”Whenever you are creating beauty around you, you are restoring your own soul.”—Alice Walker
The Butterfly Dunes
A photographic journal of a Central Florida wildlife habitat created for butterflies, caterpillars, bees, hummingbirds, and other insects that inhabit this area.
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I captured a video of a female hummingbird on Hamelia patens and shrimp plants by accident. I was attempting to video the butterflies when I noticed a hummingbird entered the shot. I consider myself fortunate since capturing them in a video is rare. -
Danaus plexippus
“The caterpillar does all the work, but the butterfly gets all the publicity.” –George Carlin
The monarch butterfly is one of the most familiar of North American butterflies. This amazing creature is famous for its annual migration pattern on both the East and West sides of the North American Rocky Mountains. Migration patterns have been studied for years and received much attention due to dwindling populations due to habitat loss from deforestation and logging, as well as agricultural practices and urban sprawl across its summer breeding grounds and overwintering locations. There have been many books and internet sites that delve into much more detail of the monarch. Listed at the bottom of this post are worthy internet sites to read more about them.
Monarch caterpillars require the host plant, Asclepius, which is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweed. There are many varieties of milkweed, depending on the region.
At the butterfly dunes habitat, here in Central Florida, Monarch butterflies live here most of the year. It’s possible that some migrate North in the spring and in the fall, the habitat receives some migrants flying south. Scientists suggest that many butterflies overwinter in Florida, and this has been observed at the Butterfly Dunes.
Monarch on Tithonia, also called Mexican Sunflower. This flower re-seeds itself continually through-out the growing season.
Monarch on Firecracker plant, Russelia sarmentosa.
Monarch using nectar from tropical milkweed. Monarch larval host plants
native milkweed, Asclepius humistrta 
Tropical milkweed, Asclepius currisavica 
Tropical milkweed bloom, Asclepius currisavica 
Monarchs mating 
Monarch female ovipositing (laying eggs) on tropical milkweed 
Last stage, 5th instar Monarch caterpillar 
Monarch caterpillar forming a J and preparing to pupate into a chrysalis. This stage to butterfly takes about two weeks. 
Monarch chrysalis 
The butterfly becomes visible in its chrysalis a day or two prior to eclosing (emerging). 
Butterfly has eclosed and is still hanging onto the shell of its chrysalis. It takes a few hours of drying before flying. 
Male Monarch. The two black oval spots just above the bottom of the lower set of wings distinguish the male from the female. More Information on the Monarch Butterfly.
Monarch Watch, https://www.monarchwatch.org
Journey North, https://journeynorth.org
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://fws.gov/pollinators
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Papilio cresphontes
“We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.” ― Carl Sagan, “Cosmos”
The Giant Swallowtail is a common site in Florida gardens. They nectar on many types of flowers (Tithonia in this photo).
Their caterpillars use several plants as larval hosts, including Lime Prickly Ash and citrus.
Nectar flower is Globe Amaranth 
“Dog and Butterfly”. Giant Swallowtail raised in captivity and released. Picture with Mack taken before release. 
Nectar flower Russelia sarmentosa 
Male puddling for minerals in wet soil or manure required for mating. 
Female searching for a place to lay eggs on Lime Prickly Ash 
Caterpillar on Lime Prickly Ash 
Larval host plant citrus 
Larval host plant citrus 
Caterpillar preparing to pupate into a chrysalis 
Milkweed is the host for Monarchs, but most butterflies love the blooms! 
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The past couple years, sitings of Eastern Black Swallowtails at the Butterly Dunes has have been limited. This year, I put out several Bronze Fennel plants and finally saw a female taking interest. She laid two different batches of eggs. I noticed the lizards were devouring all the 1st instar caterpillars, so I raised and released 10 butterflies, from egg to butterfly in captivity.
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Male Pipevine Swallowtail After several years of very few Pipevine Swallowtails at the Butterfly Dunes, several started showing up this year once the rainy season started in July. Since they do not consume the tropical non-native host plant (Aristolochia trilobata) I provide, I went on a mission to find the native Aristolochia serpentaria vine near my property, since my research suggests this is a main food source. I was rewarded in my search.
