OC: The California pipevine swallowtail is considered by many experts to be one of the most magnificent butterflies in North America, but the massive development around San Francisco has caused it to slowly disappear. However, one man’s DIY conservation efforts are bringing this beautiful creature back. MORE
15 Comments on Man Repopulates Rare Butterfly Species in His Own Backyard
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Beautiful blue color-almost black cobalt blue.
He will be arrested and the butterflies destroyed because he didn’t obtain the necessary pile of permits and permissions, and dared to act on his own without government consent.
I call bullshit! How in Gaias name can someone in California do this? No one was inconvenienced. Property rights were not restricted. Nearby developments were not halted. It ain’t natural I tells ya. It just ain’t natural.
You’re right, grayjohn and cfm! The state was not involved and no one’s taxes were raised! Blasphemy!
What is his opinion on wind farms?
What do they taste like?
His property will be declared rare butterfly habitat and confiscated shortly!
Beautiful pictures!
And a great reminder about using native plants in our home gardens to support native birds and butterflies. I’ve always wondered why I never see a Monarch butterfly in Seattle, when they were as common as Robins where I grew up just 60 miles south. Now I have to find out why. (Come to think of it, I never see a garter snake, either.)
I grew up in Olympia. Are you saying you are from there A A ? Yelm ?
Shelton ? It was lovely in the 50’s and 60’s, but began the cultural tanking while I still lived there.
AA I grew up in Olympia…garter snakes galore, butterflies, quail, every kind of bird really, and those funny black salamander things in the wood pile.
Yeah. I miss it, but it’s not the same place anymore.
I love that this guy made a place for the butterflies to propagate with the re-grown plant they desire.
No mention of a grant. (?) I may have scanned the article too quickly.
Sorry. Meant for only one post to post. I’m not sleeping enough.
If you ever get to Aruba, go visit the butterfly farm. Plant plants around your home that attracts butterflies. What this guy is doing is very cool.
AA – Milkweed is the preferred plant of Monarchs. My brother in Florida has milkweed all over his backyard and the Monarchs love it. Try planting some and maybe you can get them to reproduce in your yard.
I meant to do it this year, but it slipped my mind. I’m learning how to grow vegetables in pots (corn, potatos, peas) as the soil in the area is mostly clay and not good for typical gardens. So I was so concentrated on those I forgot the milkweed.
Does he have a pit in his basement with things he call it?
Mother of Three — Yes, I did grow up in Olympia and environs. My grandparents ranched and farmed outside of Tenino, near Offut Lake on the Deschutes river. Idyllic childhood. My folks had 5 acres between Olympia and Littlerock. My mother still lives there, on the Black river.
We grew up with ALL kinds of critters! I once ‘farmed’ earth worms for the fishermen who came to fish the river(s). My first enterprise, a bait “shop.” Left the netting off them once and the chickens had a hay day! LOL.
RightWinger — Uh, I don’t know…milkweed, huh? I live in the city now and do have an unusable slope (full sun, western exposure) that would support milkweed, for sure. But I also spend a lot of gardening time eradicating all the neighbor’s invasive weed crop that comes floating in. This year, blackberries! Again!