Butterflies are back!

Hooray, it's Spring!

The front yard is bright with native plants in shades of purple, lavender and orange.

Shortly after the blooming starts, the butterflies arrive.

Above is a photo of a Painted Lady on a cluster of blossoms on the Verbena de la Mina shrub.

It appears to be a West Coast Lady Vanessa annabella. Note its curved proboscis as it sips nectar from a blossom.

Here a Monarch butterfly sips nectar from the same Verbena de la Mina shrub.

The Verbena de la Mina is such a hardy California native shrub that blooms all year round.

It's one of my favorites because it provides for so many butterflies and bees.

A Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae resting on leaves of a naked buckwheat plant, as it enjoys the warmth of the sun.