That's a pretty butterfly. There aren't many in my yard these days. Many people don't want bugs in their yards so with all the spraying so many good ones have disappeared.

It's called a Monarch butterfly. Bees, lady bugs, spiders (some types) are beneficial in the garden and the only time I spray will be to an individual plant that's negatively being affected by an unwanted insect.

So pretty! Not a Monarch but one of the many swallowtails, perhaps a Tiger Swallowtail.

Look up Monarch butterfly images and you'll think "polka dots" when you see their patterning. Of course, the coloring is way off, too.!

One year there were a lot of these hanging around. I really enjoyed watching them hatch, then fly away.

Thanks rhizo.

Gmom, that's a beauty.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on my Monarda last month.

Peck's Skipper on a pepper plant.

Monarch Butterfly on Swamp Milkweed.

Monarch caterpillar chewing up the milkweed.

Jim, great pictures. Is the Peck's Skipper a butterfly? It almost looks like a moth with all that fuzziness.

I tried growing Purple Passion but had no luck. I think it was my soil that gave it a problem.

This one has been through a lot. So many wing issues.

A beauty, it was just sitting on the spruce tree as though posing for the picture.

A painted lady butterfly on Honeysong Aster.

Golden Sulphur on gaillardia.

Wonderful photos everyone!

Beautiful, all of them, thank you!

Beautiful photos.

Our neighbor uses Round up like water. We use nothing. I would like to give these gentle creatures assistance by planting more butterfly friendly plants. Milkweed being at the top of the list!

Butterflies landing on flowers make for great photo subjects. I visit botanical gardens when I travel and have the opportunity to photograph an occasional butterfly. Anyone else have one to share?
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rhizo is correct, the opening photo is that of a Swallowtail (likely Tiger). Great shot! Love everyone's photos.

Here's a Great Spangled Fritillary.

Wow! Great photos here.
I love Gmom74's butterfly picture.
I feel calm looking at it.(saved into my computer, haha)
Thanks everyone for sharing.

Awesome pics....

I have noticed a reduction as well.

They all look so pretty, I don't usually get much butterflies in my garden. I get about one or two sometimes but they fly off before I can get my camera.