Did you have a favorite Crayola crayon color as a kid? Mine was burnt orange, a vibrant eye-grabbing hue. My husband's choice? "I liked them all - they all pretty much tasted the same." Anyway, I was pulling a few weeds from around the plumbago bushes yesterday and a butterfly landed on the lantana in back. It was gorgeous and burnt orange in color. There wasn't enough time for me to grab my camera, but I was able to identify it as a Gulf Fritillary.

I love butterflies and enjoy watching them glide on air to each flower as they gather their nectar. I've read various articles about folks who are tired of the larvae eating their plants and flowers. They have even asked for advice on how to rid themselves of these marvelous creatures because their precious flowers are being fed upon. Well, every living being has to eat something and if they eat a flower or several who cares? The beauty is in the emergence of these wonderous insects and the regrowth of the host plants. There are many, many websites out there offering information and pictures of butterflies in every area. The Butterfly Site provides lots of great info on gardening, biology, and places in your state to learn more. Wikipedia is also a good butterfly information source. Enjoy the butterfly and your crayons. Happy Florida Gardening and special thanks to Jonathan Zander for this gorgeous photo.