Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: Daily Butterflies Page 5, 1 by tgif

tgif wrote:
I suspect that some it is the lack of rain that keeps the flowers from peak quality, and the heat has contibuted to the problem as well because the pollen can't hold up in the higher temps and therefore doesn't attract the b'flies.

Most of the b'fly action I see here is around the wild flowers that are acclimated to the dry, hot summer here. My planted flower gardens don't do as well, even though I do water them.

I have decided to pretty much leave the flower gardens to fend for themselves. I'll be gathering and spreading seeds from any and all wildflowers in the hopes of keeping things going in the area. After all, the wild flowers got here first, learned to survive, and are always there to feed the b'flies. Who am I to argue with success?! (Besides, I can't afford the water bill for the bought ones!!!)

If the butterflyweed does pod this year I'll try to get you some seed, but I can't make much of a promise there. I have a *real* hard time finding native seed. I have planted 'purchased seeds' before and had limited success with blooms and almost no seed pods, but the wild ones seem to have the best blooms, even though they don't make much seed.

Plenty of Queen Anne seeds, too! Also Blackeyed Susan and a couple of other types of coneheads.

ginni
edited to add - I haven't IDed the cute little critter yet. If anyone knows - chime in!

This message was edited Jun 12, 2007 2:52 PM