Wednesday, July 15, 2009

ABC Wednesday

Z is for
Zebra Longwings.

These chocolate brown and cream striped butterflies
are remarkable.

They are unique because they eat pollen.
This diet is rich in proteins and amino acids
which help these butterflies live longer.


These butterflies migrate.
They find roosting spots as they travel the pollen highway.
The range map has them wintering in South America and Central America.
They have been seen as far north as western Missouri.



I plant for them just in case they stray into my backyard.
They are my favorite of all the butterflies!


Z is for Zebra Swallowtail.


I am on the western edge of their range.

I planted Paw-paw bushes for their caterpillars.

These butterflies are known as Kite Swallowtails.


Z is for zucchini.


I checked the blooms yesterday.
So very happy to see bees in the zukes!
Soon I will have more fruit for the table.


Z is for zinnia.
I save my seeds every year.

I am looking for the Zebra Jumping Spider.
Maybe for the next ABC Z!

Enjoy all the Zs today.
Happy ABC Wednesday!


21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos, as usual!

I think the Zebra Swallowtail is the state butterfly of Tennessee. I have yet to see one!

Flat Creek Farm said...

Awesome photos, as always! I love it that you actually research your subjects, which makes not only for a visual feast but an educational feast as well. Thank you! -tw

Cheryl said...

The Zebra longwings is so beautiful and the story you tell is so interesting....I love the last photograph of the group....

The bee in the 'zukes' is so amazing.....perfection personified.......

A wonderful set of photographs for ABC Wed.....

Rune Eide said...

Very nice Zs with even nicer photography!

PS Thank you for the comments. BTW - the village has a population of 250.000.

Miss_Yves said...

"Remarkable"is the right word for all your photos !The forth is very strange !

Marimoy said...

The Zebra Longwing is one of my favorites as well. Such a friendly caterpillar. It's the official butterfly of the state of Florida. We have them here in St. Thomas, but not as many as we used to. We are planting many species of passiflora to help.

Tumblewords: said...

Exotic butterflies! I am curious about the paw-paw bush. Does it bear fruit like the trees? As a child, I picked and ate paw-paws and every now and then get an urge to try one to see if it is as wonderful as I remember. Great Post!

Joy said...

What fabulous butterflies, you are lucky. Love the stripes and looking forward to your Zebra spider:-)

ShySongbird said...

A lovely set of Zs, the butterflies are exotic and beautiful again.

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Zizz iz zee bezt. Zebra Swallowtail is my favorite butterfly. I guess because I don't see it often.

Cathy said...

Great photos, don't have that butterfly in my area. As for you zucchini blossom, you can eat them too. Oh course minus the bug :-)

www.thequietone.net

Anonymous said...

Lots of z butterflies. Beatiuful shots.

Rose said...

The zebra longwings are lovely, but I've only seen them in butterfly exhibits. I do hope a zebra swallowtail visits sometime, though. I did see my first Painted Lady today here--hooray!

Janie said...

Those butterflies are gorgeous. I love the zinnias, too.

Mara said...

That chocolate and cream butterfly looks really lovely. I can hardly imagine a bird to fly that distance, let alone a little butterfly! How fantastic

jay said...

What beautiful butterfly photos! And they are indeed beautiful butterflies, both of them. I didn't know there were any butterflies that ate pollen.

Juliet said...

I love the butterflies on the orange flowers - sumptuous :-D

I was wondering whether you have seen that Emma at Fluffius Muppetus is collecting bee posts for a blog carnival? The first one is published tomorrow, but she's hoping to do one every week. I'm sure you've done several lovely posts about bees so you might want to join in next time?

Angie said...

Your flowers and Butterflies are so beautiful, Q! To my knowledge, I have never seen the Zebra Longwing. I will start keeping a lookout for him/her. :)

Wendy said...

Lovely pics, as usual. I love the bright yellow of your zuccini flower. Zinnias are so vivid in colour, but do not grow well where I am. I do like them, though and maybe I should grow them in a container. And save seeds. You are so good and patient to do that. I had some viola (johnny jump up) seeds, but they seem to have vanished.

The zebras are gorgeous. I'm glad they like coming to visit you. Thanks for sharing.

Dawn Fine said...

Wonderful stuff! I just love all your photos..
Z is for zillions..I hope to see zillions more!

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

This is such a unique species; never heard of it!

Save 105 Cars of Emission