Butterfly Gardening
July 2022
June 2026
Butterfly Weed - June 2026
Swamp Milkweed - June 2026
Male Monarch - July 2026
Monarch Eggs on Swamp Milkweed - July 2026
Blanket Flower - June 2026
Blanket Flower - July 2026
The first Orange Sulphur since 2016 visited the yard and kept coming back to these vibrant butterflyweed blooms. The individual then flew to the backyard and perched almost exactly where the one from 2016 landed nearly a decade before - on some leaves amid a huge patch of white pine needles.
June 2026
June 2026
Butterfly Weed - June 2026
It’s been really fun walking around the corner and wondering what might be using the gorgeous Blazing Star flowers. Today there was a female Cabbage White who was absolutely loving the blooms. I haven’t seen this species open up the wings for a full dorsal view in almost 10 years. This female was likely attempting to mate / attract a nearby male. It looks like her right dorsal wing is folded which is a cool detail to check out.
Cabbage White Female - July 2026
Cabbage White Female - July 2026
Here’s the first Peck’s Skipper to visit the yard since 2021.
Peck’s Skipper - July 2026
I saved this little Maple Tree from growing under the sidewalk and planted it in the garden. It was so rewarding to see this Sachem skipper land on the leaf to rest!! He matches the leaf!!
Sachem Male - July 2026
After feeding on the Swamp Milkweed this cute butterfly kept returning to the nearby low trees to hide. :):)
Male Monarch - July 2026
2025
After purchasing a common milkweed plant in early August to add to the garden, I found 3 caterpillars on it!! All 3 eventually matured and formed a chrysalis. Two female, and one male Monarch emerged and flew. It was absolutely amazing, truly moving, and something I will never forget. Here’s a look at the first chrysalis as the days passed.
Day 0
Day 1
Day 15
Day 16
Day 16 - Newly Emerged Female Monarch - September 2025
Can you spot the Cabbage White blending in with the grass? - August 2025
August 2025
Here’s a nice view of a Cabbage White using the great Onion Flower blooms. These butterflies keep returning to this plant over and over throughout the summer days.
August 2025
This Silver-Spotted Skipper must have been really comfortable in the garden because it’s the first time I’ve ever pet the wings of this species as the butterfly rested on the the Maple Tree leaf.
August 2025
It’s always exciting to see a species in the yard for the first time and this female Horace’s Duskywing was a welcome sight in August 2025.
Day 2 after planting Russian Sage in the garden and she showed up and returned to the flowers several times before resting on this leaf.
August 2025
These Cabbage Whites seem to love the Hydrangea leaves for some reason and this was one of those special poses where I asked, “just stay there for a moment more?!”
Monarch Egg on Swamp Milkweed - July 2025
First butterfly eggs in the garden!! After planting Swamp Milkweed in the pollinator garden just a few days before (July 2025), I saw a female Monarch ovipositing on the leaves!! After she departed I searched for the eggs and found a couple - look how tiny compared to my index finger!! I love the sheen of the eggs - a pearly almost iridescent white - and the oval shape reminds me of a particular Lego ice cream cone piece. These were the first ever eggs I found in the garden, however 2nd instar caterpillars were found on butterflyweed a few years back!!
Silver-Spotted Skipper - July 2025
After a short rain shower, I went outside to photograph something else and while I was standing in the grass this cool Silver-Spotted Skipper flew right up to me and landed at my feet. I was able to lean down and photograph the butterfly at very close range. I think it’s the first time I ever got a straight on front view like this so the experience was really interesting.
Male - May 2025
Usually Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are flyovers in the yard, but sometimes they will check out the flowers, and twice I’ve had newly emerged males perch on the edge of the woods to dry their wings!!
This experience in 2025 was one of my favorites ever as I was able to inch closer to this butterfly as it basked in the setting sun. It’s rare that you get to see wing details at such close range, but I was even able to use my portait/macro lens to photograph this guy as he was so accomodating.
2024
September 2024
September 2024
This was a really cool day in September as the Cabbage White was so engrossed in feeding on the Basil Flower nectar that the butterfly let me pet its wings for a bit!! Then it eventually flew to the side of the stone flower box and rested.
September 2024
I looked out the front window on this fall day and was surprised to see a female Sachem ovipositing on the grass. These skippers appear in the yard almost every year and I was pretty sure they were breeding as males and female were often present together, but this was the first confirmed sighting of the butterfly laying eggs!!
August 2024
I’m pretty sure this is the first photo I ever got of a Red-Banded Hairstreak in the yard. This was a real challenge as the butterfly was moving so fast along the ground and kept disappearing into the Periwinkle leaves and flowers. Finally it made a quick appearance from under the leaf and posed for a photo!!
Mating Pair - July 2024
I think this was the first time I confirmed that Cabbage Whites were breeding in the yard which was so cool to see!! They have been very active in the yard for the past few years and after this rain I looked outside to find them perched on a Hydrangea leaf.
The pair stayed for hours and hopefully was able to mate successfully and contribute to next year’s population in the yard!!
June 2024
When you check out White Field Clover up close you realize how intricate and beautiful the blooms are. Cabbage whites and many other butterflies can use this low-growing flower as a nectar source throughout most of the year.
June 2024
It’s been so rewarding watching the Butterfly weed grow as part of my Monarch Waystation area and 2024 yielded these beautiful blooms.
