Judi’s Butterfly Garden – Butterfly Lady

My friend, Judi, has created an absolute butterfly paradise in her backyard in Palm Bay, Florida, USA. She started butterfly gardening in 2008 in just one small section. Today her whole yard has been converted to a butterfly habitat that attracts a wide variety of butterflies.

Judi's Butterfly Signs — Bright and lovely signs greet visitors. **Click here** to view a selection of delightful butterfly garden signs for your own yard.

Butterfly Walkway Entices Visitors — Butterfly stepping-stones on the walkway lead to the garden. **Click here** to see whimsical butterfly stepping stones.

Butterfly Backyard — Judi’s backyard is furnished with stylish and functional butterfly-themed patio furniture. **Click here** to see a nice selection of available butterfly patio benches, chairs and tables.

**Zebra Longwings** (*Heliconius charithonia)*, **Julias** (*Dryas iulia*) and **Gulf Fritillaries** (*Agraulis vanillae*) are attracted to **Passion Vines** (Passiflora spp.) as both nectar- and host-plants. Judi has planted them throughout her garden to make it irresistible.

Zebra Longwing Caterpillar on Passion Vine — **Zebra Longwing** caterpillar eating a leaf of **Citrus-Yellow Passion Flower** (Passiflora citrina) which Judi purchased at world-famous **Butterfly World** in Coconut Creek, Florida.

Wild Lime and Fennel — The **Wild Lime** (*Zanthoxylum fagara*) in the back left is covered with **Giant Swallowtail** (*Papilio cresphontes*) caterpillars. A patch of **Fennel** (*Foeniculum vulgare*) in the foreground feeds **Eastern Black Swallowtail** (*Papilio polyxanthes*) caterpillars.

Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) find Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) as well as native Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). She has Dutchman’s Pipe (Aristolochia spp.) for the Polydamas Swallowtails (Battus polydamas) and Pipevine (Aristolochia spp.) for the Pipevine Swallowtails (Battus philenor). I even found a cute little Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) caterpillar on her Spicebush (Lindera benzoin).

Spicebush Caterpillar — **Spicebush Swallowtail** caterpillar on a **Spicebush** leaf, its host-plant.

Adirondack Chairs and Hackberry Tree — Adirondack chairs invite passing a relaxing afternoon in the shade of the **Hackberry Tree** (*Celtis spp.*), a host-plant for the **Hackberry Emperor** (*Asterocampa celtis*) butterfly.

Spicebush on Penta — **Spicebush Swallowtail** butterfly on **Penta** (Pentas lanceolata).

A variety of flowers such as Pentas, Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis) and Firebush (Hamelia patens) provide nectar for all these attractive native butterflies.