So I was going to add one of these to our Meet the Neighbors post, but dad took so many I couldn't decide which to add, so we made an entire post about them.
We have a 10 foot tall butterfly bush right on the side of the house, and the blossoms are exquisitely splendiferous.
The really beautiful thing, however, is the number of butterflies that we see day after day hovering and flitting here and there. At any one time we can see no less than a dozen or more colorful winged critters, chief among them spicebush, tiger and black swallowtails.
Mom's favorite is the black swallowtail that has blue bits on its wings. Someone taught mom and dad way back in the colder months to trim the bush down to about waist-high, saying the results would be rewarding.
Dad did this, and he and mom waited and waited and waited, mom questioning whether it would ever blossom.
Well, before we knew it the thing just took off and began sprouting like crazy, and now it's big and bushy and purple like you've never seen. The photos don't do it justice as many of the butterflies cannot be seen, but here's a sampling nonetheless.
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| Look closely on the right and you'll notice the Southeastern Tortie Swalloweverything Species |
When I first spotted them while soaking up some rays out on the front steps I chittered and chattered like I've never done, but now I'm like, yeah, whatever. That's cool, now let me get back to sleep.
26 comments:
Wow! That last photo is precious, too. :) Sad to say, buddlea davidii is short-lived in Ohio's Miami Valley. ~sigh~ At least I learned before wasting more money and we have plenty of great options.
How wonderful you have so many butterfly neighbors sweet Cleo!
Fantastic butterflies Cleo. Precious is enjoying hers on the zinnias I planted. It seems a good year for them, last year they were less seen.
The purple flowers on the bush are great for butterflies and I bet even
a few hummingbirds. Don't sleep through all of it.
Pretty pretty and we are quite in awe of the last, very rare species ... with the fur tipped ears.
cleo; thiz bee awesum and good werk by dad catchin de elusive southeastern tortie :) ♥♥♥ we had a butterfliez bush....HAD bee in de op werd... bee cauz de nayborhood harez chewed it kleer down to de soil ~~~~
we waz KNOT happee campurrz ~~~
LOVE IT! I was very sad that I had to leave mine behind at the old house. Of course, here I have room for two or three bushes if I want! I just noticed the other day that the neighbour has one in her backyard.
I first learned about butterfly bush when I was a cub reporter in a small town on a shipping canal (Port Colborne, ON, if you're interested). I was wandering around town, looking for something to report about when I came across this flowering bush that was COVERED in monarchs. There had to be about 50. I took tonnes of pictures. When I came back to the office, I was showing my colleagues, wondering what the bush was called, as I'd never seen one before. The receptionist wanders over, takes a look and says... oh, that's a butterfly bush. I thought she was teasing me! I looked it up and was amazed! I was determined to get one. Unfortunately, the townhouse I was living in at the time wasn't suitable. But when we moved to the last townhouse, it was one of the first things I planted!
Coincidentally... butterflies are one of the boys favourite "live toys" they go crazy when one flies through the yard.
Wow that's a beautiful bush, and how nice to have the butterflies!
Beautiful photos. We tried to grow butterfly bush here, but they always died. I think our zone is a bit too cold. PS- Cleo, I will mail your tooth fairy gift tomorrow- sorry for the delay. XO
Oh how I love Butterfly Bush. I can't grow one to save my life though! I really enjoyed your beautiful photos. 🌞
Dad was going to plant one of those and got an attack of "too lazy to do Sh*t" so not this year.
It is really beautiful and so glad to see you enjoying it too Cleo
Beautiful butterflies. Great photography.
Have a fabulous day, Cleo. My best to your peeps. ♥
Wow, that's amazing. Butterfly bushes are beautiful on their own...but having all those butterflies too...makes it even more special.
You have some amazing cat television Cleo. But we understand not letting the beans know how much you enjoy it. Keep 'em guessing!
I had no idea there was Butterfly TV!
We really like your butterfly bush, Cleo! Apparently the butterflies do, too! :)
We have them too. My mom loves to sit and watch the butterflies, birds, and hummingbirds play in them.
Having all those flowers helps draw in the butterflies. I am sorry the excitement of seeing them wore off so fast Cleo!
Wow, that's a lot of butterflies. We have a butterfly bush, but it seems like only one butterfly comes to visit. I did get a really good photo of it. Maybe I'll post it on the blog.
That's a lot of beautiful and unusual butterflies (unusual to us !) Purrs
that is not only soooo cool, it is EXQUISITE! I had never heard of a butterfly bush until today, that is just magnificent! Love that Cleo is enthralled with it too....fabulous "butterfly TV!"
I love buttie pillars especially Swallowtails and Monarchs
Hugs Cecilia
I love butterflies. So pretty.
you are so lucky to get so many beautiful butterflies-i am lucky if i get one a week here!
OH how very exquisite that daily sight is! And aren't they beautiful too.
I kinda favor that Southeastern Tortie Swalloweverything find there! Where did you happen upon it?
The black swallowtail is beautiful. We have Buddleia bushes growing wild around some of the edges of the fields and they are always full of butterflies.
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