“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13
Happy Thursday sweet friends. I hope you are well and having a wonderful week. Tuesday morning I went out to our small cutting garden to cut back the spent zinnias and tidy up everything. Much to my surprise, there were butterflies all over the zinnias, lantana, and sunflowers. I ran back inside to grab my camera, thinking they would all disappear in the meantime. I couldn’t believe more butterflies had joined the party. The next thirty minutes were pure bliss as I stalked them. I discovered that if I stood still and was patient they would come really close.
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
-Maya Angelou
Last year my Renaissance Man added a raised bed on the other side of our driveway near a wooded area. We planted zinnias and a couple of rows of sunflowers for a late summer harvest. The butterflies were also enjoying our garden, but they much preferred this area.
Butterflies are always flitting about in the garden and the raised bed, but never like they were on Tuesday morning.
I made a couple of observations while photographing the butterflies. They never landed on any color of zinnia but pink. I have purple, yellow, red, salmon, orange, lime green, and white zinnias that the butterflies never once landed to drink their nectar. Note in all the photos, they are on pink zinnias (perhaps Ella Mae told them that pink and preferably hot pink was her favorite color). Second observation, they preferred the zinnias that were losing petals. I am guessing they prefer those because it is easier to reach the nectar!
The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail was designated Alabama’s state butterfly. It is one of the most common and beautiful eastern butterflies. It is commonly seen from spring to fall and produces three life cycles in the southeastern states. Their appearances this summer have been sporadic compared to other years. I am blaming everything on 2020!
Why is it important to have butterflies in our garden? Besides being important pollinators, butterflies impact the whole environment.
Nectar plants such as lantana and zinnia feed the adult butterflies.
Approximately one third of all plants need pollination to set fruit, and bees and butterflies are major pollinators.
Occasionally, one of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtails would flit up to a sunflower!
Note that there are two butterflies, both on pink flowers…
…three butterflies all on pink flowers. Do you see the third one? The butterfly in the foreground resembles the Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail which does appear in northeast Alabama, but what do you think?
“Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
A Gulf Fritillary joins a Swallowtail!
Hard at work!
This looks a lot like a spicebush swallowtail but they are so similar to the black swallowtail. Maybe some of our expert readers can help us out on identification?
This swallowtail, as well as those in the next two pics, seem to be the same species and to us has the coloring seen in examples we’ve observed of a butterfly known as a Pipevine Swallowtail.
Again, there are so many color variations even within the same species, that we find ourselves changing our minds frequently about what we are seeing!
A safe and certain observation however is that butterflies are a beautiful marvel among God’s indescribably awesome creation!
Thank you for your visit. We welcome your butterfly expertise, comments, and observations!
Wishing you a delightful day!
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Lovely! I always loved chasing butterflies in the garden. What a special surprise this was for you! I always lean on Mary’s expertise in identifying species. She’s so good at that, and so much more!
Thanks Rita. Butch didn’t get to observe them, he is usually pretty good at identifying. But he was a little puzzled over a couple.
Gorgeous photos!! What a fun day you had with your camera.
Yes, it was fun. Thank you, Carole!
Pam, what a rare treat you had! That is such an interesting observation about the pink. I have a miniature deep purple butterfly bush just below my screen porch, so I can watch the action there. But my zinnias are on the far side of the house…I’ll have to stroll around there with my coffee now for a peak! Beautiful photos and scripture to start the day.
I hope you saw action in the zinnias this morning. Wishing you a lovely weekend, Roxanne!
You got some wonderful shots of those beautiful butterflies!
Thanks so much Penny!
Pam, I know this was a delightful treat for you. I’ve noticed that the butterflies like our pink zinnias also and they really enjoy our honeysuckle. Your photos are beautiful. Enjoy them, as summer is moving along.
Have a lovely day and weekend, my friend.
Thank you dearest Sandra. Summer is moving fast, but I am ready for autumn! Have a lovely weekend sweet friend.
Such happiness and beauty! Made my day!Hugs and blessings.
Thank you Maristella. Hugs and blessings dear one!
My zinnia bed is at the far end of my garden as well. I have noticed a great deal of winged activity over there (I have lots of pink zinnias too). I think I will take Hawthorne’s advice and pull my garden bench over there and sit still and close so I can watch their show and marvel at creation.
