This giant swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) stopped to spread her wings long enough for me to get some photos. W.S. Blatchley called this species "our largest and rarest Papilio". The above photo shows the butterfly resting on the sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) that is near the front of the Clegg Garden grounds. Onoclea is not a host plant for Papilio, but we do have the host plant prickly ash on the high trail that overlooks Wildcat Creek. Look there for the distinctive single orange egg and the caterpillars that look like bird poop.
Link to previous post on prickly ash at Clegg Garden:
Link to Onoclea sensibilis:
A male giant swallowtail arrived and the two butterflies began mating. This is in the crabapple tree close to the park entrance.
Photos taken July 27, 2015.
Link to Papilio cresphontes:
Link to Papilio cresphontes:
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