Monarch

Our butterfly bushes are really doing their job this summer!  I love the bushes right up against our family room window.  The girls love to watch the butterflies from inside without any of the bother of the mosquitoes (which seem to get worse every year!)

Swallowtails and House Wrens

Spotted this week in the garden:

House Wren

Tiger Swallowtail

Yay, wildlife!!

Red Admiral Butterfly

Another great thing about planting these echinaceas next to the family room window is that it attracts butterflies and fuzzy bumblebees (June's favorites) which we can watch from the window.  This red admiral butterfly was hanging out on the flowers long enough for June and I to grab the insect guide and look it up.  June was delighted to match the picture to the butterfly.

Butterflies

I found this Tiger Swallowtail on - where else - the butterfly bush! I have also spotted a couple Monarchs and of course the Cabbage butterflies which seems to be everywhere!  (stock photos below)