The pipevine swallowtail is such an eye catching butterfly. Like many of the swallowtails you have to be extremely patient with a trigger happy finger to capture their beauty. I was fortunate enough to watch a male and female do their mating dance before eventually attaching to one another during a visit at The Butterfly Estates. The males have the irresistible blue coloring on the surface of their wings, while the female is mostly black with white along the outer edge of their wing. Their host plant is the birthwort.
I really enjoy wandering through other butterfly gardens to get ideas to further enhance my garden at home. So, another trip to The Butterfly Estates in Downtown Fort Myers was enjoyed. I have to say my gardens are mimicking the same nectar plants and a good amount of the host plants that The Butterfly Estates has, which is great because it supports the butterflies of Southwest Florida.
This time the great southern white butterfly grabbed my attention, as this beauty is becoming more of a regular in the garden.
With the help of a friend, I have identified that its host plant, lepidium latifolium, broad leafed Virginia pepperweed, is growing in my yard! This plant has tiny white flowers at the top. It can reach 6 to 20″ inches tall and likes full sun, dry, well-drained sandy to rich soils.
It is part of the mustard family, which is the primary variety that the great southern white uses to lay its eggs. The butterfly was laying its egg on the cleome plant at The Butterfly Estates. So, I am happy to say that I have two big pots full of the pepperweed in one spot in the butterfly garden, hoping to soon see the amazing life cycle of this beauty. And, I also have seeds to grow another variety of mustard, which I am super excited about.
Here are photographs captured during our visit of the great southern white laying eggs, drinking nectar from porterweed and resting.
There is always one particiular butterfly species that becomes the highlight of my trip to The Butterfly Estates in Downtown Fort Myers. Today was no exception. For a very brief moment, a white peacock landed on my nose before flying to a nearby leaf. Yep, Sweetbutterfly Bliss moment once again. Today was the day I wish someone was with me to capture that special moment.
I love the pattern of the white peacock and the bright color antennal clubs. This butterfly is among the easiest to photograph, in my opinion, as it is not skittish when you come close and it basks with its wings open more times than not.
I recently added its host plant, frogfruit, to the garden late last year. It can be seen year round in Florida and has a wingspan of 35-60 mm.
I hope it will begin its life cycle in our garden soon. I have witnessed it in the garden once.
There is just something about the giant swallowtail butterfly that captures your attention and keeps it as it gracefully flutters about, landing periodically on different plants. Today, I am completely stoked! I brought home a wild lime, its host plant, to add to my garden from The Butterfly Estates.
I have not spotted the giant swallowtails in the garden since before Hurricane Ian in September. I am hoping with its host plant, they will begin visiting my garden again, gracing us with their beauty.
My absolute favorite part of the Great Southern White butterfly is the turquoise antennal clubs. This butterfly has such an erratic flight that it was almost impossible to photograph. With only two photos actually captured, I am pleasantly surprised this one came out good.
Their wingspan ranges from 45 to 58 mm and has a flight season year round. Its host plant is the Virginia pepper grass, saltwort, limber caper and sea rocket.
