It’s always exciting to spot a variety of butterflies, but there is just something about seeing the monarch butterfly. Maybe it’s knowing the distance they travel, or watching first hand their life cycle from egg to emerging from its chrysalis that makes them truly special.
There were quite a few at the Butterfly Estates today. As the morning went on they began to flutter about, becoming more active, sipping from nectar, resting on flowers, and even a pair mating.
The white peacock is among the Nymphalidae family. Its host plants include the wild petunia, southern frogfruit, herb-of-grace, Carolina false vervain and Turkey-tangle frogfruit. This butterfly gains its name from the small black spots on the hindwings, resembling a peacock’s eyespot.
Again, this beauty was admired during our visit to The Butterfly Estates, which is located in the Downtown Fort Myers River District. Their 3,600 square foot glass butterfly conservatory is a butterfly lover’s dream and amazing place to gain inspiration, or just sit in the tranquil space while watching numerous species flutter around. We were so excited this white peacock decided to hang out right by the bridge letting us take numerous photographs.
This butterfly has been spotted once in our garden. Now I need to add some of its host plants, so it becomes a frequent visitor because its beauty is incredible.
I have read that they are smaller, as well as darker during the “wet” summer months, and become paler during the drier winter months.
These butterflies are known to fly close to the ground, and lay a single green egg on its host plant, or nearby on the ground, which might make it very difficult to spot. The egg will hatch three to 10 days later and the chrysalis, green, will stay in the final stage for up to 14 days. I find it interesting that this butterfly can live up to four months.
I saw another orange beauty that I fell in love with today, the Julia (Nymphalidae/brush footed) butterfly.
I really enjoy finding inspiration for my gardens, so today my daughter and I took our good friend to The Butterfly Estates, which is located in the Downtown Fort Myers River District. Their 3,600 square foot glass butterfly conservatory is a butterfly lover’s dream. The peaceful space provides a sanctuary for an abundance of butterflies, this one being among the countless ones we saw and admired.
The male is brighter in color with black spots towards its apex, while the female is a dull orange with black bars across its apex.
The Julia also uses the corky stemmed passion flower as its host plant, which we have many in our butterfly garden. They can be found in numerous counties across the state of Florida, with Lee being among them.
My cassia tree is finally blooming, a brilliant shade of yellow. This is a host plant for the sulphur butterflies. I sure hope they return to the garden and lay some eggs.
My second cassia tree took a bit of a beating from Hurricane Ian. Thankfully that one has already produced an abundance of new leaves.
My gardens have come alive again, which is such a great sign after so much devastation to Southwest Florida following Hurricane Ian.
The gulf fritilary has made a come back. Boy, oh, boy what a welcome sight. Great news is as of right now I have host plant galore for them to feed upon.
Some of the maypop passion vine that is growing outside the garden, I have been slowly picking to put in the butterfly house with caterpillars I am finding.
One of the caterpillars has already created its famous J, ready to make its chrysalis.
As I was cleaning out the last of my butterfly gardens this afternoon I spotted a gulf fritillary chrysalis on the post of our swings. That caterpillar sure traveled to find its perfect destination.