A lesson I learned early on, never go into the butterfly garden without a camera. I am so glad I took it today.

There were three gulf fritillary butterflies fluttering about their host plant, so I decided to sit on the boardwalk and watch. All of a sudden two flew over the fence and one remained.

I was pleasantly surprised when this beauty decided to join me after laying eggs on a maypop passion vine that popped up close by. Talk about Sweetbutterfly bliss!

It’s incredibly rewarding to plant a butterfly garden and watch the species visit the plants, leaving behind eggs to continue the life cycle. The gulf fritillary will lay eggs on corky stem passion vine and maypop passion vine. They visit many nectar plants in the garden, with the two most frequented, the red penta and blue porterweed. Although I spot them mostly during the morning hours once the sun has cast a warmth over the garden, the afternoon hours are coming alive too.