Kim Smith Writes-
Dear Friends,
Have you noticed the sheer numbers of our winged friends? Returning this evening from a swim at 6:45, I bumped into three Monarchs nectaring and a Red-spotted Purple (all in pristine, newly emerged condition). Early evening is an unusually late time of day for butterflies on the wing, especially when skies are slightly overcast. This, after a day of observing and shooting numerous numbers of butterflies, caterpillars and hummingbirds–and never leaving our garden. I work for a bit, but then the garden calls and I’m out the door with both video and still cameras. If this fabulously warm weather keeps up, I think we are in for another banner year with the butterflies, and skippers too.
Currently, we have 22 Monarchs, in various stages of their development, residing in our kitchen, and seven Black Swallowtail caterpillars and chrysalids.
Great Spangled Fritillary nectaring at native Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Check out the rest of Kim’s Butterfly and caterpillar ramblings at her blog-