Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Melanie's Spring Butterfly Thread, 0 by mellielong

mellielong wrote:
Hi everyone! In case you're wondering where I've been...

Well, after I had my gall bladder out in January I was feeling a lot better. I learned to give myself B12 shots so my energy levels were back up and so that was going fine, too. Then, about a month ago I got a sore throat and went to the doctor thinking it was strep (some ladies in the office and their kids had strep the week before). I got some antibiotics, but a few days later I woke up and the left side of my face was droopy. Apparently, I picked up a virus that caused Bell's Palsy (facial weakness or paralysis on one side). That in turn, triggered some massive anxiety on my part so I've been visiting my doc, a neurologist, and my psychiatrist!

Plus, I've been off work since driving is a little tough when you can't quite blink one of your eyes. I haven't worn my contacts in over a month which is weird; thank goodness I have a decent pair of glasses. Mostly, I've been curled in bed getting lots of rest and reading lots and lots of romance novels. But I've still made time for the butterflies!

So let me recap the last month or so for you...

Here's a Buckeye on my Spanish Needles. I finally gave up trying to pull them and I'm letting them grow in front of the house. Once they go to seed I'll yank them but for now they bring in the butterflies like you wouldn't believe. They are also a host plant for the Dainty Sulphur but I haven't seen any of them yet. I generally have about six duskywings flying around them at any given time. This is also the first time I recall seeing a Buckeye in my yard; I usually only see them on hikes.

Melanie