https://universeodon.com/@MelsGarden/113176774066621662 MelsGarden@universeodon.com - This year's butterflies! 📷

[*see pin for 2023]

All of these were photographed by me in my small suburban garden.

43 species in total. So far, anyway. The Fall butterflies are currently migrating thru, so there's always a chance something new will turn up. But I wanted to go ahead & post this while I still had the chance.

2 are still missing from last year (Sleepy Orange & Orange-barred Sulphur).

1 was left off the grid (Red-Banded Hairstreak) bc, well, it's a grid & 43 didn't work lol.

Anyway, the point of this post is to show that biodiversity still exists. Climate doom & gloom can be demoralizing, but the butterflies are still here & every little bit you can do to support them matters. It doesn't take a fancy garden. Even just a few flowers on a patio can be a much-appreciated haven for pollinators.

Give them a reason & they will come. It's well worth it, I promise. 💚

#TexasGarden #Zone9b #butterflies #Lepidoptera #pollinators #biodiversity #NaturePhotography