Monarchs and Fritillaries

My dog loves to hunt for moles, digging holes as she goes sniffing along. Deep holes. All the way to China holes. At first I bemoaned these holes, fearing a broken ankle or leg by falling into one. Instead, these holes became opportunities as neighbors and friends began giving me cuttings and babies from their own gardens!

Delightedly, I filled these random holes with crocmosia and milkweed. While randomly placed at the moment one day I plan to connect them into a wonderful native plant wildflower garden. In the meantime these monarchs and gulf fritillaries do not care that my garden is in progress, only that they are receiving nectar.

Milkweed out of random doggie holes. Lemonade out of lemons.

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Gulf Fritillary

 

 

Lining our sidewalk at the lake were Virginia Sweetspire, lovely native shrubs beloved by all manner of butterflies and bees, praying mantis and spiders.  One chilly morning in autumn I went out to find gulf fritillaries clinging to dangling seedpods waiting for the sun to come out.  Chilled, they were captive for my lens.  I must plant more Virginia Sweetspire.   They colonize so do be careful where you plant them.  They love moist soils and are perfect for stream beds, ponds and creeks and help control erosion.  They are also stunningly beautiful in the spring with long white floral tassels.

Gulf Fritillary

Early in the morning, while the butterflies are still cold, it is easy to sneak up on them and take some good shots.