Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Butterflies in my garden...

This year we have been blessed with an abundance of butterflies...

Following butterfly images taken from my 2011 photo archives.
Black Swallowtail

Painted Lady?

Large Eastern Yellow Tiger Swallowtail (Male)

Gulf Fritillary

Three in a row - Unknown, Zebra Striped Swallowtail, Painted Lady

Red Admiral Butterfly, Vanessa atalanta

Zebra Striped Swallowtail


Largely due I am sure to the size of my 5 butterfly bushes that reached over 7 feet tall and have been blooming steadily since February...

Images from here down taken today..
This week I did cut 2 of them back to about 2ft hoping they will thicken up as they are all starting to look very spindly...I adore the fragrance of these blooms, smells like a beehive...yum

Cutting back 2 of the bushes has not cut back the number of butterflies visiting...These are not my best butterfly photos simply because once again the Large Eastern Yellow Tiger Swallowtail proves to be a very flighty subject...This time a smaller female (or at least this is my guess as she barely sits still long enough for a good look at her open wings)...Most of our other butterflies are lazier and just drift from bloom to bloom ignoring myself and my camera.

Started from seeds sent to me by my Mother-in-law this white Wisteria is show a lot of growth over the last week or so...I might have to wait until next year to see it bloom..

Also from my Mother-in-law, the Black-eyed Susan is beginning to show buds...I am delighted since I was sure it would be next season before I got flowers.

My box of cheap mixed flowers are still going strong, a little too strong, my poor rose bushes have been lost in here and are just not getting enough light, as soon as I have time when it is not sweltering hot, I will go and rescue the roses and put them else where...

And talking of roses, I had to share this lovely pink knockout rose with yall...It really seems to be loving it's home in the suitcase planter...

Now I am off to sit on the porch with my camera and wait for the lady butterfly to return.

Blessings Kelsie

Sharing this post for the following parties:
Blooming Tuesday @ http://msgreenthumbjean.blogspot.com/
Tuesday Garden Party @ http://www.anoregoncottage.com/
Outdoor Wednesday @ http://www.asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Cottage Flora Thursday @ http://fishtailcottage.blogspot.com/

Flaunt Your Flowers/ Fertilizer Friday @ http://www.tootsietime.com/


20 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Kelsie! What an amazing variety of butterflies you have! Beautiful photos too!
Deb

Pat said...

You have ALL the butterflies, and your flowers look great!

Fishtail Cottage said...

Unbelieveable how many butterfly varieties you have in your garden. Thanks so much for sharing over here at Cottage Flora Thursday's! love them all!xoxo, tracie

g.suzie said...

Georgeous pics of the butterflies!
Your pretty flowers must have
attracted them!

Heirloom treasures said...

How amazingly beautiful, all I ever see in our garden are white ones which lay eggs on our veggies and turn into yukky green veggie eating caterpillars

Darla said...

Love your abundance of flutterbys. Your blooms look good and the flowers with a humble beginning will be there for years to come.

dkshopgirl said...

So many pretty pictures and butterflies!

Larry said...

So many wonderful butterflies! Beautiful... L

Karen said...

Kelsie, I am amazed at the different types of butterflies you have in your garden! Apparently butterfly bushes really work, but alas, I have never been able to keep one alive. And a white wisteria? Be still my heart, I love wisteria too, but same story as butterfly bush. I look forward to seeing more beautiful blooms and butterflies in your garden.

poppilinnstudios said...

Love all the butterflies! Great photos!
-Lynn

Lydia said...

What a wonderful assortment of wings you have filling in between the flowers.

Congrats on the magic you have created.

Beth said...

Hi Kelsie, What an assortment of butterflies you have! I think I need to try a butterfly bush!
Blessings, Beth

BernieH said...

Stunning butterflies and fantastic photos. You are indeed very lucky to be able to see such an assortment of beauties. Those Butterfly bushes appear to be living up their name. Your Knockout Rose is gorgeous too.

Becca's Dirt said...

Lucky you to have so many different butterflies flitting around. Have a nice weekend.

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a nice variety of butterflies. I rarely see any butterflies here. Thanks for sharing.

Shirley @ The Gardening LIfe said...

Terrific photos of butterflies! You really do have a nice variety visiting your garden. Perhaps it is because they love your butterfly bush?

Have a great weekend!

Tootsie said...

wow!!! those are gorgeous! we had a monarch butterfly migration come through here a few years ago...oh the mess they made with the catipillars!! It was worth it though...they were gorgeous too! I am amazed at all the different ones you have there!
Thanks for linking in and sharing your flaunt today!!! I always love seeing all the pretties everyone shares! Have a great weekend friend!

Glimpses of Glory said...

Oh! I loved seeing your butterflys!
The large Eastern Yellow Tiger Swallowtail looked like a kite he's so big!

glimpsesofglory-karen.blogspot.com/

~~Rhonda said...

Kelsie, your butterfly pics are beautiful! We've raised black swallowtail butterflies from eggs found in our garden. It's a fascinating project. Our black-eyed Susans are just budding, too, and we are in s. IL. ~~Rhonda

Bonita Jane said...

Beautiful butterflies! I absolutely love the photos. My favorite has to be the Zebra. Blessings!