The forest is alive with azure butterflies, probably
Appalachian azures. Their flight is erratic and rapid so I haven't been able to capture one with my camera as yet. Gary went on a jeep run with the
Blue Ridge Mountain Jeepers and he said the forest was full of these small blue butterflies.
The Appalachian azure catapillar feeds only on
black cohosh leaves.
In the clearings the
meadow fritillary has appeared infrequently. I saw one in my flower garden twice this week but alas my camera was in the house and when I went to retrieve it the orange beauty was gone. So I have borrowed the above images from the net to show you.
The host plant for the fritillary is the
violet. Remember last year when I showed you the
violets growing here and how to make violet jelly? The image above I took last year. Now whenever I see the violets at the corner of our road I'll think of the meadow fritillary soon to appear. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
And I am having another year with no honey bees and no butterflies. How sad.
ReplyDeleteHi Joanne, thanks, none at all, that's terrible.
DeleteThe butterflies are all needing to eat their weeds to live. We humans are needing our pollinators to live. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbara, thanks, yes the butterflies need the weeds. I bought some butterfly weed seeds to plant this week.
DeleteIt's very sad... and scary... Thank you for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteHi Turquoisemoon, thanks, yes scary, way too many pesticides and too much land clearing.
DeleteOver from Joanne Noragon's blog, and am enjoying yours. Violets--we had so many in Illinois, but none or at least here in hot So. CA. Jelly? Sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, thanks, we moved from California to Florida then to Georgia so I know what you mean by hot; although we've been having a heat wave here; click the link to find out how to make the jelly.
ReplyDeleteButterflies are ephemeral magic - hard to catch on camera though. And I love them. And bees.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, thanks, yes I love them too, if you ever get a chance to go to a butterfly conservatory it's worth the trip I have been to one in Georgia at the Calloway Gardens and one in Florida in Homosassa.
ReplyDeleteI love butterflies...they're so beautiful. :)
ReplyDelete