Tag Archives: butterfly plants
The Goldenrod Is Blooming
13 Sep
Timed to coincide with the Monarch migration the showy goldenrod is sure to attract even more of the butterflies.
Is This a Silvery Blue, Spring Azure, or Eastern Tailed-Blue Butterfly?
10 Jul
Or another species all together? At first glance, I dismissed it as a plain old cabbage white, but looking closely I realized it was more colorful (esp when it spread its wings and blue, exposing a pretty baby blue color.) Unfortmately that happened off camera…Research suggests this is likely a Spring Azure, I will keep reading…UPDATE: This appears to be a male Eastern-Tailed Blue Butterfly.
In other butterfly news, the Monarchs should emerge from their chrysalises later this week. Be sure to check on them when you walk past or visit the play area.
Hooray for This Lady + Other Beneficial Bugs!
17 May
Spotted this weekend: a painted lady butterfly, some fat bumble bees, and this ladybug. Spring is here.
Solidago L. (Goldenrod)
14 Jun
Solidago, common name goldenrod, is a perennial plant that blooms with yellow flowers August through October. It can crossbreed with other plants, and today there are at least 130 species in the United States. Several butterflies eat goldenrod nectar, including Orange Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, American Lady and Monarch.
Source list: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SOLID; http://butterflyprojectnyc.org/gardening/;
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/goldenrod
Rudbeckia hirta L.
14 JunRudbeckia
Various types of Rudbeckia are called black-eyed Susans. Rudbeckia is a perennial native plant that is considered to be one of the 20 most valuable plants in terms of supporting biodiversity in our region. It supports 17 Lepidoptera, or insects such as butterflies, moths and skippers.
I suspect the nectar of the flowers is what interests the insects. I’m not positive, but I believe the actual plant that I bought in the Greenmarket in early June, then transplanted outside the edible garden, near the shed, is Rudbeckia hirta L. (Please feel free to comment if you think I am wrong–even half wrong:) Without a doubt, the Rudbeckia plant genus is a very valuable addition to the wildlife in our backyard. –Denise
Learn more via this source list: University of Delaware Botanic Gardens ( ag.udel.edu/udbg/gardens/native.html); http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=f400 ; http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=RUHI2
Can You Spy the Butterfly?
6 JunLook in the upper lefthand corner–I think it’s an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail!
Such excitement this afternoon! I spotted this butterfly around 1230pm Friday afternoon, while I was walking from the play area toward Adams Street. My smartphone photos aren’t great, but upon inspection, I think this is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Thoughts?
As we’ve seen firsthand, these and other butterflies like to lay eggs on host plants like our carrot, fennel, and dill so the newly hatched caterpillars have food to eat. (Before they start their transformation into pupae/ crysalis. )
I’m so happy to see all the growth in the garden, and the results of some of the Joe Pye, Goldenrod, Aster and other butterfly nectar and butterfly host plants we’ve planted. I hope to be able to label them all (along with images of the butterflies they support) in time for the garden fundraiser party on June 21st. –Denise
The butterfly isn’t squashed, she’s just got her wings extended in flight over the sidewalk behind 215 Adams.
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