Well, we've done it! We have attracted Blue Jays and butterflies to our yard! It's fun to watch the butterflies flit here and there. Right now I am watching what looks like a yellow monarch (Google says it's a swallowtail) and a completely black butterfly (perhaps the black swallowtail?) on the bush out front. I'd like to think they are playing, but they are probably chasing each other away from the food source. And there seems to be a whole flock of Blue Jays. Do they travel in flocks? Hmm.....back to Google. OK, apparently they do. Well, I guess a whole flock has claimed our yard as their home this summer. However, I have discovered some downsides to having these creatures in my yard. No one ever tells you about the downsides!
First, the same plants that attract butterflies, also attract bees. Not just bees but BEES! BIG BEES! Lots and lots of BIG BEES!
Second, Blue Jays are mean! The screech at us when we walk through our yard and they scare away the other birds. We used to see chickadees, titmouse's, finches, sparrows, nuthatches, etc all at our suet feeders. But since the Blue Jays have moved in, the only other birds we've seen are downy woodpeckers.
