The tropical checkered skipper is visiting the garden more, instead of just the grass that surrounds the designated spaces. Another butterfly that enjoys the blue porterweed.
The flash of white as it darts by is becoming easier to spot. These skippers have become a favorite, especially watching its erratic flight.
Although this one’s wing was a little tattered, it had no issues fluttering around.
This brown anole, lizard, was incredibly curious as I worked in the garden this morning. When I moved too close for its liking it darted off into the corky stem passionvine.
These lizards, which are not native to Southwest Florida, are in great abundance in the butterfly gardens.
The garden has been busy all day long with monarch butterflies stopping in for a bite to eat, and a pair circling around the garden doing its mating dance.
The monarch below came back multiple times after the chase stopped, each time putting its proboscis deeper into the flower, and legs providing stability when the wind blew.
Last night as I was watering the garden this giant swallowtail swooped up from a plant flying high into our carrotwood tree to rest again. It must be an older swallowtail as it is missing one of its tails.
One of Florida’s largest butterflies, the giant swallowtail, has a wingspan of 8.5 to 11.3 centimeters. Their flight is beautiful to watch as they both flap and glide slowly to their destination. The females, I read, have a narrower yellow band, which is paler in color.
The tropical checkered skipper has become a regular in the garden. This time it was taking a break on our tomato plant.
This one is a male due to the long bluish white scales. This little has become a favorite with its small wingspan of 2.5 to 3.0 centimeters.