Here's a black swallowtail lifting off a cone:
And a tiger swallowtail on a musk thistle I don't let go to seed (thanks for asking):
Must have a monarch shot--of course, it's on the liatris ligulistylis (why haven't you planted like ten of these yet? I didn't see monarchs this year until these liatris started blooming two weeks ago):
And my new favorite flower, blooming for the first time 1-2yrs after I planted it, is the 5 foot tall rudbeckia subtomentosa. I will be planting a stand of these this fall where some obedient plant currently resides, I mean, flops all over the place killing other plants:
Some good news coming your way shortly. Stay tuned. I'll need your help with it.
9 comments:
I've never seen a Monarch Butterfly. I wish I had.
Lucy--There have been reports of monarchs in the UK and western Europe, but I don't if that's simply some stray or a group caught on some tradewinds and they die out, or what. They are touchy butterflies: they take forever to land and nectar, and when they do are easily startled. Very wary I guess.
I have liatris squarrosa and the other more common variety. I have the liatris you mentioned on my plant list for fall. :o) I wonder why your obedient plant is so floppy? Mine is completely vertical but quite aggressive. Great butterfly shots!
CM--I only see monarch on two plants right now: swamp milkweed and liatri ligulistylis. Not even on joe pye weed, which I'd say is in their top 3 most years. My obedient plant is from my wife's last place, so I can't get rid of all of it, but it's in full sun. I don't get it! Grrr.
This is inspirational. Butterflies are such a signature of Summer. (I'm hoping my newest ('Cottage') garden will be a butterfly magnet as I add more plants.)
Shyrlene--We've had so few bflies until recently. Lots of tiger swallowtails! Lots of ticks, too.
Nice post.. black swallowtail looks amazing
I like the linear petals of the Rudbeckia subtomentosa. I stumbled on a few for sale about a month ago, quite large ones, and stuck them in the garden. I didn't realize how tall they would get.
James--I'm amazed you found some in person, as I have to mail order plugs. It was standing strong until a windstorm this weekend, and now is leaning into some wild senna, which itself is now leaning. I imagine the height would work well your garden?
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