I was lucky to get so close to this fresh and perfect Common Buckeye as it sipped nectar from, of all plants, a hydrangea.Buckeye Junonia coeniaIt was a joyous June day this past summer when I captured my first ever Buckeye! These beauties do not overwinter here but fly south as our beloved Monarchs. I have read that they hold their own in comparison to the Monarchs in extravaganza, as they stream through Cape May in the Autumn. I have yet to see that fabulous display!Host plants … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Buckeye
Archives for January 2012
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Buckeye
I was lucky to get so close to this fresh and perfect Common Buckeye as it sipped nectar from, of all plants, a hydrangea. Buckeye Junonia coenia It was a joyous June day this past summer when I captured my first ever Buckeye! These beauties do not overwinter here but fly south as our beloved Monarchs. I have read that they hold their own in comparison to the Monarchs in extravaganza, as they stream through Cape May in the Autumn. I have yet to see that fabulous display! Host … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Buckeye
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Eyeing female depositing an egg on hidden Wild CarrotA lucky sighting! A female Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius), 1775 deposits an egg. 1st and 2nd Instar3rd Instar4th Instar5th InstarSpinning thread and Letting Go!Talk about a weight loss that many would envy . . . the Black Swallowtail evacuates its entire digestive system before becoming a chrysalis. Note how much smaller it is in the shots above . . . when comparing to the photographs of the caterpillar eating … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Eyeing female depositing an egg on hidden Wild Carrot A lucky sighting! A female Black Swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes (Fabricius), 1775 deposits an egg. 1st and 2nd Instar 3rd Instar 4th Instar 5th Instar Spinning thread and Letting Go! Talk about a weight loss that many would envy . . . the Black Swallowtail evacuates its entire digestive system before becoming a chrysalis. Note how much smaller it is in the shots above . . . when comparing to the photographs … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Eastern Black Swallowtail
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES Of 2011 ~ Favorite Monarchs
The much beloved and admired Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus begins this series of my favorite butterflies from the gardens of 2011. I so look forward to their return each summer and delight in finding their tiny etched eggs on milkweed plants. It is more exciting when I see the female actually fastening her eggs. I should truly love to be a butterfly . . . a Monarch emerging in late summer, so I could fly to Mexico. Ah . . . to have the courage of a butterfly! I should wish … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES Of 2011 ~ Favorite Monarchs
