Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Pipevine Butterfly

As you've seen this past month, the butterfly show has kicked into full gear and I won't be done for awhile with the finds.
Another rare treat to our desert is the Pipevine Butterfly.  It's large blackish blue with dazzling dots.
Last year I hadn't seen many of them but this year, they've been everywhere!  In fact, this butterfly stopped by El Presidio one day and had the residents oooing and ahhing.  I was shocked.  Why?
This particular butterfly is threatened or endangered in some areas, but I don't think it is here as it has a large range to flutter about.
This butterfly loves all kinds of plants like the infamous butterfly bush, vincas, lantanas, verbena, and milkweed.  But there are certainly many more plants that it will visit.   It's tricky here in Arizona because in spring, we love our wildflower gardens but we can also pick millions of other themes for our places.....like the Butterfly Garden!!!  My Butterfly Garden hasn't begun yet because the fountain hasn't gone into the space....but when it does, these colorful and magnificent plants will go into that spot. 
September is the month of the butterfly here.  An explosion really.  And if you set your garden up right , your guests will feel like they're walking in one of those cheesy Disney movies. Plus you'll be the talk of the neighborhood. Today's photo shoot was taken at the Ash Canyon B & B.  And the garden is by Mary Jo.  
Stay tuned for more....

33 comments:

  1. I do recognize the plant Chris but can't put a name to it, we have it here also and it does attract the butterflies..Everytime I look at your blog it makes me want to go out and look for small birds (as opposed the big Galahs and Corellas that abound in my garden)and butterflies, then I seem to get sidetracked..one of these days I'll surprise you with an Aussie butterfly.

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  2. Qué bella mariposa y qué bonitas composiciones con esa flores moradas.. Me encantan las fotos.. Un abrazo..

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  3. It's amazing how many "rare treats" you are presenting on this blog!

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  4. Chciałbym być tam we wrześniu, jeśli fruwa wiele tak pięknych motyli, jak ten. Pozdrawiam.
    I would like to be there in September, when many flies as beautiful butterflies, like this one. Yours.

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  5. The Pipevine butterfly is a lovely way to start my day :) What a beautiful flutter it is. Look forward to more of your butterfly posts and it will be interesting to see what your own butterfly garden looks like and attracts when you can plant it.

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  6. Great images of a fabulous butterfly, Chris. I wish that I was in your neck of the woods right now, with all that wonderful wildlife. Here it is cold (9 deg C) and windy - but at least it has now stopped raining!

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  7. What a stunning butterfly! Just glorious.

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  8. Oh Chris...these are fantastic. The colors just pop off the page. I can't wait for more.

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  9. Another lovely butterfly. Seems our good monsoons really brought out the flowers and thus the butterflies too.

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  10. Beautiful butterfly, I haven't seen many pipevines around here. The monarchs are coming through but not too many visited the garden yet.

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  11. I love the photos Chris. The butterfly is beautiful and the colors are perfect!!

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  12. gorgeous flyer and purple blooms, too!

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  13. It is so beautiful, but we don't have it here, rather we have it red instead of blue, and those dots are black. It is also bigger than most butterflies we have.

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  14. I can see where the superstitions follow large black fluttering insects, there is something otherworldly about them! What a visual treat.

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  15. Chris, Chris what have I missed? I am so far behind I will never catch up. That butterfly looks like its wearing a necktie. :-) tracy

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  16. I like his spots - not only on his wings - but his body too. You get some great shots of butterflies!

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  17. Cool captured!
    I love the combination of colours!

    xoxo, Juliana
    [pjhappies.blogspot.com]

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  18. Such a lovely butterfly. The black makes the other colours sing.

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  19. If you plant native pipevine, available from Tohono Chul Botanical Garden, you will get the caterpillars for the pipevine swallowtail butterflies. This is where the butterflies prefer to lay eggs.

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    1. Great tip!!! Thanks for sharing:) I'll look into this plant. Love the look of the caterpillars for these butterflies.

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  20. I remember as a kid being intrigued with multiple coloured butterflies. Today in those same areas I grew up in the wildflowers have been completely replaced by noxious weeds & predominantly Star Thistle.


    -

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  21. Muito lindo... as flores e a borboletas.
    Belas cores.
    Boa semana!
    Beijinhos.

    `.♡`
    ●/
    /▌
    / \

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  22. Just beautiful. Glad you're seeing more of them this year.

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  23. Oh my goodness is that a beautiful butterfly...simply stunning.

    Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

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  24. The butterflies on the flowers are so beautiful. However, I read the previous post as well and the hummingbirds are the best! We don't have any in Australia. Your photos are perfect!

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  25. Incredibly beautiful butterfly, and superb photos.Those purple flowers are gorgeous too.

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  26. Absolutely beautiful shots! Amazing colours.

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  27. beautiful pipevine shots! we have them here too...i didn't think they were as far as your area! what plant is that? it looks similar to the Ironweed??

    i love the second to last...she looks like she's standing on her tippy-toes!

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