This native vine, A. serpentaria, aka Virginia Snakeroot is one of its primary host plants here in Central FL. It grows in very shaded areas and so far I’ve found one deeply shaded unmowed corner on the property under cedar and trees. There are about 10 small vines (about 6-8 inshes long) in this little corner. Going to continue to search the wooded areas for more host plants. Will attempt to harvest a few vines before frost and collect seeds in October.
I found one caterpillar and dug up this plant and one more to feed him.
Pipevine caterpillar on Aristolochia serpentaria. He ate two vines before pupating. 
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Black Knight Salvia is a hardy heat tolerant plant that grows into a large bushy shrub in this garden (about five feet tall). The hummingbirds visit this constant blooming plant the entire spring & summer.
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There are a quite a few butterflies in this area that contain a lot of black coloring.
Male Pipevine has a bright metallic blue coloring pictured on red Pentas. 
Female Pipevine on the left side is a dull dark blue, almost entirely black. Male on the right. Pictured on Joe Pye Weed in North Carolina. 
Male Pipevine Swallowtails puddling for minerals prior to mating. 
Male Spicebush. Distinguished by the teal coloring on the bottom. 
Female Spicebush Swallowtail
Palamedes Swallowtail, distinguished by the yellow oval striping from the top of both wings. 
Dark morph female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. 
Both are Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. The one on the left is a dark morph variety. 
Eastern Black Swallowtails, male on top, female on bottom. Such a good shot because they just eclosed from their chrysalises on this succulent. The host plant was growing in a pot under the shelf. -
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“When passion meets inspiration, obsession is born.”—Ewan MacKenna
Two Black Swallowtail butterflies perched on a succulent in a greenhouse, showcasing the beauty of butterfly gardening. The male is top left. Female is lower. My butterfly gardening journey happened instantly, as if it was my destiny.
When the butterflies, pictured on the succulent above, appeared one morning in my greenhouse my life transformed, just like as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, and I’ve never looked back.
I had always grown a vegetable garden while living in Oklahoma. After moving to Florida and attempting to grow all the vegetables one can grow in Oklahoma’s thick rich prairie topsoil, the disappointment of failed gardening attempts happened year after year. Florida is a very different environment, with thin sandy topsoil and very little organic matter. My region in Central Florida is a semi-tropical climate, with short mild winters and an extremely hot dry period from winter to late spring. One must amend and fertilize the soil and water frequently during the dry season. I even resorted to buying composted cow manure every year. Since I refuse to use any harsh poisen on bugs, I was mainly feeding the bugs, and most every vegetable plant was devoured prior to blooming or producing vegetables.
After trying this for two or three years, I automatically began growing “Home Depot” ornamental plants and herbs. I began growing herbs in pots. At one point, I put parsley in a pot in a spot underneath a greenhouse shelf, and soon discovered several beautiful caterpillars devouring every leaf. I quickly researched them and learned they were in fact the larvae of the Eastern Black Swallowtail, though I made the common mistake of thinking they were Monarch caterpillars. The very next day, the caterpillars were gone and the parsley was eaten. I was clueless as to where they went.
A few weeks later, I went out to the greenhouse, and there were two gorgeous Black Swallowtails, which had just emerged from their chrysalises, on the succulent in the top photograph.
The Butterfly Dunes started with a reclusive gardener and her dog. 
Eastern Swallowtail Caterpillar 
Eastern Swallowtail Caterpillar 
Eastern Swallowtail Caterpillar in chrysalis 
Male Eastern Swallowtail butterfly 
Female Eastern Swallowtail butterfly 
Eastern Swallowtail Caterpillar 
Raised this female from egg to butterfly 
Eastern Swallowtail Caterpillar This experience has completely changed my perspective as a human being. I have become a passionate caretaker of the butterfly dunes, always inspired to improve it year after year.
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Zebra Swallowtail nectaring on Chaste tree. This butterfly uses the Asimina plant (Paw Paw) species for its larvae. Lots of these plants in the pasture next to us & a few on site. 
Zebra Swallowtail caterpillar on Asimina pygmaea (Paw Paw). 
Asimina pygmaea with Zebra Swallowtail eggs 
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This plant hosts several butterfly larvae (Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing) at the Butterfly Dunes. I have an entire area about 800 sq feet where I let it grow into a sanctuary.
