It is always a thrill to spot the zebra longwing butterfly, especially since Hurricane Ian impacted our area in Sept. 2022. That devastating hurricane did quite a number on the state butterfly.
I have spotted the zebra longwing a few times in my garden in the past few years. Today, it caught my eye while in my mom’s garden, as she has quite a few mature fire bush planted, one of their favorite nectar plants.
There’s hope that this butterfly will once again find the garden, it’s host plant, corkystem passionvine, and start its lifecycle in our garden again.
With anything that I do, I research until my heart’s content and I find the answers I am seeking. A few years ago, I stumbled upon the North American Butterfly Association, sparking a curiosity and desire to become involved.
I decided to continue to add to my butterfly garden space – more nectar plants, more host plants to attract new species of butterflies, before becoming certified.
My host plants now include – corkystem passionvine, maypop passionvine, Giant milkweed, butterfly milkweed, wild lime, birthwort, Dutchman pipe, bahama cassia, purpletop vervain, coontie, candlestick cassia, dill, frogfruit, Mexican petunia, plumbago, and Virginia pepperweed.
The nectar plants, also continue to grow in assortment. Some of my favorites include blanket flowers, zinnia, sweet almond bush, Mexican sunflower, and firebush.
With a these plants, my garden now extends across the front of my house, from my front door and beyond. There are many plants that have resseded themselves filling in more space around the walkway. The great part – I am still finding spaces to fill in with more new plants.
I am excited to share that my garden sign arrived, as well as my certificate. I now need to make a stake so I can put it in the garden.
I now have a certified butterfly garden. My passion continues to grow, even now, after more than five years of diving into this new passion and continuing to grow my knowledge of how to create the best space for butterflies.
Mexican sunflower Polydamas swallowtail hanging onto a blanket flower. Maypop passionvine, host plant for gulf fritillary. Monarch on a firebush.
The polydamas swallowtail butterflies continue to have a record year in our butterfly house. In 11 days, 81 have emerged, and that’s just in our butterfly house. I have found numerous empty chrysalis scattered throughout the garden.
Although the host plants are slowly growing back, the Dutchman pipe and birthwort, it is not stopping them from flying through the garden every day finding nectar sources.
My excitement, finding adorable garden art to add to my most favorite space. My husband and I were out shopping when this adorable caterpillar caught my attention and kept it.
I haven’t found its final destination yet, but everytime I walk past it, it makes me smile.
Every day since late last week I have had polydamas swallowtail butterflies emerge from their chrysalsis in our butterfly house.
Yesterday I had 9 emerge and today I had 7 for a total of 187 all time raised and released, with 19 in six days. The wonderful part, there are more yet to show their beauty!
