I was still kind of stunned to be in prairie . . . in Ohio! Somehow, through good fortune and the wisdom of folks who fought to protect Lynx Prairie Preserve, this very, very unique eastern prairie has been preserved, for all to enjoy. Fortunately, most don’t visit there; they are lost to the allure of asphalt, brick, concrete, steel, neon and such. Me? I grew up with that stuff, asphalt, concrete, brick. Following Angela, Joe, Barbara Ann and Janet into a prairie? Words can’t be summoned to properly describe how happy I was to finally see my, my prairie.
I’m telling you it was lush. June 2017, and an open prairie full of wildflowers. Full too with butterflies! My beat. Butterflies.
Here, very healthy Butterflyweed is deep in that comely shade of orangish-red, and must surely be pumping sugary nectar like a micro-gusher. In came this Zebra swallowtail butterfly, joining an Oh! so fine Edward Hairstreak, all on the Lynx. They are doing weed as is appropriate.
Jeff
Winged Beauty Butterflies 
you have elevated the so common “butterfly weed” to its deserved position at the top of the list for all the winged beauties within flying distance! providing the sustenance critical for survival and with such beautiful wings lending credibility to any doubters of those sometimes disregarded native plants, who can question?? excellent!
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