During this cold winter, I am sorting through brightly colored photographs from my compilation of Flower Hill Farm butterflies entitled ~ Butterflies of 2017. Over the years, I have documented fifty plus species of butterflies by family on my website under Photography and Wildlife. All are species that I was fortunate to find here within my 21 acre wildlife habitat. I have made an exception in this post and have included a picture of a few Northern Pearly Eyes not taken on my property. I had … [Read more...] about Butterflies of 2017
Butterflies in the Gardens
Flower Hill Farm Families of Butterflies from 2014 — There were many butterflies in the gardens of Flower Hill Farm in 2014 but there were varied species missing too. I missed each butterfly like a dear friend who moves away and will not be around to share the apple blossoms or champagne lunches. For now, I celebrate the butterflies that made it and were on wing within our gardens last season. The showy swallowtails always stir the currents with their large wings and are easily noted around … [Read more...] about Butterflies in the Gardens
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 ~ 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 2011 ~ Favorite Viceroy
The Viceroy Limenitis archippus, is a bright orange butterfly with black veins, cleverly mimicking the bad tasting and tummy aching (for the birds) milkweed butterflies. It is classified as a Mullerian mimic of the Monarch butterfly. Therefore upon first sighting the Viceroy, an observer may believe it to be a Monarch butterfly. There are many differences, however . . . such as size and hue intensity . . . but the easiest way to identify the Viceroy, is to note the thick black vein drawn … [Read more...] about Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Viceroy
