Garden is coloring up

[JWBINX]

Awesome!!!
Look's like a couple of those Butterflies might just make the book?

[boneaddict]

The pic with two swallowtails is stunning. Do you stalk up to shoot those with macro? Sporting!

Thank you!

Yes, I did!   Shot them with the 100 macro.    The wind was tough yesterday

[Dan-o]

The pic with two swallowtails is stunning. Do you stalk up to shoot those with macro? Sporting!

Thank you!

Yes, I did!   Shot them with the 100 macro.    The wind was tough yesterday

You put the stalk on butterflies?!?!?
That's awesome.

I will never question your methods....   your results speak for themselves.

[206]

Thanks for posting these.

[boneaddict]

Absolutely, I'm glad you like them.

I should clarify Dano when I say the wind was tough...not traditional hunting sense.   More like 40 mph winds and trying to focus and flowers thus butterflies moving all over the place.  Plus, most self respecting butters try not to fly when the wind is that bad.   I may have used that to my advantage.

but yes, I do stalk butterflies.  Sometimes they care, sometimes they dont. 

[Angry Perch]

Bone, do you mind sharing a list of some of the plants in the butterfly garden?

[boneaddict]

Sure!  It’s extensive.   I’ll put some time into it tonight.   

[Angry Perch]

 
We have a place on the edge of the field where I want to plant a thicket with anything and everything for Birds, hummers, butterflies, etc.

[Alchase]

For Monarch Butterflies, Milk Weed is critical. Milk Weed is the only plant that Monarchs will lay their eggs on. Here in OK, the State gives away Milk Weed plants for planting, to attempt to reintroduce thousands of micro Milk Weed plots to replace the natural open land lost.
Washington and the other northern States are where the "Super" Monarchs (Methuselah generationare) hatched from. They make the journey all the back to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico. It takes three sometimes four generations to make the return journey from the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico back to the Northern States.

 

[Igor]

For Monarch Butterflies, Milk Weed is critical. Milk Weed is the only plant that Monarchs will lay their eggs on. Here in OK, the State gives away Milk Weed plants for planting, to attempt to reintroduce thousands of micro Milk Weed plots to replace the natural open land lost.
Washington and the other northern States are where the "Super" Monarchs (Methuselah generationare) hatched from. They make the journey all the back to the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico. It takes three sometimes four generations to make the return journey from the Sierra Madre mountains in Mexico back to the Northern States.

 

I have been fortunate enough to witness a Monarch migration in Southern California twice.  It is an amazing sight to see literally thousands of them, all headed in the same direction.

[boneaddict]

Willow, aspen, cottonwood, chokecherry, dogwood, wild rose would be excellent in the thicket area.   Many types use these as a host plant, especially willow.   Also in my wild patch I have added both false nettle and stinging nettle.   The red admiral uses all nettles and the Coma uses only stinging nettles as its host plant.

Milkweeds yes, obvious for monarch, but also as a nectar plant for many species.  I have (Common, Showy, Swamp, and Tropical and am working on a white whorled)  I think I have thin leaved as well but not a priority.   

I have malva, and hollyhocks, Anise, Pearleverlasting, violets, violas as host plants

Nectar plants is a giant list, both for butterflies and for my Honeybees.   Wildflower mixes are great.   Lantana, Echinacae (coneflower), Zinnias, Asters, Goldenrod, Joe Pye weed Verbena, Lupine are all greats.   Marigolds are good.  Rabbit brush if you live eastside is a good late season source.   Lichnis and phlox are ones they like. Rudbeckia (black eyes susans) THISTLE   The later I hate but boy do the butters and bees like it

[boneaddict]

Butterfly bush!
Monarda (bee balm)

I'm wokring on two new ones, Ironweed and Cleome (Rocky mountain Bee plant)

more for hummers
Pentsemon
Larkspur
Lilac
columbine

[Angry Perch]

That's fantastic. Some familiar to me and some not so much.
Thanks!

[Alchase]

Willow, aspen, cottonwood, chokecherry, dogwood, wild rose would be excellent in the thicket area.   Many types use these as a host plant, especially willow.   Also in my wild patch I have added both false nettle and stinging nettle.   The red admiral uses all nettles and the Coma uses only stinging nettles as its host plant.

Milkweeds yes, obvious for monarch, but also as a nectar plant for many species.  I have (Common, Showy, Swamp, and Tropical and am working on a white whorled)  I think I have thin leaved as well but not a priority.   

I have malva, and hollyhocks, Anise, Pearleverlasting, violets, violas as host plants

Nectar plants is a giant list, both for butterflies and for my Honeybees.   Wildflower mixes are great.   Lantana, Echinacae (coneflower), Zinnias, Asters, Goldenrod, Joe Pye weed Verbena, Lupine are all greats.   Marigolds are good.  Rabbit brush if you live eastside is a good late season source.   Lichnis and phlox are ones they like. Rudbeckia (black eyes susans) THISTLE   The later I hate but boy do the butters and bees like it

Wow, that is a butterfly/Hummer heaven!
Nicely done!

[boneaddict]

Thank you!    That’s really just the tip of the iceberg.   My yard and garden is crazy over the top.

Sweet Williams is another plant AP.   I have several of those in bloom right now, and the Swallowtails are drunk on them.  They come in a variety of pinks and reds.      I was busy doing other stuff next to them last night and the butterflies didn’t care. They just kept eating.