Butterflies in the Garden--Late August 2009

Photos by Helen Hamilton

Butterflies are all over the Ellipse Garden in August, but principally in the Butterfly Garden, where at least 15 swallowtails were seen at one time sipping nectar from the lantanas. They also visit the two species of Verbena, the tall coneflowers, sneezeweed, joe pye weed, boneset and asters in the meadows, pine woodlands and native garden. Skippers flit about the grasses, and the bright yellow goldfinches are taking seed from the black-eyed susans and other meadow plants.

Thanks are due to the regular Friday morning workers: Gary Driscole, Donna Ware, Carolyn and Ralph Will, joined by Marilyn Johnson and Dorothy Whitfield. But much work remains -- weeding, trimming, grooming. The rains this summer coupled with the deer exclosure have permitted the plantings to explode with growth -- many species lining the walkways are over 8 feet tall!

Monarch caterpillar feeding on leaves of Swamp Milkweed	Sneezeweed in the Butterfly Garden
Hummingbird (Clearwing) Moth on Verbena along the entrance walkway	Woolgrass and Goldenrod in the Native Pinewoods
Tiger Swallowtail on Lantana	Seeds of Swamp Milkweed
Monarch adult feeding on a tall Verbena	Goldfinch in the Wildflower Meadow

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