Along a trail, a ways up the mountain above my cabin, Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia) rise up to greet the evening. The first evening of the new season, spring 2023.

There are 87 species of violets native to North America, or perhaps even more. Scientists are unsure of that number. Of those species, there are butterflies that depend on the plant as its larval host plant. These are Fritillary caterpillars. Fritillary butterflies are divided into two groups, the Greater and the Lesser Fritillaries. The Greater Fritillary butterflies are larger in size and depend totally on violets as their larval host. The Lesser Fritillary butterflies generally are smaller and also depend on the violets as a larval host plant though not exclusively.

Violets are welcome in my gardens. All the better for Fritillary butterflies.

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