On Monday I spotted this small patch of Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) at Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. True to its name, the Butterfly Weed had attracted several butterflies, which I think are Pearl Crescent butterflies (Phyciodes tharos), as well as several metallic green sweat bees (genus Agapostemon). The insects seemed to love the plant’s nectar and the scene provided a visual feast for viewers like me.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Thank you for capturing this! Our butterfly weed came up this year, but then died. Sad! Visual feast indeed 😉
Great composition, Mike.
Wow! What a terrific splash of color! Very nice.
Well there is a symbiotic relationship if I ever saw one, if for no other reason than to feast our eyes.
All sharing the banquet.. how beautiful!
Benjamin and I love this colorful photo! When I read the post to him, we agreed that this plant is much too beautiful to be called a weed. It reminded us of something that we read in one of Benjamin’s books from Winnie the Pooh : “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.” Benjamin has often said that about his beloved Dandelions! After I enlarged the photo for his closer inspection, I had to laugh at his observation : “The bees and butterflies are sharing a picnic on the plant’s pretty orange flower!” I think that I must plant one of these in my garden. Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
I love the Winnie the Pooh quote, which I am told comes from the Disney version of the story. I have seen a similar quote that says that weeds are unloved flowers.
Nice to see so many enjoy a pollen feast together. I am not an expert but I think your id is correct, Mike.
Thanks, Steve. There is another species, the Silvery Checkerspot that is pretty similar, so I never know for sure.
Stunning. Love orange as a colour so this is a feast!
A feast for you and for the butterflies too, Chris.
Colour coordinated flower choice🙂
I love the little wasp that’s trying to sneak in there with them.