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

Melanie (@MelsGarden@universeodon.com)

Attached: 1 image 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...

https://universeodon.com/@MelsGarden/112536760139849687 MelsGarden@universeodon.com - Hello beautiful! 📷  

Newly emerged Black Swallowtail.

Spotted this beauty in the tall grass next to the pond, just as it was crawling out of its chrysalis.

Such a rewarding feeling to be able to trace this one's origins. I have a blurry photo of mom laying eggs on dill that I planted, and many photos of that colony of caterpillars as they grew up.

(There are several patches of dill around the garden, each hosting its own colony of Black Swallowtail caterpillars, lol)

Always so exciting & awe-inspiring every time I'm lucky enough to witness this. It just feels so miraculous!

(commentary in alt-text)

#TexasGarden #butterfly #swallowtail #chrysalis #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography

Melanie (@MelsGarden@universeodon.com)

Attached: 3 images Hello beautiful! 📷 Newly emerged Black Swallowtail. Spotted this beauty in the tall grass next to the pond, just as it was crawling out of its chrysalis. Such a rewarding feeling to be able to trace this one's origins. I...

https://universeodon.com/@MelsGarden/112213842232574512 MelsGarden@universeodon.com - Lovely Variegated fritillary yesterday afternoon.

First one this year!

(Side note: one of the best parts of spring is the arrival of each butterfly. I have a mental list of ~30 species or so that have visited my garden in the past. As each one arrives it's such a happy feeling - like "Ah, yes! There you are!")

Info & narrative in alt-text.

#butterfly #Lepidoptera #TexasGarden #NaturePhotography

Melanie (@MelsGarden@universeodon.com)

Attached: 3 images Lovely Variegated fritillary yesterday afternoon. First one this year! (Side note: one of the best parts of spring is the arrival of each butterfly. I have a mental list of ~30 species or so that have visited my garden in the...

Plus what you grow yourself always tastes a lot better than what's in the store. ❤

♲ Melanie - 2024-03-21 01:49:22 GMT

The harvest. The dinner.Honestly one of the most rewarding things in my life is being able to walk outside & pick actual food that I grew myself.

Gardening is hard. It's a lot of work & a very long wait for something that sometimes, despite your best efforts, might not even yield results.

But when it does, it feels amazing.

Info & details in alt-text

#gardening #TexasGarden #Zone9b #VegetableGardening #veggies #food

Melanie (@MelsGarden@universeodon.com)

419 Posts, 342 Following, 1.56K Followers · Avid gardener. Butterfly enthusiast. Autistic. "for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth." J.R.R. Tolkien Eclectic mix of interests. Mostly gardening & nature photography (see 📌s). The...

GORGEOUS Giant Swallowtail! And yeah--they'll pupate in weird places just like all the other butterflies out there.

♲ Melanie - 2024-02-22 18:59:34 GMT

First butterfly of the year!And omg what a wild story. I found this swallowtail IN MY HOUSE!

So here's what I think happened. We had a freeze last month & I brought both of my calamondins inside to protect them. Citrus are hosts plants for Giant Swallowtails.

I'm guessing a chrysalis was accidently knocked off one of the calamondins & it hatched in my house. I found the butterfly in the same spot where the pots were. It was on the floor, unable to fly (which is why I'm guessing newly hatched - the wings were still wet.)

Gently scooped it up & put it outside. It's been resting in the same spot for the last hour. I've seen other newly hatched do exactly the same to dry their wings.

And honestly I have to laugh - I tried ALL LAST YEAR to get a decent Giant Swallowtail photo. Never managed it. Every one was blurry. And this year starts off w one my "holy grail" butterflies right in my own house! 😂

#butterfly #swallowtail #Lepidoptera #NaturePhotography #TexasGarden #Zone9b

Melanie (@MelsGarden@universeodon.com)

751 Posts, 346 Following, 1.52K Followers · Avid gardener. Autistic. "for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth." J.R.R. Tolkien Eclectic mix of interests (see 📌). Mostly gardening & nature photography. The occasional sci-fi &...