The more I learn about butterflies, the more I understand just how enchanted our gardens and nature, in general, truly is. With satyrs and wood nymphs all about the grassy meadows and fields who could ever dream of using poisons? We share our gardens and land with a complex and varied living community and we can attract these magical creatures into our lives by learning about their needs and pleasures. By planting the necessary host plants or being sure not to yank them out of our gardens … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet and Common Wood Nymph
Archives for April 2013
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet and Common Wood Nymph
The more I learn about butterflies, the more I understand just how enchanted our gardens and nature, in general, truly is. With satyrs and wood nymphs all about the grassy meadows and fields who could ever dream of using poisons? We share our gardens and land with a complex and varied living community and we can attract these magical creatures into our lives by learning about their needs and pleasures. By planting the necessary host plants or being sure not to yank them out of our gardens in … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet and Common Wood Nymph
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Viceroy and Common Buckeye
The striking Viceroy Limenitis archippus, can be sighted in flight, here in Massachusetts, from around the end of May till the beginning of October.Birds are now searching out the overwintering, hibernating, bird droppings-like caterpillars in their neatly constructed leafy 'tents' of apples, cherry or willow leaves. Like the Red-spotted Admiral they cleverly create a hibernaculum by drawing out silk from their bodies and securing leaves to twigs or branches so that they cannot fall. … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Viceroy and Common Buckeye
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Viceroy and Common Buckeye
The striking Viceroy Limenitis archippus, can be sighted in flight, here in Massachusetts, from around the end of May till the beginning of October.Birds are now searching out the overwintering, hibernating, bird droppings-like caterpillars in their neatly constructed leafy 'tents' of apples, cherry or willow leaves. Like the Red-spotted Admiral they cleverly create a hibernaculum by drawing out silk from their bodies and securing leaves to twigs or branches so that they cannot fall. The third … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Viceroy and Common Buckeye
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Red-spotted Admiral
Later on in this merry month of April, here in Western Massachusetts, Red-spotted Admirals Limenitis arthemis, who survive the cold winter and foraging birds, will awaken from their overwintering third larva stage. Flower Hill Farm has many of the preferred larva host plants or trees. The sleeping caterpillars, mimicking bird droppings, may be hiding out in some of our Black Cherry, Yellow Birch, poplars, hawthorns and shadbushes. When they awaken, the caterpillars will munch … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Red-spotted Admiral