The first Monarch Butterflies of the year were spotted in our garden back in June. However, they were loners who made a brief appearance and then were seen no more. It’s only been in the last week or so that we’ve seen a pair of Monarchs maintain a consistent presence. Or maybe it’s been multiple pairs replacing each other.
Either way, for the last week or so Monarchs have been a consistent presence in our garden. Now I’m hoping that their numbers increase.
There have been other butterflies, with Black Swallowtails making daily appearances for a few weeks now. We’ve also had occasional Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Red Admirals, Sulphurs, Skippers, and Checkerspots.
No photos, though – except for the Monarchs and the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
The Monarchs have been feeding on a variety of flowers. They seem fond of Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum), Bee Balm (Monarda didyma), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata); and Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum).
Zinnias are also popular. Most years their favorite annual is Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). However, this year my Tithonias are late to bloom. That should change within a week or so.
Have you been seeing many butterflies in your garden so far this year?
gardeninacity 
I do not identify the butterflies.
A neighborhood near where I lived in college is known as Monarch Grove because of how the monarch butterflies swarm the red and blue gum groves to the south. They were not so easily ignored.
I would love to see that some day.
It is weird and colorful within otherwise bland eucalyptus groves.
So very beautiful and delicate
True!
Beautiful!
I agree!
A few have been zipping here and there. No Monarchs yet.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they arrive in your garden.
Haven’t seen any in western Maryland yet. Still hopeful. Thanks for sharing yours!
Hope they arrive soon!
Monarchs have returned here as well. I see them on bull thistle and Joe Pye weed a lot.
Interesting that the monarchs are in New Hampshire. Here, in Central Kentucky, I had a lone monarch on my tithonia. None of my fellow gardening friends have seen monarchs or any other butterflies so far. We are almost in August. I expect to see swallowtails. Global warming?
I’m not sure why they don’t seem to appear some years but it happens here too.
This year I’m seeing monarchs daily, along with black and tiger swallowtails and lots of skippers
Ugh. I would hate to think so.
Yes, they do seem to like Joe Pye Weed.
Lovely photos. We had lots of our most common butterflies – Peacocks- as well as a few others, until a couple of days ago… I think the heat and dry wind is forcing them to take shelter.
I hope some rain and milder weather brings them out again.
In the woods, I’ve seen a lot of Pearl Crescents and Little Wood Satyr, as well as little yellow ones. At the Rare Plant Preserve, there have been assorted swallowtails nectaring on button bush, milkweeds, and spicebush. I may have seen Monarchs, but I’ve only seen those in flight, and they could have been Viceroys or Queens.
I have never seen a Pearl Crescent. I wonder if their range comes up here.
No monarchs yet! Such exquisite creatures.
Indeed!
We have had a good butterfly year but yours always look more exciting, specially the fabulous monarchs. Wonderful photos.
Glad to hear you have plenty of butterflies.
Beautiful images!
Thank you!
Such beautiful butterflies! Despite a wet spring there has not been a lot of butterflies in the garden this year. Amelia
That’s too bad. Sometimes here we don’t see many until late summer.
I’m starting to see a few more. Most pass through quickly as there is little blooming. Usually zinnias would provide some temptation but rabbits (grrr) …
No! The rabbits eat your zinnias???
First time ever.
If I’m lucky, I get a glimpse of a Swallowtail, but the most frequent visitor is at the cabbage butterfly: white and unassuming. Sadly, nothing as glamorous as your selection. Beautiful pictures!
I get the cabbage whites, too. Hard to get excited about them.
You are so lucky! I’ve seen a monarch or two, a yellow swallowtail, a black swallowtail, a sulphur, but one at a time and only briefly despite all the coneflower, zinnia, rudbekia, cupplant, milkweed, etc. Very disappointing. It’s been really dry here, though, so maybe that is the reason?
Probably has something to do with it. We’re supposed to get rain starting Sunday, how about you.
Beautiful photos. I’ve seen a couple but not nearly as many as last year.
Maybe more will come in August.
Last year we had a ton of monarchs–the caterpillars ate our milkweed down to bones. This year, we’ve only seen one. We did have a lot of yellow swallowtails earlier in the summer but, other than that, it’s been a slow year for butterflies.
We have fewer Monarchs so far, but more of the yellow Swallowtails.
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I am in central Indiana and this summer has been barren for many things, including butterflies. It is August 1st and despite having 6 of the Torch Tithonia sunflowers in my yard I have seen 2 Monarchs and 1 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail so far. Granted, I don’t sit and stare at my yard every day from sunup to sundown but used to I could look out anytime and see butterflies. Not anymore. The bees seem to be in significant decline as well. All the loss makes me sad.
The only increase this summer (besides my nemesis, bindweed) has been hummingbirds. Instead of spying one every few days there are two that visit specific gardens several times a day.
That’s good about the hummingbirds, at least. Let’s hope the other declines are temporary.
I was so lucky to see a Monarch yesterday while I was working on the back garden .. it went for a brightly coloured cone flower and had some sips of nectar .. and of course you never have your camera when you need it ? LOL .. I am hoping Pink Diamond hydrangea standard will have the same affect it had last mid August .. a total dinner bell for them to come in , have a sip and rest a bit .. butterflies are such a gift in the garden .. I can’t see enough of them !
My Hydrangeas attract bees but rarely butterflies.
Oh, I do envy you the monarchs! Such a beautiful butterfly.xxx
They are beautiful, indeed.
This post caused me to go outside for a few minutes to get away from work and find two Monarchs flitting about in my front yard, and then my female hummingbird customer showed up. I meant to thank you earlier!
Sounds like a fine way to relax for a few minutes.