I adore the gulf fritillary butterfly. They are sociable butterflies, always flying near, very near, while standing in the garden. The butterfly also plays a great deal with their same species. They are so much fun to watch, and not easily disrupted when nearing while they are sipping nectar and laying eggs.

One of their host plants, the maypop passionvine, has become a rather invasive plant as it pops up just about everywhere in the garden, now pretty far away from where I initially planted it, in both the front and back garden.

Unfortunately it has grown out of the designated areas, and is now in the grass. I have found that if you pull it just right, you can repot it, or replant it in other places in the garden. I have a lot of work to do to remove all the ones that have grown into the grass where both my daughter plays, and my husband has to mow.

The plus side, there are caterpillars of every instar enjoying the feast of the maypop passionvine. Another plus, the purple flower is everywhere, which is incredible because it is such a unique flower.