It has been fascinating to watch how butterflies have dealt with Hurricane Idalia’s outer bands of rain and wind in my garden.

The polydamas swallowtail, gulf fritilary, monarch and orange-barred sulphurs have been constant throughout this storm. Every break in rain they fight the 20+ mile per hour winds and either lay eggs, or drink some nectar.

On the last walk outside, I found a gulf fritillary hiding deep in the vegetation of a zinnia plant. They definitely know where to hide and ride out the storm.