WOW…the spring and summer of 2022 has been very active season in my garden for butterflies and other pollinators as I expand and expand my plants some more…. everyday in my garden is grounding to the maximum! Nurtures my soul, bring such joy back when life gets filled with daily chaos!
The Spring started out with growing plants from seed and learning about each plant species. I keep a spreadsheet of all plants I grow in my butterfly garden. Adding new plants brings different species of butterflies also. Each butterfly species has host plant preferences to lay their eggs on. They also have nectar plant preferences which I observe in the garden. Believe it or not they each have there own what I call personality. For example the Monarch Butterfly loves milkweed and senses it what seems like miles away. As soon as I plant or start growing milkweed there’s a Monarch who suddenly flies in to check it out.
On any given day you can visit my Butterfly Garden and observe 10 different species of Butterflies. Some stay most of the day while others like the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly visits, lays eggs, enjoys nectar then flies away with beauty and grace. But the Black swallowtail swoops in on my fennel, parsley lays eggs, enjoys nectar on my plants and often I don’t observe there presence but find their eggs and cats on my herbs. There is always something to observe in my butterfly garden.
Species that are observed on most days are Monarchs, Orange Barred Sulfurs, Swallowtails, Zebra Longwings, Skippers, Gulf Fritillary, Dusky wings, White Peacocks, Cassius Blues and others less frequently observed (I’m not in the garden 24 hours a day) Red Admirals, Queens and Hairstreaks.
One of the most eloquent butterflies to observe in my garden are the Zebra Longwings. They flt around plants in the garden gracefully with their long narrow wings are black with pale yellow stripes. Butterfly Fun Facts: zebra longwings or zebra heliconian are the State Butterfly of Florida. They like other butterfly species have their favorite nectar plants like Lantana. The females lay eggs on Passiflora or passion vine plants as their host plant. Another fun fact I learned is that zebra longwings can also feed on pollen unlike other butterflies who strictly sip on nectar. They have a specialized ability to dissolve pollen in their mouth parts. I observe them slowly flying in and our of my arbor and garden plants frollicking and playing with each other. You’ll enjoy a morning or afternoon sipping a coffee observing these graceful butterflies.