Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening: DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 20, 1 by mellielong

mellielong wrote:
Here's a pic of my big guy that won't stop eating and become a butterfly. As for the conversation...a few months ago some kind of native eupatorium was blooming and while I was hiking I saw many different species of butterfly on it. I found my second hornworm today after never seeing one before (I don't use much pesticide - mostly because I'm lazy). After one nearly ate my datura into oblivion, I was surprised to find one today eating my beautyberry.

When I bought my pipevine last month I got free (Polydamus ST) caterpillars with it, and the people let me take a few off of their pipevine. So go ahead and ask! The lady was also fretting over the dill and parsley that had eggs all over it; "they were fine yesterday", she exclaimed! I have to say I like going to nurseries where I see cats and butterflies because I know they don't use a lot of pesticides. Go to some of the "big box" nurseries and it's sort of weird how you won't see any cats - even on plants that should be covered in them. I understand they're trying to sell plants, but I think there are better ways than killing all the bugs (especially the beneficial ones).

There's my two cents...I hope everyone enters their best pictures into the photo contest (but don't be sad when I win, LOL)!

Melanie