Daily Butterfly Pictures: 85

i'm sure you would. Last year I had a pokeberry coming up under my feeders and there are none of those anywhere near my house!

Hello everyone it has been a while. Work has kept me busy. It's good to see that it is happening again! I am taking volunteers for the yard cleanup I still have from the winter freezes. Most of my visitors have made an appearance already and I will start posting some new pics soon.

Miss Shiela your wafer ash should do you well. I had a grapefruit, wild lime,and a toothache tree which they used pretty good. When I planted the ash that was it they ate the wafer to the nub! And almost stopped using the others entirely.
Great pics as usual Mrs. Ed. I will update you all with progress


When they come will you be ready?

maybe (and i'm not joking here), the seeds have to pass through the bird. I know that's the case with mulberry.

Ok first check of my wafer ash and there are more than a dozen eggs and three first instar cats. I'm in trouble.

Viceroy, what kind of caterpillars are they? Hey Nan, I've one Pokeberry I believe was planted by birds. It came back from where one was last year. I can send you a handful of seeds at the end of the season so you can feed them to your birds-then inturn they'll return the favor-with new plants. Deal?

Lily, they are giant swallow tail cats and they are all over it. I pulled my wild lime because it is nasty. Now I will run out of their host plant very quickly :(

I found a spot to plant more fennel for the BST so I can't wait for it to warm up!

LOL @ Lily!! We have pokeberry growing all over here. That is what I often see the the waxwings eating. I just need to figure out how get the birds to plant it in my yard I guess!

Have usually had some first sightings by now of some BF's.....

Marna. It look like you had a nice time in Chicago. Nice tropicals butterflies!
Sheila, I can understand why the Blue Morpho, would be a show stopper, he`s gorgeous.
Lily, and Dogs_N_Petunia love the Swallowtails in the flowers.
Nanny, here is some information on growing pokeberries from seeds. http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/19804

Burn, that's a very helpful info. on pokeberry seeds germination method. Thanks, Nan, I didn't know Cedar Waxwings enjoy the berries! Maybe I can tolerate a few more pokeberry plants in the yards. Thanks. I saw one single Waxwing a couple week ago. But was busy and couldn't get a pix. Awww. This last week our temp. scrolled back some so I didn't see any more b'fy. But I found a Giant Leopard cat. in the makeshift greenhouse last evening and released it to the outdoor.

Thanks Burn!

Several sightings today. We had a wind shift to the North and several of our winged friends appeared in my yard today.

GST

Common Buckeye resting on the ground.

Grey Hairstreak on Baby Sunrose.

Great photos Yak! Love that last flower too. We had temps yesterday up to 80 (weird). I was looking for some early butterflies but didn't see any.

I think I saw a Monarch over the weekend, it could be a Gulf frit.? I was pretty sure it was Monarch. More Swallowtails (tiger) flitting about. And this one a Silver-Spotted Skipper.

Hello everyone! The garden is really starting to take off and my visitors are multiplying quickly. I was able to get a few pics this weekend more to come.

Ok I caught her coming in for the landing. If this works out I might take up parenting for the first time. I have counted about 3-4 eggs!

Nice pictures Yak and Viceroy!! Love me some butterflies any kind. I have only seen two Monarchs....should have been more by now I think.
I have spotted several Firey Skippers (think that was kind), and a Brazillian and Silver-Spotted Skipper today.

Learning to use my new camera. It was hard to get this shot with the wind blowing about 30 mph a while ago.

Is it a Monarch? It spent a lot of time nectaring on a china berry tree in our yard that is in full bloom right now.

Haven't any idea what this is.

Honey Bee and a Skipper ?? Our pincushion flowers have really been crowded the last couple of days.

Edited to say: I swear I did not upload this photo up side down but it sure came out that way !

This message was edited Apr 7, 2011 11:10 AM

More action on the chinaberry tree.

Looks like the place to be!

Another moth ?? I don't know the ID of.

Skipper. Someone will be along to tell you which.

and yah, that first one is a monarch. The second looks like a moth (see the feathery antennae).

Beautiful pics. Russell. Thank you for sharing those with us. I've seen more Swallowtails, and the S.S. Skipper but didn't have pics. to share.

Not the right forum, but look who joined the party at the Chinaberry tree this afternoon!

This has been quite a day. At least two Monarchs on the Chinaberry tree all day and numerous moths, Giant Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, and small BFs. And a bluebird. I wonder if he was looking for a meal? I have new appreciation for the Chinaberry tree.

Undoubtedly the Chinaberry trees are beautiful when in blooms. But those gazillions berries afterward. Whew! Our county cut them down every other year, so this year I don't see any flowers. :((

The Blue Birds apparently will enjoy the berries later on I'm sure. For now, bugs galore out there. Beautiful pics. once again.

Thanks everyone we are enjoying new camera and lenses, and all the beautiful subjects in our yard this time of year.

Thanks Lily! That was a good day...hope to have another day like that this weekend. I haven't seen a BF since I took all of those pics. That thing called work just seems to get in the way of my fun...LOL.

Great pics Lew! Keep em coming.

Russell

Thanks, Russell.

I've got a lot of practicing to do. For instance, missed a good opportunity for a great pic when this blue jay took off with his supper.

Oops! Forgot I was on DW's computer and her membership.

Anyway, Thanks, Russell.

LEW

Lew..
The Monarch looks like it has been in a wind for a long time, pretty battered but hopefully can mate. The moth I can't ID, nor the upsided down skipper. But you have a Pipevine ST, then a Firey Skipper I believe. Good shots.

Today is calm, maybe we can see some returning signs today.

Lew, I see you are just south of me; do you come to the Round Up in Arlington? If not the info is in an event sticky thread at the top of the Texas Gardening Forum....hope you will join us. It is set for May 1st this year.

OOOOHHHHH.....I had my first butterfly for 2011 today!!!! A Red Admiral! Wouldn't open up for me tho.....

no way!!!!

Yes Way!!! LOL with y'all. Congrats Nan.

Another 'tail'?