I was delighted on Monday to see that Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is now flowering at Huntley Meadows Park, a local marshland refuge. Butterflies really seem to like all varieties of milkweed and I was thrilled to photograph several different species that were feeding on these fabulous flowers, including a Spicebush Swallowtail(Papilio troilus) in the first image; an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) in the second image; and in the final image, a Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus), a smaller skipper that I cannot identify, and a bee.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I love butterfly season! Nice captures, Mike.
Thanks, Eliza. I love butterflies and have seen a pretty good number of them already, but am still waiting to see my first Monarch of the year.
These are beautiful. We are, in California are doing all we can to plant milkweed. The monarchs need our help.
I am always happy to see milkweed, for the sake of Monarchs and lots of other creatures that depend on it too.
Fantastic photos, Mike. Nice to see the milkweed blooming and the two swallowtail photos are magnificent.
Thanks, Jet.
Nice shots, Mike! We have a few dozen milkweed plants in the yard to attract butterflies, especially the monarchs, but any one brings a cheer.. The buds are starting to swell and a few have opened. Mary Beth even allows them in her vegetable garden. 🙂
Thanks, Steve, for doing your part to help the Monarchs. It seems like they are always in danger, at both ends of their migratory journey.
Butterflies are one of my favorite things to photograph! Gorgeous shots
Thanks so much. I love butterflies too and I know they are one of my subjects that have almost universal appeal.
They are really lining up for a meal! Nice shots, all.
A living embodiment of “peaceful coexistence,” a concept that I studied during the Cold War. 🙂