Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Shopping

The Giant Swallowtail has been shopping
my backyard for a week.
I think she is looking for a Prickly Ash tree,
a place to lay her eggs.


She stopped to nectar this morning.

I will plant Prickly Ash trees this Autumn.

Where I do not know.
I will find a spot.
Her caterpillars need a Prickly Ash tree.


The Giant Swallowtail is a tropical butterfly measuring 6 inches across.
I have the heat and the humidity for her to feel right at home, now I need a Prickly Ash Tree.

26 comments:

Cheryl said...

How beautiful she is Sherry.....does the prickly ash grow tall or can you keep it small. I have beech trees in the garden but I clip them every year so they do not grow into huge monsters.
I cannot believe how the swallowtail contrasts in size to the little blue I posted on Sunday....isn't nature wonderful......

Catherine said...

Hello Q!
Gorgeous gorgeous captures of the Swallowtail!
~I've notice a lot in my gardens the past week!
I have something for you, so drop by when you get a chance! :)
Enjoy your day!
Cat

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
I was thinking I might be able to trim a few Prickly Ash trees into shrubs or at least keep them smallish. The Giant Swallowtail just needs leaves! I have to be careful with trees since my yard is not very big and it is already planted with so many different trees and shrubs!
I adore Mother Nature's diversity!
Your Little Blue is like my Eastern Tailed Blue, very tiny!
Nature is amazing.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Cat,
Thank you for thinking of me and Corner. I am honored.
The butterflies are so beautiful!
I love them all.
Sherry

Lisa at Greenbow said...

We have an Ash tree in our garden. Maybe that is why we have several Tiger Swallowtails in our garden. Your photos are great.

Jules and Ken said...

What great photos of the Giant! How do you do it? They never stop fluttering for us. Did you find out what the caterpillar was?
jules

Naturegirl said...

Sherry she is the most beautiful butterfly that I have ever seen!
The soft ice cream pink..absolutely amazes me! I'm on the lookout for butterflies here as my butterfly bush has now flowered!Mother Nature always
surprises me!

Mary said...

They're just beautiful. I would love to see a Giant Swallowtail! I'd mistake it for a bird.

Q said...

Dear Lisa,
I also have an ash tree in my backyard. I think it is a Mountain Ash. My neighbor has one too. The Tigers do use any of the Ash trees for hosting.
My butterfly book says the Prickly Ash are not very pretty trees. I have never seen one that I know of.
I hope to see a few pretty soon growing in my backyard.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Jules,
I use speed priority on my camera to stop action! The Giants do move constantly.
I still do not know on the cat. Plus I cannot find it on the fennel. Hope a bird didn't eat it!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Anna,
I so hope you see many beautiful butterflies! For me they make summer a joyfilled season..heat and humidity never bother me when I am photographing Giants.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mary,
They are huge! Bigger than a Hummingbird. Plus always moving so they are somewhat hard to photograph.
They are very beautiful!
Sherry

Saucy said...

I saw a place that had instructions to make candy swallowtails and monarchs! I'm going to try it soon. I will use your photos as inspiration!

kkryno said...

Dear Sherry; Sorry I haven't been around much as of late. I've been a bit under the radar. These lovely photos are just the right thing to make me look forward to more sunshine, and the Swallowtail is breathtaking. Thanks for sharing her with us! Love; Vikki

meggie said...

Breathtaking photos! I just sat in wonderment. Is that a Buddliea she is nectaring upon? I think Gom has cut ours out!

Jeanne said...

Such beauty God hand paints for us.
Love you
Jeanne
Thanks for your visits and kind words.
Love Jeanne^j^

Q said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

It seems you have been seeing many Swallowtails lately. I too have been seeing many butterflies, but it is Monarchs for me.

Q said...

Dear Jules,
Thank you! The Giant is always moving! I use a speed priotity setting on the camera so I can "stop action" sometimes without too much blurring!
I still do not know what cat I saw on the fennel. When I checked on it I could not find it. So I do not know if a bird had a tasty treat or if cat moved on...
I have so enjoyed reading your journal and getting to know you.
On butterfly wings,
Sherry

Rose said...

What a beautiful butterfly! If I thought it would come this far north I would plant a prickly ash just to have her visit!

Wendy said...

What a beautiful swallowtail! Hope you can plant your prickly ash - just for the butterfly.

Q said...

Dear Saucy,
Yummm...candy butterflies sound wonderful. Years ago I found some chocolates in the shape of a butterflies. The wrappers were colored foil. Very pretty and tasty. I used them for a Spring brunch I gave. The candy butterflies perched on the table.
Butterfly lolipops would be very fun.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Vikki,
I hope yopu are feeling okay!
I seem extra slow of late getting my chores finished. All I want to do is be outside with the butterflies!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Meggie,
Yes it is a Buddliea. We call them Butterfly Bushes since our butterflies flock to the blooms. I planted two more bushes this past spring. I think I will find spots for a few more next spring. I can see a hedge of these bushes in bloom with Butterflies nectaring.
Your Gom is a funny man. He does have a good heart.
Hope winter is not depressing for you and you finally find some relief from the itches...
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Jeanne,
Nature is so very beautiful. I am awed!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Readers,
For some strange reason comments for this post are not posting correctly.
I did receive your kind words.
Thank you.
I will pop over to your journals and visit.
Namaste,
Sherry