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.
