June 7th: The Day The Fritillaries Danced

Every butterfly gardener hopes that if they plant it, they will come. That every day from dawn to dusk all the varieties will drop by to share the feast we offer. But nature being nature, and butterflies being butterflies, we know that there are rhythms and variables and myriad mysteries to the visitations we get. Lately, we are happy for one delicate pearl crescent,  slowly moving its inch-long wings on the daisy.

As we were going back through pictures last night, we came back on the set from June 7th, all by Stephanie, showing the wonderful day when four Great Spangled Fritillaries decided to all come through together to eat and play together on the vivid milkweed blossoms, with a side-dish of marigolds. . 

They arrived, kind of two by two, around 11:30 in the morning. They stayed for about an hour. Then two returned four hours later for more. We cannot be sure they are the same, but we think so. Some returned the next day, and met up with the territorial male Monarch on the milkweed. Fritillaries and Swallowtails were regular visitors last year, but they have been generally scarce this season. Other gardeners are sharing the same reports. But we are optimistic for when the Joe Pye Weed flowers open up in a day or two. At least we had this special day. And if it would just stop raining!