and here it is today.
The flower garden at the front of the house originally began like this
and here it is today.
One of my favorites is a cleome named "sparkler blush". It has a different look depending on the sky. In daytime it is usually just a pretty white.
In late evening, as the sun sets, a strong pink circle appears around the top. I didn't get a photo of the blooms open, but here they are closed with their pink showing.
Another of my favorites is the crocosmia 'Lucifer'. It has been a favorite of the local hummingbirds as well.
The butterflies have loved the flowers as much as we have, probably more, since they have provided nectar for mealtime. This is a female eastern tiger swallowtail, the designated butterfly of the State of Alabama.
The male eastern tiger swallowtail looks much different.
Becoming a "butterfly watcher" is pretty easy. We did a little research and found out how much we didn't know about the beautiful creatures.
Here is a video from "Smarter Every Day" entitled Butterfly Farming is Amazing
And another about the beautiful scales on their wings The Magic of Butterfly Scales - Part 1
The Internet is full of websites on butterflies. One where I found a lot of information was The Butterfly Website. Another good one is Butterflies and Moths of North America.
The Huntsville Botanical Garden has a great 9000 sq. ft butterfly house. A visit to the Purdy House is well worth the admission price to the gardens.
Most butterflies have a very short lifespan, only 2-4 weeks. It seems to me in that short time, they should be appreciated and admired. Why not make a butterfly garden in your backyard and enjoy the visits from one of God's beautiful creations?