Passiflora incarnata and its bloom 
Gulf Fritillary caterpillar on Passion Vine 
Gulf Fritillary on Passion Vine 
Zebra Lonwing using Passion Vine to lay eggs 
Part of the Passion Vine Sanctuary (no mow) As of late April 2025, no rain for a month. Turning into a hot dry spring, hence not many wildflowers to accompany the passion vibe. This area is usually covered in Gaillardia and Black Eye Susan.
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A bittersweet reality here in Florida. Highly invasive species that will steal your entire garden, BUT loved by pollinators.
I chop it down year after year after the first bloom.
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Native wildflower in Florida. They grow as volunteers at the Butterfly Dunes & bees love them.
See the Bee? In the middle. 
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August 2024 Several species are truly loving this white Pentas flower in late afternoon at the Butterfly Dunes.
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“The butterfly does not look back at its caterpillar self either fondly or wistfully; it simply flies on.” —Guillermo del Toro
Gulf Fritillary on a Cone flower 
Mating 
Eggs on host plant, Passiflora incarnata (Passion vine) 
Passion vine blooms 
Passion vine bloom 
Gulf Fritillary caterpillar 
Gulf Fritillary butterfly that has just eclosed (emerged) from its chrysalis. 
Mating 
Gulf Fritillary eating a passion vine bloom 
Males are vibrant orange. 
Gulf Fritillary Sanctuary filled with wildflowers and their host plant, passion vine. 
Gulf Fritillary caterpillars will leave the host plant to shed (caterpillars do this about 5 times as they grow. 
Gulf Fritillary on a cone flower. 
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” — Albert Einstein
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“The environment is where we all meet; where we all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share” —Lady Bird Johnson.
The summer rainy season has finally arrived. The heat stressed flowers are recovering and starting to bloom again. Just a sample of some of the current flowers.
This area is right in front of our home so I can watch butterflies, and other wildlife all day from inside the house through large glass sliding doors. 
Different angle of the front of our house. 
Pink Pentas, Orange Tithonia, and purple Black Knight Salvia behind it all. 
Right outside my front door I have lots of potted tropical butterfly milkweed. 
Orange Tithonia and Pink Pentas 
Our very sunny half acre next door where I have several butterfly colonies. This little garden is focused on shrimp plant and Cosmos. 
Gulf Fritillary sanctuary with Gaillardia wild flowers and passion vine grown for Gulf Fritillary and Zebra Longwing caterpillars. I mow circular paths around the sanctuary areas. 
Banana tree surrounded by wildflowers.
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Red Pentas -
Papilio glaucus
“’Just living isn’t enough,’ said the butterfly, ‘one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.’” — Hans Christian Anderson
Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Dahlia 
Male Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Salvia 
Female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Zinnia 
Female 
Male The Eastern Tiger Swallowtails visit the Butterfly Dunes often, though their larval host plants are not grown on the property but do exist in areas around the property. These include the wild black cherry and sweet bay Magnolia trees.
No caterpillar has been found to date. Since their host plant is usually a tree, they may be too high to find.
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“If nothing ever changed, there would be no such things as butterflies.” — Wendy Mass
Zebra Longwing Butterfly on Tithonia 
Larval host plant for their caterpillars: Passiflora incarnata or Maypop. 
Eggs and first instar (stage) caterpillar 
Zebra Longwing caterpillar on its larval host plant Passiflora incarnata, also known as Passion Vine or Maypop 
Caterpillar 
Chrysalis 
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Papilio polyxenes
“Don’t waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden, and the butterflies will come.”— Mario Quintana
Larval host plants for their caterpillars; Dill, Fennel, Rue, or plants in the carrot family. 
Female Eastern Black Swallowtail 
Brand new Eastern Black butterflies that inspired my butterfly gardening. Male on top. 
Caterpillars finishing a stalk of Fennel. 
Caterpillar on Rue 
Eastern Black Swallowtail on American Beauty Berry 
Eastern Black Caterpillar in its chrysalis on a flower pot. 
Females are distinguished by the row of blue spots 
Female raised in a butterfly enclosure. Released shortly after drying. 
The Butterfly Dunes 