Hurray!

Butterfly Weed bloom

Yes!  Today the first Butterfly Weed  bloomed.  What a gorgeous flower.  This bloom is loaded with nectar and, as its name implies, is supposed to be a butterfly magnet.  The Monarch butterfly often lays its eggs on this plant.  Then when they hatch into caterpillars, the leaves they feed on are right there at their feet!  The only food a Monarch butterfly caterpillar eats is Milkweed.  Butterfly Weed is a milkweed.    In addition to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds will enjoy this flower.  Personally, I can't see enough hummingbirds.  Our Ruby Throated Hummingbird is the only hummingbird that regularly nests east of the Rockies.  How delighted we are when we are sitting outside, they zoom right up, hover inches in front of our faces and check us out.  They are such curious little creatures.  I can't imagine I'll be able to get a shot of a hummingbird drinking from this plant, but if I'm patient, maybe a butterfly will sit still long enough for me to take a picture.