Its been a few years since we had so many butterflies in the garden. Mainly due to the spraying for Gypsy Moths in the last few years numbers of butterflies have declined around Oakland. But today was warm, high 80's, with a slight breeze.
Tiger, Spicebush and Black Swallowtails all fought over flowers in the front yard, and others were flitting about in the woodland gardens. There were many skipper and hairsteaks, along with Hackberry?, Question Marks, Cabbage Whites and new for us, a Satyr of some type. Very shy and would not sit still for proper ID. The we released 8 Monarchs in the last 2 days, 6 today. With another six on the way. Also collected 40 eggs from the milkweed growing just in the lawn. And there are still more eggs.
Two more Black Swallowtails to go and all the Swallowtails have hatched into adults.
Even as I was able to work in the garden clearing paths from overgrown plants and weeds the butterflies seemed to check out the cleaned out areas. Planted some anemones, ferns, hydrangeas, native azaleas, and ligularia to finish a sloped area in the lower garden. It was instantly visited by two sparring Tiger Swallowtails. They love the yellow orange flowers of the Ligularias.
Well that is all for now, hope for more on Weds.
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Wonderful!
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