethea moth”
Goodness, it’s hot and dry. It is a challenging time for plants, wildlife, and gardeners. I previously blogged about why purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) are one of my favorite perennials. They’re now proving to be one of my most drought-resistant plants and attracting the most visitors, including this orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme).
There’s a lot going on in the backyard. Lots of blossoms and bees, and some butterflies. This area in particular is the scene of a lot of activity (click to view larger image).
Our four-year-old pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) is now covered with heart-shaped leaves. This year for the first time it has flowers. They are inconspicuous, and without prompting from my plant guru, Connie, I likely would have missed them.
I was at the Lexington Arboretum recently and saw at least fifteen Red Admiral butterflies (Vanessa atalanta) in the same area. I’ve often seen Red Admirals, but usually only one at a time.
After some reading, I’ve discovered these butterflies often migrate south in autumn and north in spring, and I’m guessing that I was seeing part of their northward migration. This one was basking in the sun on a stone column.
