Interesting that you mention all those butterflies. I saw more different varieties of butterflies around my yard last year than I’ve ever seen. As a little girl I ran around with a butterfly net all spring and summer so it’s not like I just now started looking. I was kinda wondering if my lemon tree attracted them and since they’re attracted to your almond verbena maybe its that scent thing too? I took several photos of new butterflies last year but most aren’t even clear enough to see. Maybe Texas is now The Butterfly Capital :)
I was just reading the TX butterfly site where they recommend using plastic dish scrubbers in bowls of gatorade to feed them along their migration journey. Would bring hornets and bees too, though.