The contrasting colorful wingspan of the Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus

After a fruitless search for a Silver-spotted Skipper, I was ecstatic to have this encounter with a Tiger Swallowtail, Papilio glaucus. As the audience to the flurry of his winged activity, I was mesmerized by the silence of his vigor. The brilliantly patterned Tiger Swallowtail has little camouflage protection when it lands on the white blossoms of a butterfly bush, Buddleia davidii.

Though butterflies need sunlight to regulate their body temperatures, the outside temperature can become too hot for them. Therefore, a butterfly garden should provide shady places for them to feed as well. The size of the Buddleia offers blossoms in full sunlight, in addition to blossoms sheltered by the grander branches of the plant.