Large colorful butterflies attract our attention. But as we start planting for butterflies and watch them hatch, grow, and go through their lifecycles in our gardens, we start noticing those little flying jewels!

This newsletter introduces the Variegated Fritillary and one of its host plants, passionvine.

Jute and Fanpetals, host for the Three Checkered Skippers and Gray Hairstreak. The Gray Hairstreak is found in every state in the United States. Check out the webpage below for a list of states for the Three Checkered Skippers.

Also introduced is a cute ground cover with coral blooms, Creeping Indigo. This plant makes a nice hanging basket although the blooms are not extremely noticeable. This plant is a host for the Ceraunus Blue and Zarucco Duskywing.

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Resembling the Tawney Emperor, the Variegated Fritillary flys in meadows and areas where passionvine and/or or other host plants grow. Quoted from www.butterfliesandmoths.org, "Caterpillar hosts: A variety of plants in several families including maypops (Passiflora incarnata), may apple (Podophyllum peltata), violets (Viola), purslane (Portulaca), stonecrop (Sedum), and moonseed (Menispermum)."

Variegated Fritillary caterpillars closely resemble Gulf Fritillary caterpillars. White specks on thier sides differentates them from the Gulfs. When disturbed, the caterpillar immedately drops to the ground in a tight ball.

Passionvine blooms are breath-taking. Many species of butterflies drink nectar from these blooms. Host plant for Variegated Fritillary, Julia, Gulf Fritillary, and Zebra Longwing, it is a great addition to your garden.

At this time we have five species available from the farm. Caruela, Lavender Lady, and Incense are available in starters and four inch pots. Maypop and Boomerang are available as starters only at this time. Not all these pasionvines are loaded into the database of our site. If you can't find it on the site, simply write or phone 877- 485-2458 to place your order.

The Ceraunus Blue butterfly male is a mobile brilliant blue creature, flying from flower to flower. Or perhaps you will notice it sitting while watching for a female to pass by.

A non-descript brown butterfly with beautiful black/brown markings on its little wings ... that's the Zarucco Duskywing! These little brown butterflies are often assumed to be moths. Flying from flower to flower, they nectar all day long in the garden. Males are often found puddling on damp ground.

They are weeds we mow if they're in our yards. They are also host plants for at least four butterflies!

Tropical Checkered Skipper caterpillars as well as the other Checkered Skipper caterpillars make nests of leaves to hide in while they are not eating.

Email edith@buyabutterfly.com to register for these classes. Fees can be paid through credit card, PayPal to edith@buyabutterfly.com, or you can pay at the door with credit card, check, or cash. Be sure to pre-register via email!

Thanks so much! Edith and Stephen (and Ester & Michelle)