Butterflies Finally Begin to Return

     We are sorry to have been out of touch, but the sad fact is that this has been a truly difficult year, in our garden at least, for the butterflies on the plateau. We hear that we are not alone. Up to just this past week, we have had only sporadic visitors from a very limited number of varieties. We have no definitive proof for this, but believe this to be a result of the terrible and sudden sub-zero cold snap that happened this past winter, killing pupae and plants alike. 
       Unlike the migratory Monarchs, many of the butterflies overwinter locally, under leaves or in leaf litter. Normally, what cold that comes doesn't wipe them out. This year appears to be very different, and we have been waiting for the hardy few survivors to have offspring, and for that generation to reproduce as well. 

          That is beginning to happen, especially with the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, whose host plant, the tulip poplar tree, looms directly over our garden, and the silver spotted skipper. We have also had the tiny pearl crescent, usually a regular, finally appear and exhibit mating behavior, along with the pair of tiny summer azures. 
         Our faithful readers will also be relieved that for the fifth straight year, a red admiral appeared in exactly the same spot in the garden, at the same time, and divebombed our hair over a period of several weeks. 

          Many other butterflies, varieties of fritilaries, hairstreaks, sulphers, buckeyes, painted ladies, skippers, and more that normally frequent remain unseen in our garden. We hope that the remainder of the summer will see them return as well. 
          We have yet to see a Monarch, or find any eggs or caterpillars in the garden, or in our raised bed a few miles away. 
          But we did see a hummingbird perch to feed. So we leave you with that slightly unusual sight.