Once again, a Queen butterfly (Danaus gillipus) has been gracing the garden...
...especially Lavender "Goodwin's Creek Gray".
Enjoy! :)
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 65 F (18 C)/Low: 36 F (2 C); Humidity: 13%-48%
Once again, a Queen butterfly (Danaus gillipus) has been gracing the garden...
...especially Lavender "Goodwin's Creek Gray".
Enjoy! :)
Weather Diary: Fair; High: 65 F (18 C)/Low: 36 F (2 C); Humidity: 13%-48%
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Kris P (Saturday, 09 December 2017 14:17)
That's a butterfly I've never seen here, Amy. What a beauty!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Saturday, 09 December 2017 14:39)
I'd never seen them before we moved here, Kris. They are closely related to Monarchs, and I'm hoping they can raise some caterpillars on my milkweed... ;-)
Cathy (Sunday, 10 December 2017 12:57)
Beautiful! Such lovely photos too Amy!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Monday, 11 December 2017)
Yes, such a lovely creature - they don't stay very long at a time, so I think they are migrating through to warmer regions still. So glad I got to get a few photos! Thanks so much, Cathy!
David C. (Wednesday, 13 December 2017 20:38)
Nice pics, and now I see where our queens all flew off to weeks ago! Only a pale yellow butterfly was seen these past few days, remarkable with a couple mornings at 18-ish!
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 17 December 2017 11:16)
David - Now I know where they come from! ;-) They move through here at intervals during the cooler months, so I think they must be migrating further south where they won't get any winter cold at all!
Annette (Tuesday, 19 December 2017 05:25)
Hi Amy, you've taken some awesome shots of a true beauty. I looked it up, sadly it can only be found in North and South America. Wonder if they appear in huge flocks like the monarch butterfly? Have a wonderful christmas! Your wreath is delightfull, well done. Off to wreath making tomorrow. Made one with seedheads last year that still look as pretty as on the day I made it. Best wishes and see you again in 2018, Annette
Diana Studer (Friday, 22 December 2017)
Outstanding pictures - I battle to get fluttering butterflies in focus.
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 31 December 2017 15:54)
Annette - Oh, I missed your lovely comment ever so long! Bringing my new horses in has been a big distraction! I've never seen the queens flying in large flocks, but I wonder too... I was lucky enough to see hundreds of Monarchs one afternoon, migrating through, but that was when we lived in the Midwest. It was a memory I will never lose. Your seedhead wreath sounds fabulous. I'm thinking dried material would work so well here for wreaths and such! Happy 2018! :)
Amy@smallsunnygarden (Sunday, 31 December 2017 15:55)
Diana - I was fortunate that she was happy to stay fairly still on the lavender! She was really quite relaxed, enjoying the nectar and sunshine.