Have identified 574 species in the prairie.

It has been very hot and dry. Had 8 days over 100 and more in the forecast. The creek in the back is almost completely dry, but the prairie is still green and looking good.

Butterfly numbers are increasing with more swallowtails (pipevine, black and eastern giant), Gulf fritillary and viceroys being seen. I have also seen several zebra swallowtails the last few days. Have numerous black swallowtail caterpillars on fennel. Have not seen any Gulf fritillary caterpillars yet, but did see several laying eggs.

The main plant blooming in the prairie is cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), a few ironweeds (Veronia spp.) and the mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) is still blooming but fading. We are back at the point where there is a gap in plants blooming before the fall blooms start.

Today was a lot cooler than it has been in months. High of 91. So i decided to count butterflies today.
It was a very good day to count. The most activity was on Ironweed and then the few zinnias still alive.
Added a new species Dun skipper.
20 different species and a Total counted of 74!
Zebra swallowtail 1
Black Swallowtail 2
Pipevine Swallowtail 2
Eastern Giant Swallowtail 3
Gulf Fritillary 10+
Variegated Fritillary 5+
Common Buckeye 10+
Hackberry Emperor 3
Goatweed Leafwing 1
Sleepy Orange 1
Long-tailed Skipper 4
Fiery Skipper 3
Silver-spotted Skipper 3
Dun Skipper 1
Cloudless Sulphur 3
Phaon Crescent 10+
Pearl Crescent 5+
White-lined Sphinx 1
Viceroy 3
Gray Hairstreak 3