Butterfly gardens - Gulf Fritillary, Skipper, Monarch, and Cassius Blue

There are now 5 butterfly gardens in Pineneedle. A butterfly garden holds plants that pollinators visit. It's also a garden that birds and beneficial insects visit working harmonically together. These gardens can be whimsical and wild looking or ordered such as the butterfly gardens at Selby Gardens or on the Ringling Museum grounds. Both organizations offer classes to learn more about how to plant butterfly gardens. 

Here are 4 butterflies and flowers they visit in one of the Pineneedle butterfly gardens.

An adult male Fiery Skipper butterfly on purple Mealycup Sage, a salvia.

Monarch Butterly on a Golden Dewdrop Bush.

Milkweed Plant is the Monarch caterpillar's host plant. Find Florida varieties at Sweetbay Nursery or Florida Native Plants Nursery. Image from FNPN.

A Cassius Blue butterfly on a Scorpion Tail plant. Though I purchase Scorpion Tail at Sweetbay Nursery, Native Plants of Florida Nursery carries them, too. A host plant for the Cassius Blue caterpillar is Plumbago. 

Gulf Fritillary on a Passionflower. A posted note shares information with neighbors and reduces unnecessary pesticide.