Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis

Where we live Eastern Redbud grows wild all along the roadsides, some places a lot others very little if not at all. Our driveway is loaded with it, and it reminds me of my time growing up in Ohio where it was all along the roadsides as well.

Above is an Eastern Redbud from today by our garden, the buds will open any day now. We'll be seeing a lot of it in bloom and the usual spring butterflies that visit the flowers. One butterfly of special interest is the Henry's Elfin a tiny gem of a butterfly that can be found along our road and in the redbuds in the yard. You have to look hard for these tiny 1/2 inch butterflies, it takes a lot of serious looking for them. Henry's Elfins are reported to use American Holly flowers as a host food in the southern US and Eastern Redbud in the northeastern US. We have very little hollies in our woods and I've never found any in flower in the woods. I've been told over and over again that the use of redbud as a host foodplant is a northern thing, but given one can find 6-8 of these little guys in a walk here makes me wonder.

We have another Elfin too, usually is emerges a little later than the Henry's it is the Eastern Pine Elfin as seen above. In the 11 seasons I have lived here only 3 times the Eastern Pine Elfin has been found, so it is one of the rarest butterflies found in our garden. If you didn't know we have had 76 species of butterflies in our garden. After a long time stuck at 75 species a Gulf Fritillary made number 76 last year.

Above is from a few years ago, our driveway. Below is the road out to our mailbox.

Below is a close up of redbud in full bloom.

Yes, my first butterfly photo of 2009

Male Falcate Orangetip perched on tall grass above our pond. Notice that the butterfly is holding on with 4 of it's 6 legs the other 2 legs are called pro legs you can see them folded next to the eyes. I've friends that have tried for years to get a photo of this butterfly, it just moved a little and caught my attention. It was chilly and we had overcast skies so to my good fortune it stayed perched for many photos. It remained in place even after I walked away.

Last thing: I walked down into our woodlands and took this photo of an American Trout Lily and Wind Flower. Lots of Windflowers coming up and the trout lilies are at nearly full bloom.