Native plants – Winter

These scenes are from our backyard in winter. Since learning that many butterflies over-winter as eggs, chrysalises, or small caterpillars on plants or in leaf litter, I now wait until spring to remove summer plant material. We had our first “Frost Flowers” (ice crystals) on two Dittany plants, December 2011. I have seen these formations in the wild and it was an extra special treat to have them in our backyard.