• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Sign up for our Newsletter
Kalamazoo Garden Council

Kalamazoo Garden Council

Enhancing Our Environment

  • Garden Gifts & Tools
    • Pruners & Loppers
    • Gardening Tools
    • Specialty Merchandise
    • General Information-Tools
    • Shipping Information
    • My Account
    • Contact Information
  • Member Clubs
    • Burke View Garden Club (BV)
    • Chula Vista Garden Club (CV)
    • Gardenettes Garden Club (GA)
    • Grow and Show Garden Club (GS)
    • Kalamazoo Garden Club (KA)
    • Lakeshore Flower Arrangers Guild (LF)
    • Landscapers Garden Club (LA)
    • Petal Pushers Garden Club (PP)
    • Western Hills Garden Club (WH)
    • Westwood Garden Club (WW)
  • Contact Us
    • Contact the Council
    • Contact the KGC Webmaster
    • Membership Inquiry
  • Log In
  • Home
  • Membership Benefits
    • History
    • Goals and Objectives
    • Board Members
    • Committees and Liaisons
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Tribute Fund
    • Lifetime Achievement, Consultants and Flower Show Judges
    • Past Presidents
  • Join a Club!
    • How Do I Join?
  • Events & Notices
    • Council Events
    • Shows, Schools & Conventions
      • Speakers Lists
    • Greens Sale Information
  • Michigan Gardening
  • Calendar
  • Member Area
    • Website Registration
    • Membership Benefits and Responsibilities
    • Forms and How To’s
    • Newsletters
      • MGC: Thru The Garden Gate
      • The Garden Post
      • NGC: Keeping in Touch

Giant Swallowtail

February 13, 2020 by Kathy Kienle

Scientific name: Papillo cresphontes
Higher classification: Swallowtail

Scientific name: Papillo cresphontes
Higher classification: Swallowtail
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Family: Papillonidae
Order: Lepidoptera

One afternoon last summer, this large butterfly visited us just outside our kitchen window at our farm in Gobles. I cannot describe the delight of my 95 year old mother who was the first to spot it from her chair next to the window! Neither of us had seen this particular butterfly before so I immediately checked the internet. I wanted to share our excitement with all of KGC members.

The Giant swallowtail is the largest butterfly of North America with a wide distribution throughout the continent. Giant swallowtails have an average forewing span of 6 inches for males and a little larger for females. Adult butterflies sip nectar from many flowers and are spectacular visitors to butterfly gardens. Let’s hope we spot them in the KGC butterfly garden in the future.

submitted by Jeanette Meyer, President, KGC

Category: Announcements, Pollinators

About Kathy Kienle

Previous Post:licensed by Kathy Kienle from Swift Publisher LICENSE SP39043V5-D2BENW3-7A91JB6-YX9JX9S-MFSYDThree Surprising Solutions to Climate Change
Next Post:Tri-Refresher, June 5, Lansing

Kalamazoo Garden Council

5333 N. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49004
Contact US

Make a Donation

No PayPal Account needed.

Affiliations

National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Central Region – NGC
Michigan Garden Clubs, Inc.

Copyright © 2023 · Kalamazoo Garden Council · All Rights Reserved · Site by SLF Design