Germain Park: August 2nd.

The flower gardens at Germain Park are attracting butterflies. There are many non-native flowers in the gardens , but luckily there is also a mix of native flowers which provide a better food source for our butterflies and other pollinators.

Red Admirals were the most abundant of the species that we found. A Butterfly Bush provided a good nectar source for the butterflies.

Silver-spotted Skippers have similar colouring to the Red Admirals but are a smaller species, with very pointed forewings.

The non-native Cabbage White butterfly on a non-native cultivar.

Black Swallowtail on Butterfly Bush

First Fiery Skipper of the year! In Ontario, it is a rare-to-uncommon breeding migrant that is gradually becoming more common as its range expands northward. Its permanent range extends from Argentina north through Central America and the West Indies to the S.E. United States. The ROM Field Guide to butterflies of ONTARIO, Peter W. Hall et. al.

Even a Ruby-throated Hummingbird found a nectar source!

We didn't go looking for Pearl, but she (or one of her offspring) found us. The squirrel is not an albino as it doesn't have red eyes. The white morph of the Eastern Grey Squirrel has a naturally occurring gene that is very rare. https://untamedscience.com/biodiversity/white-squirrel