We have some butterfly bushes along the fence by the front yard. They smell good and have pretty flowers, but their biggest virtue is... well.... just like their name suggests. They attract butterflies.
This one was poised for flight when I snapped the picture.
Off into the Wild Blue Yonder!
I'm not sure if that's a bee or fly or what already in the air, but the butterfly is all set to take off after it.
We like butterflies around here, and since we have a lot less grazing critters, we're letting the bottom pasture grow wild again. It's full of Joe Pye Weed and Ironweed and Goldenrod and other goodies that butterflies enjoy.
Bottom Pasture
I'm not sure what the plant is with the white flower heads. Okay brainy people, who knows?
Whatever it is, the butterflies like it.
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That’s a REALLY cool picture of the butterfly! The background bug actually makes it so good, I think… it does give it that “airport” effect.
Thanks! That was a lucky shot to get the bug in the background for sure. But I also like the color of the butterfly against the blue/purple flowers.
I love butterfly bushes too. I planted 4 this spring and they are doing really well despite the drought. They’ve been blooming for over a month and I think next year they’ll be enormous!
They can really be loaded down with bloom! I even had one come up as a volunteer by the pond. I guess some seed just floated over there! Looks mighty pretty.
Since you don’t have a really closeup picture of the pasture flowers, I’m going to guess.
Queen Anne’s Lace or Frost Weed.
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VEVI3
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=DACA6
Great pictures, btw!
I know it’s not Queen Anne’s lace. It might be the Verbesina virginica L. aka
white crownbeard though. I’ll take a closeup and put it on the blog sometime soon. Thanks for looking!