Such a beautiful post, Pam.
Thank you Cindie. I hope you enjoyed sitting still and observing God’s amazing creation!
The butterflies are just beautiful that you captured with your camera. Who knew they preferred pink? EM will be delighted to know her favorite color is also a favorite of the butterflies. We haven’t seen as many butterflies this year but with no zinnias we aren’t surprised. Our butterfly bushes on a good note have attracted a few butterflies including a couple of hummingbirds. Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful pics. Have a great day! Clara ♥️
Thank you Clara. It has definitely been an unusual gardening year. I am so glad that my third try at zinnias paid off. Have a lovely weekend ♥️
Oh, Pam, these are beautiful photos of a favorite. The flowers are so bright this year, I think from the lack of pollution…who knows. But, the butterflies are certainly happy. Four monarchs were dancing in my Zinnias yesterday, by the time I got the camera—they were off somewhere else. Great photos!
Thank you Sandi. I hope the monarchs return here in late September early October. I am sorry your missed the photo!
Now I know why I don’t have butterflies . No pink flowers. But then I can’t get hummingbirds either. I get my butterfly fix by visiting the Butterfly pavilion. Such beauty! You have to be careful when you leave because they light on you. Pink next year.
Are you back in Colorado, Alice? I know the butterfly Pavilion must be a wonderful place to visit. Have a lovely weekend!
Happy Thursday, Pam! I agree with you that butterflies are such a marvel of God’s beautiful creation. I think Miss Ella Mae must have told the butterflies that pink flowers were the best, because I have seen them on all off my orange and yellow flowers. Your photographs are all so gorgeous, and I am so happy you were able to capture them! Thanks so much for sharing them with us! Enjoy the rest of your week, sweet friend!
Thanks so much Shannon. I think EM is the butterfly whisperer. Have a love weekend sweet friend!
What beautiful photos and they do love pink zinnias. I have been chasing butterflies also. It doesn’t look like you had to chase these. I love the Maya Angelou quote. I have been getting some great photos also and one of my friends was inspired and did a painting for me. She is quite the artist and I am beside myself with joy.
Thank you Dianne. I can’t wait to see your painting!
Beautiful!!!! I adore butterflies and they love your garden. It is fun when they are so many at once. Great captures.Very enjoyable.
Thanks Bonnie. It was so much fun to photograph!
Oh Pam, this had to take your breath away. It took mine away and I’m just looking at the photos!
Thank you Jeanie. It was magical!
I love butterflies. I could sit and watch them all day!
Yes, they are fun to watch!
Oh, how gorgeous! I am so happy you got to spend that time with the butterflies! How gracious fo God to send even more of them while you went to get your camera. He is so good. Thank you for this beautiful, comforting post!
Thanks so much Cheryl.
Beautiful captures…I’m all aflutter Pam! Don’t love seeing them in the garden? Butterflies are more active in the garden when I am not! It’s been so hot and humid the last few weeks that I’ve been indoors so I’ve missed seeing very many. I’m waiting for my first monarch sighting. I haven’t seen many Gulf fritillary butterflies this year and we have a bumper crop of passionflower vine so I hope they make an appearance. So interesting about their preference for pink zinnias!! Happy Friday ♥
How wonderful to have such a beautiful visit from all the butterflies. Someone in heaven was thinking of you!
I just love watching Butterflies! I am thrilled that you were there to capture all of them! Thank you so much for sharing them!
I am sorry… I only know the monarch butterfly.
Thanks for your visit, Nancy. It always pays to have a camera handy…
Joy, peace, hope! Yes, friend, only from Him … and He often uses His magnificent creation to take us there.
Weekend blessings …
Thank you Linda. Blessings…
I keep coming back to look at the pictures. Your heart must have been fluttering, to see so many butterflies and so many different kinds.
It was a wonderful morning, seeing all the butterflies!
Weren’t you blessed to have some much beauty in your garden. I’ve chased many a butterfly trying to get a good photo…I think you have a lot more patience than I must because your photos are wonderful.
Thank you Karen. I enjoy chasing butterflies to try and capture their beauty!
What a fun discovery! These are some really beautiful butterfly photos.
It was fun trying to get photos!
I love your flowers and the butterflies that visit them!
Thanks so much Julie!