We’ve had more butterflies in our yard this year than ever before. Including this Red-Spotted-Purple (Limenitis arthemis). It was flittering around our crabapple tree laying eggs on the leaves. Im hoping to get more of these big, beautiful insects next year so I’m not clipping the crabapple back until the eggs hatch & I can hunt for some hungry, hungry caterpillars. Butterflies are like all parents, they’ll stay around if you have food for them, flowers, but they’ll stay longer if you have food plants for their babies. The more native larval food plants I add to our yard the more caterpillars and butterflies I have. It’s totally worth having our crabapple looking less well-groomed so I don’t accidentally destroy our chances for more of these gorgeous butterflies. What larval food plants do you have in your yard? #butterflies #pollinators #pollinatorgarden #saveourpollinators #garden #lkh #laurellkhamilton #lkhamilton #saturday #saturdaymorning #nature #flowers #catterpillar #beauty #goals #writersofinstagram #biogeekgardens #biology
