Butterfly Spike Alert
 

This Fritillary Butterfly was in my shade house and perched on my V. Sansai Blue when I captured these photos. I've had this plant since Christmas and have been focusing my care on it's poor root system. Look what I discovered when the butterfly flew away. Her wings had been concealing a spike that I never knew existed. :biggrin:

Beautiful butterfly! and YAY for spike! Maybe the butterfly was trying to get your attention so you would notice the spike ;)

I wonder how much longer it would have taken you to notice that huge spike if you hadn't had some help from the butterfly! ;)

In case you're interested, the butterfly is called a gulf fritillary butterfly, Agraulis vanillae. The caterpillars (orange with black spines) feed only on passion flower vines.

awesome!

Yes, it was as if she were flapping her wings to get my attention...a lovely beckoning gesture. It was a special moment. :cloud9:

You know it's funny 'cause I usually notice the earliest onset of a spike (with the exception of oncidiums). I've been so concerned with nurturing the unhealthy root system on this plant that I didn't even think about spikes. This time it took the flapping wings of a butterfly to get my attention.

BTW the Vanda roots are making great headway.

I see Gulf Fritillaries and caterpillars all the time. There's a Passiflora Inscense growing on the other side of my yard.:)