Botanical Glossary - Home

The Western Tiger Swallowtail one of our largest butterflies in this region. These butterflies like to move a lot, so they are a challenge to photograph while they sit still. (Western Tiger Swallowtail) one of our largest butterflies in this region. Above and below, this butterfly has lemmon-yellow with black tiger stripes across the wings. The margins are black with small yellow dashes. It also has one or two orange-red spots and several blue spots in a black tail on the hind wing. They can be found in moisture areas such as seepage sites, creeks, canyons, water sides, trails, roadsides, parks and gardens throughout British Columbia to Baja California and east through the Rockies to the Black Hills of South Dakota, the high Plains of Colorado and New Mexico.

Buddleia Davidii (Butterfly Bush, summer Lilac) with pretty violet blossoms is a favorite amongst flying insects for high concentrations of nectar. The fragrance from the Buddleia is almost overpowering to people, but I can imagine what it must do for a butterfly.

The Maplewood Flats Wildlife Sanctuary is an important wildlife conservation area in North Vancouver. On most days there are sightings of at least 15 different species of birds and at least one or two mammals. Maplewood Flats Is at the eastern edge of the industrial area on the North Shore of Burrard Inlet about half way between Second Narrows Bridge and Cates Park - take the Dollarton Highway exit on the north side of Second Narrows Bridge and follow about 1 km east of Seymour River.