It's always fun to look for woodland butterfly species. Many woodland butterflies are medium to dark brown in color making them difficult to spot in shady places.
I photographed this Northern Pearly Eye at a local park, fluttering around under large oak trees by a creek. This seems to be their preferred habitat as their host plants include both shade tolerant and wetland marginal grass species.
It just started to flower, the long floral spikes look like bottle brushes and are extremely showy. The wide grass blades are blue-green in color. Bottlebrush Grass reaches heights of around 40" in average soils, taller in richer soils.
Bottlebrush Grass is browsed by deer (and dogs) so it's best planted where there isn't too much deer pressure.
I have seen these or maybe something similar and am trying to photograph and identify what we have here which I enjoy and you provide so much info for me as a novice..thank you for.."The first 'aster' is a fleabane (Erigeron species), the last yellow flower is bird's foot trefoil." I tend to keep something until I know what it is and this is in the milkweed patch. I am learning so much about natives and planting and am excited when something I planted actually grows...lol..Michelle..
ReplyDeleteYour yard looks wonderful Michelle, I enjoy all the photos of wildlife around your pond. Makes want to put a small one in here!
DeleteI am not sure if I have heard of this plant. I was never into grasses until our tree had to be cut down in front, and I started to be interested in finding more native plants. I looked it up, and see that it is native to Nebraska. I have a few spots where it may grow. Now, I need to see about finding some. I tend to rely on local sources for my plants, and rarely try planting seeds of things. Thanks for telling us about this plant! That's a lovely butterfly, too, which I don't think I've ever seen.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a great grass for the shady foundation in your yard Sue. I think you'd really like it if you found a local source.
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