Hi all, On Saturday June 16th Ben, Debi, Mary, Becky and Mary showed up to see what butterflies we could find at Stowe Botanical Gardens near Gastonia/Belmont NC.(Gaston County) The weather was cloudy and warm when we began and by 4 PM when Ben, Debi and I left, hot and sunny. Actually a beautiful day and everybody had fun just exploring the site and viewing all the colors and textures of this outstanding garden. In spite of our drought the gardens were lush because of the soaker hose irrigation system installed. Still some damage showing from the Easter freeze Unfortuately there was not much leps activity or quantity of species but we were able to complile a short list.
Delaware Skipper 2
Fiery Skipper male and females 8-10
American Lady 2
Eastern Tailed Blue 1
Silver spotted Skipper. 2
Crossline Skipper 1
Buckeye 2
Cabbage White 2
Carolina Satyr 1 (on woodland trail)
Azure 1
Tiger Swallowtail 1
Horace's Duskywing 2
Clouded Sulphur 1 (no orange ground on FW and upper wing black edges are narrower)
Gray Hairstreak 1
Red Spotted Purple 1 (?) seen flying fast so it may have been another swallowtail.
Common Whitetail Dragonfly male and female
I) 3 ft plus (not a moccasin) shiny black snake (king snake?) with black and white undersides that was at the back side of the main garden walk, hopefully staying clear of visitors so it will not be prematurely dispatched.
Thanks
Jules Fraytet
Charlotte
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