Sunday, January 20, 2013

Aphrodite's Star

Aphrodite Fritillary on Blazing Star
 Blazing star is a member of the Aster family that blooms later in the summer (from July to September). This type of blazing star forms long stalky stems that grow in clumps. When it blooms the stalks fill with tightly packed purple flowers. These flowers must produce a lot of nectar because blazing star is always a magnet for many different species of butterfly. In this photo an aphrodite fritillary is feed on the flowers. There are many different species of fritillary butterflies. Most of them are medium to large in size and usually a combination of orange, black and white in color. The aphrodite fritillary is native to the north eastern half of the United States into south eastern Canada. They can be found from the east coast all the way to the Rocky Mountains and as far south as New Mexico in the west and the Carolinas in the east. Their larval host plant are varies violet plants.  




13 comments:

Jannibele said...

Two beauties in one photo! What a marveolus moment you have caught. Love it:)

chris and angela said...

our grand children love to read your blog and look at the images,we do it together.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!!
~Linda

DeniseinVA said...

A super combination of this rather gorgeous Blazing Star and equally beautiful Aprhodite fritillary. Thanks once again for being such a special friend to Today's Flowers. Have a great week.

Judy said...

Beautiful blazing star!! I have only seen a couple of these plants! The butterfly is gorgeous! I did not know that violets could host butterflies!!! Somehow, I thought butterflies needed bigger plants...

Maria @ LSS said...

Just beautiful.

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lorik said...

The lilac line patterns combine beautifully with the spotted butterfly. Thank you for sharing it on Mandarin Orange Monday:)

Birgitta said...

Very beautiful!

vincibene said...

Gorgeous picture!

Andrea @ From The Sol said...

Wow, what a stunning picture this makes. The color contrasts as well as the lines of each, the plant and the butterfly. As a photographer this is lovely and as an artist it is amazing ... I love that you give us so much information. I rarely see the Fritillary in our area, but I am sure they are around. With the drought the last year, we haven't had many butterflies of any kind ... very sad! Thanks again ...

Andrea @ From The Sol

Nonnie said...

the butterfly is a beautiful contrast to the blooms!

Pat said...

Beautiful capture!

Powell River Books said...

What an unusual bloom. The butterfly make me think about spring (and summer) on the horizon. Can't wait. - Margy