A Yellow Swallowtail butterfly toured my backyard with me following along as he sampled Melissa Balm, Trumpet Vine and a Coneflower.
Backyard
July 9, 2025
Yellow Swallowtail, Sampling Backyard
Tag Archives: Yellow Swallowtail
Yellow Swallowtail, Dragonfly and Bee
I was concentrating on the Yellow Swallowtail butterfly circling a buttonbush, not noticing the dragonfly or the bee until looking at the photos later.
The bush was rooted down an embankment into a swampy area frequented by snakes and alligators so my angle options were limited.
The bee moved on…
The butterfly sampled all of the buttons while the dragonfly had a rest.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 20, 2024
Yellow Swallowtail on Lantana
A stand of Lantana was thriving in a shady spot next to a small pond.
This Swallowtail was all over the flowers.
Why fly when you can walk?
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
August 20, 2023
Swallowtail Butterflies on Butterfly Bush
Black and Yellow Swallowtails feeding at a robust stand of Butterfly Bush
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
May 2, 2023
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly
A Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly took a turn at these white blooms, part of a wild-ish garden plot at Strawberry Chapel.
A brick wall behind the flowers made interesting patterns.
This insect was looking a bit worn, with part of one of his tails missing. It didn’t seem to affect his flight at all.
September 10, 2022
Strawberry Chapel
Cordesville, South Carolina
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Purple
A Yellow Swallowtail was diligently working a purple flower head.
I’m surprised at how few butterflies I’ve seen in my travels this spring.
This one was taking full advantage of all sides of these blooms.
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston, SC
May 17, 2022
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Azalea
A Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly checking out the Azalea blooms, first the inside.
Then the middle.
Finally the outside.
Then he was gone.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
March 14, 2022
Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly on Salvia
A large Yellow Swallowtail was working all around a planting of purple salvia.
The butterfly was working hard, in almost constant motion.
As was I as I circled the garden seeking a fully open wing image.
Middleton Plantation, Charleston, SC
September 14, 2021
The Buttonbush Flower
I’ve had a few posts recently featuring butterflies on a Buttonbush flower head. Here are a few images of just the flower cluster. And yes, it looks a bit like all those virus graphics we’ve been seeing.
The orbs visible in the background are flower heads that have dropped all the individual flowers and are drying out.
And I couldn’t resist another image with a Swallowtail butterfly working over a cluster that is past its prime.
More From the Buttonbush
The same bush but a different day than when I saw the Black Swallowtail Upside Down there were two Yellow Swallowtails vying for the same feeding spot.
Carefully working around each flower orb, they never hold still for long.
Finally, having the spot to himself this butterfly spread full winged.
Lastly, an image showing off more of the flowers than the butterfly.
August 4, 2020