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Butterflies observed in the Nursery |
All photos are taken in our nursery. We have planted some extensive butterfly gardens, and in the summer, it is amazing how many butterflies are around. Over time, we will try to catch them all (on photo).
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photo: Steve Delaney
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The Wood Nymph butterfly feeds on tree sap and decaying fruit, but occasionally takes some nectar, as well. Here seen on Butterfly bush "Black Night". The caterpillars feed on grasses. |
My favorite butterfly is the Eastern Black Swallowtail. It reaches a wingspan of over 5 inches and the colors are just wonderful. Often the dots have some yellow in them, intensifying the contrast with the black and blue.
In this foto, the adult is feeding on Gooseneck Loosestrive, a vigorous garden perennial that can colonize large areas if soil is moist. However, it is not considered invasive, like its purple cousin.
The beautiful caterpillar of the Eastern Black Swallowtail eats fennel, dill, parsley, Queen-Anne's Lace and other plants of the parsley family
photo: Thomas Berger
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 photo: Steve Delaney
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photo: Thomas Berger
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This Monarch feeds on Butterfly Bush "Nanho Blue". The caterpillars feed on milkweed only (Asclepias) |
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This Silver-spotted Skipper feeds on a Butterfly Bush. The caterpillars feed on plants of the pea-family, such as locust trees, wisteria and alfalfa. Skippers usually hold their front wings in a 45 degree angle, while moths keep their wings flat, and true butterflies keep their wings folded upright at 90 degrees.
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photo: Steve Delaney
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photo: Thomas Berger |
This is, I believe, a Painted Lady, although all photos in my books show
less white markings in the front wings and none at the outer edge of the
hind wings. It is a migratory butterfly, coming in from the south each
season. Caterpillars love thistles and other plants of the compositae family, such as pussytoes. They also like hollyhocks.
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Learn more about butterfly gardens and study our plant lists.
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