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Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Wildflowers for Wednesday and for Butterflies

I have not been posting for Wildflower Wednesday, as i normally forget the 4th Wednesday of the month. But i remember it when it is not time to post. Now i suddenly realize it and thanks circumstances that tomorrow is the 4th Wednesday. I am in time for the link of Gail's Clay and Limestone. Now the problem is to search for my wildflowers still scaterred in my so many files.

Here are some of them as remnants of our rainy season growths. I warn you they are mostly taken because of butterflies!


Above and Below is Plumbago zeylanica, an endemic white plumbago species in the country. I found this in the wild and amazed that a butterfly is ovipositing on its young flower buds. I have lots of the red plumbago, but i haven't observed any butterflies nectaring on them or any larva eating them.

Zebra Blue or Plumbago Blue, Leptotes plinius leopardus, a lycaenid

 the clump of Plumbago zeylanica

a hover fly and a wasp moth nectaring on the Mikania micrantha

 Mikania micrantha, (Mile-a-minute weed as called in Singapore), is an introduced species, a vine, and as expected from alien species they are very invasive. It can easily kill a native plant that it can totally cover during the rainy season. At least it has some function as nectar plants for the butterflies and other insects.




Dwarf Crow and Grey Glassy Tiger on porter weed, Stachetarpheta jamaicensis


 Glassy Tiger, Parantica vitrina vitrina and Snow Flat, Tagiades japetus titus


 a large clump of porter weed, Stachetarpheta jamaicensis on a fallowed grassy area

a blue weed

this Tiny Grass Blue, Zizina hylax pygmaea, is the tiniest butterfly in my area that is less than a centimeter both in length and in width. It is so frantic and sometimes difficult to photograph as it alights again after minutes. But when it is still early they can be easily posing with the camera and later when they feed and oviposit on the very short grasses. 

 this is the NOID blue flowers with also very short stems

Aerva lanata (Amaranthaceae), only a few insects alight on them, yet i find them pretty too. We have lots of this in our property and on adjacent uncultivated lands. I just realized upon learning its name that it has lots of medicinal properties and antioxidant components. There are even dried plants being sold formally in the internet and on ebay. 

Aerva lanata growing abundantly in our property

Another low weed that flowers profusely and loved by tigers and skippers. This Grey Glassy Tiger, Ideopsis juventa manillana, kept on coming back and forth from this lump of flowers.

 This is the whole stand of the weed as it starts to produce flowers, just about 2 ft tall. The dry season has started and this seems to be just starting to reproduce. At least the butterflies have alternatives from the flowers that already finished maturity for the rainy season.

Wildflower Wednesday





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23 comments:

  1. Nick MorganFebruary 28, 2018 at 8:00 AM

    Nice selection of flowers and butterflies!

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  2. AngieFebruary 28, 2018 at 9:37 AM

    An educational and pretty post, as always. I am entranced by the Tiny Grass Blue - so delicate!

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    Replies
    1. AndreaFebruary 28, 2018 at 9:59 AM

      Yes Angie, that is the term for me too, entranced. Even if i already have lots of its picture, i see to it that i follow and picture some of them, thinking there might be something different among them. I normally ignore the heat of the sun, and my arms are already very dark now! hahaha

      Delete
  3. Beth at PlantPostingsFebruary 28, 2018 at 9:43 AM

    Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! So much blooming and flying and perching through your garden. :) I remember seeing Porterweed during a trip not too long ago--I think it was Florida because it's a native plant there--and loving it. I really like the color, the form, and the fact that it attracts pollinators. This is a beautiful post!

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    Replies
    1. AndreaFebruary 28, 2018 at 9:57 AM

      Thank you so much Beth for always looking at my posts. I appreciate that and your appreciation too.

      Delete
  4. Su-sieee! MacFebruary 28, 2018 at 10:58 AM

    Your photos are awesome. I especially like your capture of the Tiny Grass Blue. She looks so delicate and elegant standing on the flower. Her eyes are so blue.

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:03 AM

      I appreciate your comment, it is also a favorite although very small and difficult to photograph. I hope you stop by again.

      Delete
  5. FlowerLady LorraineFebruary 28, 2018 at 8:18 PM

    Andrea ~ what great photos of flowers and butterflies. I have some of the flowers in my own gardens.

    Thanks for sharing and have a great day ~ FlowerLady

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:04 AM

      Hi Lorraine, i hope you are well and always enjoying your garden and crafts, thanks for visiting.

      Delete
  6. eileeninmdFebruary 28, 2018 at 8:40 PM

    Hello Andrea, what a lovely collection of butterflies. The flowers are beautiful, it is great these plants attract the insects and butterflies. Great captures. Thanks for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy day and week ahead!

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:06 AM

      I truly love it when the unwanted weeds attract butterflies, and i learn a lot from them. Now i appreciate already those weeds that are seemingly invasive and without much contribution to us. Thanks much also.

      Delete
  7. GailFebruary 28, 2018 at 9:47 PM

    Andrea, These are beautiful flowers! Happy WW!

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:06 AM

      Thanks for hosting WW Gail. I hope i wont forget it next month.

      Delete
  8. Corner Gardener SueFebruary 28, 2018 at 10:57 PM

    I enjoyed seeing your blooms and butterflies. I am excited for spring to get to Nebraska, U.S.A.

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:11 AM

      ...and thanks for your visit Sue. Keep warm.

      Delete
  9. Diana StuderMarch 1, 2018 at 2:45 AM

    Interesting to see such a different Plumbago to our sky blue one.

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 10:12 AM

      We also have the blue P auriculata here as well as the red P. indica. This is the white wild one not actually in the garden but in fallowed areas.

      Delete
  10. Lady FiMarch 1, 2018 at 4:57 AM

    Gorgeous shots.

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  11. LeaMarch 1, 2018 at 5:46 AM

    Beautiful blooms, and the Tiny Grass Blue photo is wonderful!
    Happy Wildflower Wednesday!

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  12. JeannieMarch 1, 2018 at 7:52 AM

    Oh how lovely! It makes me even more eager for Spring to arrive here in southern middle Tennessee, USA. The rain stopped for a few days and now it is back to being dreary. Thank you for sharing your cheerful blooms.

    Jeannie @ GetMeToTheCountry

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    Replies
    1. AndreaMarch 2, 2018 at 11:10 AM

      You're welcome, and let me keep you warmer through my perennial colorful plants and butterflies. haha. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  13. Soma @ inkTorrents.comMarch 2, 2018 at 2:58 PM

    Your photos are so lovely. Beautiful flowers and butterflies.

    -Soma

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