Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus

Swallowtail Butterfly

These large red flowers are so flashy I almost didn’t see the butterfly. I believe the flower is a Texas Star Hibiscus, which grow wild around the edges of my favorite swamp.

Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus
Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus

The butterfly was intensely inspecting the flowers, but he didn’t stay with any one blossom for more than a moment.

Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus
Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus

An unopened bloom got its share of attention as the butterfly probed up under the flower’s sepals.

Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus
Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus

That wasn’t very satisfying, either, and he quickly moved on.

Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus
Butterfly on Red Star Hibiscus

Many of the Buttonbush trees that were so popular with the butterflies in this area last July have died, and those that didn’t have very few blossoms. The harsh weather we had in January may have too much for them.

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