Photo: June 21, 2008
Yesterday I was delighted to see this Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus) on the butterfly weed. It is not very common because the caterpillar only feeds on the Pawpaw tree. I think I have seen only a couple of these trees on our land.
Photo: June 21, 2008
Here, a Pipevine Swallowtail feeds with the Zebra Swallowtail. I also saw a Tiger Swallowtail this morning along with the numerous Fritillaries.
The easiest way to grow Butterfly Weed is to find a good stand of them in the wild (along roadsides and old fields). Late in July and early August, you can collect a seed pod which has hundreds of seeds. Plant these in average soil (not too rich or wet) and they should come up next year.
Photo: June 17, 2008
I spotted another Wood Thrush nest only about 50 feet up the driveway from the previous one from the post My Promise to Wood Thrushes. That nest is empty now but at the time of the photo, there were a couple of birds in the nest, ready to fledge.
Photo: June 19, 2008
I caught this hummer in flight as she fought with the others for a place at the feeder. I have been filling up the feeder once a day because the hummers are sucking it dry. Previously, there was a lull at the feeders of about two weeks when the Japanese honeysuckle was in bloom.
