I found it! This is one of my favorite shots!

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:251997}}

Those are nice shots, especially the swallowtail!

Thank you, mxk3! I'd love to get a picture of the finch in action, but they scare off so easily. I'll have to be very, very sneaky...

Goldfinch also love verbena bonariensis (tall verbena). The GFs flock to my garden. I just love them! They are here all year long. I don't deadhead my coneflowers that are planted in the butterfly garden so that they are finch food.

Cameron

Great shot of Yellow Swallowtail on coneflower!

I had 3 little unplanted pack pots of fennel on the patio. Last week while I was working out there I thought I saw bugs on fennel and was about to swat and/or squish them but thought I'd better chech with magnifying glass to make sure.

Turns out they were Black Swallowtail caterpillars in first instar.

I've got 4 of them in mesh enclosure chowing down fennel and are all at different levels of 5th instar already. Saw one shed it's last instar skin today. He/she was shaking the tail as if trying to get out of a pair of tight jeans...LOL. Now just have to keep an eye on them so they don't wander too far in enclosure before deciding where they want to pupate.

Interesting fact I found on Butterfly Forum. I asked what nectar plants I should get since most of mine have been eaten and won't bloom anytime soon. Was told when you release a butterfly it probably won't nectar in your garden but fly off and go somewhere else! How's that for manners...LOL.

I have one Echinacea 'Kim's Knee High' that's in bloom out front that these guys might like if they make it through pupation. Was reminded of it when I saw your echinacea which is beautiful.

Thanks for sharing pics!

Gold finches love my lanceleaf coreopsis. I think they find the little cups full of seeds quite nice :). This year they've started tearing them open before they're fully ripe. They also like the black-eyed susans. My blue bee balm also just started blooming, which is attracting butterflies and bees, both bumble and honey. They're also very happy with the zinnias and snapdragons.

Great photos!
Cameron - Glad to hear Goldfinches like Verbena bonariensis. It doesn't look strong enough to support a bird. I was planning to deadhead mine but now I don't want to. It sure multiplied from last year though. I wonder how many seedlings I'll have if I leave it alone. lol

Christie -- the finches will bend the stems, but that's okay. When my VB emerges in spring, I go ahead and cut it back so that I get bushier plants. My seedlings that emerge all along are still tall and skinny, but my mother plants are bushy.

wonbyherwits,

This is my first year growing Verbena bonariensis and I would like to know if I am supposed to deadhead it and will it keep blooming all summer?

Betty

I love the EST and the Echinacea in your photos is particularly pretty! It sure is a great plant for attracting wildlife. And has such nice blooms.

Here a recent visitor on my Purple Coneflower - this Bumblebee liked the pollen around the edge of the flower -

{{gwi:251998}}

I leave the seedheads up for the Goldfinches too, but I cut some stalks when the seeds are ripe, and save them for the winter. Then I tape a bunch up on the pole of one of the bird feeders, and the Goldfinches nibble on them over the winter!

Snow didn't stop this guy from picking a few seeds -

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Ooooh, I love your "Finch in the Snow", Terrene! That shot should be framed! I love how the snow is mounded up on the cones.