
Tiger Swallowtail on Orange Hawkweed

Tiger Swallowtail on Orange Hawkweed
2017
Tiger Swallowtails can be found most of the way across the country, and though I see them along the Lake Wobegon Bike Trail, never have I seen them so big as in Colorado while on vacation. When one got trapped in the screened-in porch, I was amazed to see it was easily as big as the palm of my hand.
Having lived in Duluth, I realize that hawkweed is a lawn weed as bad if not worse than the dandelions they resemble, but how can one resist such a bright and fiery orange? Even if they do grow five times as fast as the grass between cuttings, they make lawns so pretty on sunny days when the blossoms open.
Photos by Rachael Koppendrayer, July 29, 2017