A butterfly count?
Photo credit: Baltimore Sun/Jerry Jackson
The count birds, don't they?
I think they should start counting butterflies, too.
My unscientific observation is that there are many more this year than ever before, and other gardeners seem to agree.
That's particularly true of Tiger Swallowtails, which are also making a comeback in England where they have been rare for decades.
The experts say that fluctuations in populations like this are normal.
But it is also possible that this has been a bad year for the parasites and viruses that kill Swallowtails because of the cold and snow of last winter.
And it is also possible that the large numbers we are seeing are the normal August peak in the butterfly population and its activity.
I can testify to that. I have more than a dozen Swallowtail caterpillars on the parsley plants on my deck.
This is the second round of baby butterflies on my parsley. I am pretty sure the others disappeared because they were dinner for the birds.
So this time, I have hidden the parsley and the caterpillars from the sharp eyes of the birds with a gentle layer of newspaper. We will see how it goes.
Comments
I agree with you Susan and I thought it was because of all the butterfly magnet plants I planted last year. I am enjoying the butterflies, but i have notice the hummingbirds aren't playing in the water sprinkler as frequently as last year.
Just put out a hummingbird feeder this year. Noticed, like, one. But I know it takes time. -- Susan
Posted by: Lori | September 3, 2010 4:43 PM
Yes, I was just thinking earlier today that we have had more butterflies than usual this summer. Our plantings have not changed, so it's not that we are attracting more that way.
I suspect that butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted by some of the same plants. Does anyone know more about this?
Posted by: Dahlink | September 6, 2010 4:42 PM
I totally agree with you Susan. My butterfly deck garden was very successful this year. I counted at least 10 swallowtails per hour during the month of July feeding on the nectar from my butterfly bushes, zinnias, phlox and hyssop. My deck garden doesn't attract many monarchs (lack of milkweed), but my sedum plants are covered with buckeye, painted lady, silver spot skippers, and hairstreaks. This was also a fantastic year for butterfly photography!!
Posted by: Crystall | September 6, 2010 10:06 PM
I was thinking this weekend that my yard has a lot more butterflies than in other years. Yellow Swallowtails. Some Monarchs. And lots and lots of tiny lttle brown butterflies that I can't identify at all, largely because they're so small I can't make out their markings and it's hard to get a decent picture.
Stay tuned, Eve. I will have more on the butterflies later today. -- Susan
Posted by: Eve | September 7, 2010 11:26 AM