The butterflies have arrived.

The Passion Vines I planted last Spring have done amazingly well. The white passion vine completely covers my home office window, and is climbing around the cactus wood I have placed on either side of the window, in an effort to give it somewhere to go.

The Lavender Lady Passion Vine is in the same area, but it is planted near the bird feeder and the vines are climbing around and up it.

Last year when I bought these vines, I had a constant battle with the Gulf Fritillary butterflies, and their hungry little caterpillars that wanted to devour my vine. The vines were small and I mostly just squished them in an effort to keep some of the vine for myself. I knew I was in trouble this year, as the vines are out of control, and there is no way I could squish all the little caterpillars, even if I could reach all parts of the vine. So yesterday as I was out in the garden admiring the opening passion flowers what would come along but the first Gulf Frit of the year, happily laying egg after egg on the leaves.

So far my research into what might discourage all these butterflies has come up empty. Most people want butterflies, and I do too, in a way- I just don't want my vine stripped.