Today I went hiking in a part of the Gothe State Forest that as new to me. Most of the 2 1/2 mile trail I hiked was similar to the trails I often hike near my home, but there was one swampy area that was filled with lily pads and pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata). Both are in bloom right now, so the swamp itself was beautiful (except for the huge numbers of biting flies), but my favorite aspect of the area was the large number of butterflies feeding on the pickerel weed flowers. The majority of the butterflies were spicebush swallowtails (Papilio troilus ilioneus), but there were also some gulf fritillaries, zebra swallowtails, and some smaller butterflies as well. I didn’t spend long there because of the flies, but I do intend to go back soon with proper skin protection.