Beginner Gardening: WHAT kind of plants are these?, 1 by Acemoose

Acemoose wrote:
UPDATE!!

I have a 1)revelation and a 2)question:

1) Revelation:

the Cardoon turned out to be a Milkweed-- I let it grow and it is BIIIG and beautiful.

2) Question: last week a BEAUTIFUL Caterpillar (for a Black Swallowtail, I believe) was found on the upper stalks of the milkweed and started munching away at the milkweed - it ate and ate and ate for about 4 days, and then seemed to be resting. The next day it was GONE!!!!

BBBT did not eat it -- BBBT was wearing an Elizabethan collar (to keep her from licking off the Frontline I had put on the back of her neck near her shoulder blades) and the collar effectively keeps her from jumping.

The milkweed was about 3 1/2 feet high and in a flowerpot that is about 3 feet high.

I'm on the 5th floor -- and I have a 6 1/2 foot high fence surrounding that balcony -- once in a blue moon a bird comes up there -- but I read that this Caterpillar exudes a really horrible tasting liquid which keeps it from being eaten.

I have searched high and low for the Caterpillar -- what could have happened?!!
(PS-- yes that is a chair seat behind the plant but I used a telephoto lens and it makes the chair seat look closer than it really is)



This message was edited Jul 25, 2008 2:58 PM