May 2024
I think we should always let Dandelions grow!! To me, each one looks like a little miniature sun and many butterfly species can use them including Cabbage Whites, Eastern Tailed-Blues, Orange and Clouded Sulphurs, Common Buckeyes and many Grass Skippers!!
2023
August 2023
I’m pretty sure this Silver-Spotted Skipper wanted to watch T.V. with me because the butterfly was looking through the window very intently…
July 2023
This beautiful Cabbage White loved the Basil flower so much that it stayed for an extended visit allowing for some nice close-ups. You can really notice the yellow tones on this individual and many of the Cabbage Whites that visit my yard have this characteristic.
April 2023
This was the first time I’ve ever seen a Cabbage White use a daffodil for nectar!!
They use many different types of flowers and are very adaptable which is likely why they are so widespread in New Jersey but this was certainly a surprise.
2022
Male - July 2022
A male Sachem skipper seemed to be defending this little area of the garden every day for quite a while. He would make short flights and buzz bast anything that entered his territory and would then return to a favorite perch.
Butterfly Milkweed - July 2022
This was the first year the Butterfly Milkweed bloomed in the yard after planting it in 2021. It was very exciting to see those vibrant orange blooms - especially in the bright sunlight.
Tiger Lilies - July 2022
I’m sure a butterfly’s senses are so attuned that they can spot host plants from afar, but to me it’s always made sense to provide colorful beacons for them to investigate. I’ve always loved Tiger Lilies and 1f the butterflies can spot these beauties from an even greater distance, they may be more likely to visit the garden. I have seen Monarchs use these flowers for nectar so that is a bonus!!
2021
July 2021
Two Question Marks once landed on this window screen and I had to lean up against the house (likely in a comical pose) to get a nice ventral view. It was really cool to see this butterfly right in the yard.
July 2021
I remember it was so hot and humid this day that the camera lens was constantly fogged up!! I was out to photograph one of the day lilies from the garden, and came upon this first yard record of a Peck’s Skipper!! White field clover is an amazing addition to the lawn and I wish we could replace grass with something similar. The amount of pollinators that love the flowers is incredible. I was so happy this guy visited!!
July 2021
I just had to include this photo of a beautiful Cabbage White from the same day. This gorgeous butterfly also landed on the white clover and enjoyed the nectar in the same patch as the Peck’s Skipper.
July 2021
This must have been the year for butterflies landing on the house because in addition to the Question Marks from later in July this Red Admiral also landed right on the windowsill and was visible from inside. It was so cool leaning in close to the window and seeing the butterfly right in front of my face. I later went outside and took a bunch of photos!!
2019
Female - October 2019
Female - October 2019
Eastern Commas are drawn to wooded areas with lots of logs, leaf cover and bark. They are an incredible species that can look like a dried leaf one moment and an orange sunburst the next!!
September - 2019
Goldenrod is always a winner for the garden and you never know what’s gonna show up. You might find Monarchs, Buckeyes, Swallowtails, Crescents, Red-Banded Hairstreaks, Grass Skippers or in this case a Spring “Summer” Azure. These guys are annual visitors in the yard and they are always a challenge to track. Some might fly high up into the canopy, others stick to the ground flowers, or in some cases individuals use goldenrod.
August 2019
I believe this was the first ever confirmed sighting of a Viceroy in the yard and this individual was exhibiting some very interesting behavior. I observed the butterfly flitting around the pokeweed leaves and landing in different spots.
August 2019
After reviewing the photos it turns out the Viceroy was puddling on the ripe purple berries for nutrients!! I’ve never seen a butterfly use these before though I know they love rotting fruit like bananas and apples. Just another reason to allow native species like Pokeweed to flourish in the yard - it provides flowers for other pollinators and berries for migrating birds and for butterflies too!! How cool!!
2017
Female - September 2017
This female Hackberry Emperor landed on the deck screen and then flew to a leafy perch in the nearby tree. It might be a challenge to attempt drawing in this species to your yard garden, but planting native Common Hackberry trees is a start. You can also provide puddling stations by putting small stones into a shallow pot or dish so the butterflies can land without submerging and drink the water you supply. Rotting fruit will also bring in Hackberry and Tawny Emperors, Mourning Cloaks, Red-Spotted Admirals, Red Admirals and other butterflies.
August 2017
After a long time basking on the nearby holly tree this Silver-Spotted Skipper perched on the Iris stalk to defend the flower bed.
Female - July 2017
Here is a female Sachem right in the front yard!! These are garlic or onion flowers that bloom yearly in July and they are like magnets for all kinds of pollinators. They’ve attracted more butterflies than any other flower in the area. I love the little bee that is flying in to greet this butterfly - you can see purple reflecting off its wings - what a cool garden scene!!
2016
Male - August 2016
Native wildflowers are wonderful for your pollinator garden but providing safe havens for butterflies in any way possible is also a great way to help. Native trees and shrubs are best, but providing leaf piles, logs, shaded areas, puddling spots or bushes for butterflies to perch are also great. You may end up with a resting Tiger Swallowtail just like this one!!
2014
Male - August 2016
These onion flower blooms have been incredible pollinator magnets and have now thrived in the garden for over 12 years. One of the most amazing visitors was this female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, but they have also been a great nectar spot for Cabbage Whites, Sachems, Silver-Spotted Skippers, Monarchs, and many bee and wasp species!!
2010
