How 'bout some JT and "goin' to Carolina" while you're at it?
A stranger came to visit
^_^
OK, OK I need to go to the music store
How about "Mommas Don't let Your Butterflies Grow up to be Cowboys" for Texas?
LOL, how is Flyboy doing? Haven't 'heard' from him for over a week!
Well, let me tell you how it goes down here.
Remember the old song, "Empty saddles in the old corral"? Here it's "Cats are wanted, bring them on." Nothing, nada. I swear I would adopt any old cat -- moths, et cetera.
Summer did come in like a lion -- but, that's it.
I have even planted new passiflora -- nothing, nada.
Maybe -- maybe.
Be well
(o_O)
I saw a dark form butterfly outdoor today FlyboyFl. But it was too quick, I couldn't tell what it was. I've got over a dozen Black Swallotail chrysalides, but no butterflies. They're wanted here too. Glad to hear from you.
I had a worn tattered looking Queen around the milkweed the other day. I was headed somewhere so didn't take time to watch. Yesterday I noticed some action on the plants and collected a dozen 1st and 2nd instars!!! First cats in a very long time!!
Plus even more exciting we woke up at 5:30 this morning to the sound of a light rain!!! It is the first rain in almost two months. We went out and stood in it, then I got coffee and walked around the garden just soaking it in with the plants. We finally broke our 100 plus streak the other day after 41 straight days, but it bounced right back with 100 again yesterday. So this cooler rainy morning is such a relief!!
Oh,, my Sheila, glad you finally got some rain. Have been watching the weather in Texas. Dry and Hottttt. Like here.
Not very good for the butterflies... I have seen very few this year. Even the Gulf Frits. Saw one today and she was laying on the passion vine. Lots of that to feed the cats.
Lily, I think I'll come throw a line off your dock.
That picture of you dock and lake looks beautiful.....you should see some of the lakes and creeks here....sad. Do you dip water from the lake to water the plants or do you have a pump down there?....just curious.
Good question Sheila--I was wondering that also; w/ all your pots Lily you guys would be a perfect candidate for an automated system w/ mini-sprayers
Yes, we needed extra help. So with that in mind. DH installed a deep well-pump. 1 horse power, which send out 20 gallons/min. 125 psi (I have no idea what that's). And the pump sits right below that floating pier pictured above. The irrigation pvcs lays underground cover the radius of our garden, which devided into 4 zones. This summer, as we installed a fenced in yard for our beloved furbabies. DH dug up an additional couple hundred feets and install two more irrigation zones covering the fenced in area-- just in case I want to extend our garden in the future. For now, DH planned on put in grass to prevention erosion. Work in progress ... it's a summer long project.
DH has it under control sounds like!!
Ok - call me silly.....but what is this?
Is it a swallowtail?
Welcome seaotter....Yes indeed it is a Tiger Swallowtail (female noted by the blue). You are not silly just observant!!
It is more than likely a Eastern TST. http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/4/
This message was edited Aug 19, 2011 2:39 PM
Wow!
Imagine omnipotent mankind trying to manufacture one of them.
Be well -- and send one down here.
(o_O)
Lily_love!
The picture of your dock is stunning! What a beautiful place to live!
Thank you seaotter.
Have had a black spotted purple this week as well as BST laying eggs on my parsley.
Some skippers, cabbage whites, sulfurs, but not much else.
A.
Sounds like a lot more action than we have had here!!! Yay!!!
Finally caught sight of a monarch today leaving the garden - man it was HUGE! I had just come out from inside so I don't know if it laid eggs or not. Guess I'll find out!
My A. incarnata looks terrible in the yard - all leggy and yellow/spotty from the heat/drought. I've been watering hoping they don't go too far. I pruned some stalks back a week or so ago. Don't know if that would encourage new growth or not.
I have managed to keep one in the driveway pretty healthy looking. That's the one I usually find cats on first.
Keep you posted.
A.
Hope you are having wee ones hatch soon.
Ahhh! Saw another today flying south thru the yard next door!
A.
So, now hear this.
My dear wife advised me this morning that yesterday she had seen some striped caterpillars eating my parsley in its Earth Box. "A lot of them," she reported.
I dashed out to check (about as fast as I could manage with my tired old knees), The parsley was eaten down to its roots -- and one lonely cat was still there. I guess the lizards found them yesterday, too.
Well, I rescued it and dug out my screened habitat and gave the cat a new home. I should have paid more attention to my parsley after I had earlier seen a swallowtail, obviously trying to advise me of the coming blessed event.
Now I have to buy more parsley and refurbish the landing zone.
Don't touch that dial!
Be well
(o_O)
Nice to see this thread revived! Good luck with your cat's flyboy.
Me too, I am glad to see new posting. Looking forward for more news on this season of butterflies gardening.
Old thread....going to current.
This message was edited Jun 20, 2014 8:57 PM
Post a link Shelia, please?
Nothing daunted.
Early this morning I headed out to Whole Foods to replenish my now-leafless supply of parsley. Nothing growing there, but they did have Italian parsley (organically grown - of course). I grabbed it Back home I took our a few stems, wrapped the ends in wet paper toweling and dropped them into the cage. But -- to my dismay, no cat! It took me five minutes of soul-searching examination until I found it hugging the ceiling of the cage. It obviously did not like the passiflora leaves I had left when I first put it in. So, I coaxed it down and dropped it into the leaves. Hope it finds it to his liking.
I am taking another clump of the leaves -- in a cup of water -- back into the now-denuded Earth Box, I also scattered some new seed -- hoping.
Onward -- and upward.
15 minutes later
Eureka!!! Mikey likes it. It is eating its way up a leaf.
Be well
(o_O)
The work begins.
Here is the imitation parsley plant (glass and all) ready to be planted in the Earth Box.
Also, the cage. Mikey is shown in the lower right corner -- munching away.
Be well
(o_O)
This thread made my day. I would dearly love more butterfly visitors particularly the swallowtail s. I did see a lovely painted lady and a tiny skipper but the only caterpillar seen was a white fuzzy small guy that I suspect was a moth. Flyboy you rock as do all the other butterfly moms - you inspire me!
I guess I can start eating the parsley myself.
It has already started its next phase.
I am starting the timer. How many days should I set it for?
Be well
(o_O)
Sorry didn't come over until today. Here is a link to a more up to date thread. However it is soooo long, 225 posts, so watch for a new link to be started soon.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1357794/
HA! I've been so busy with work on the Texas southern border I haven't made time to keep with Dave's. Came across this post and y'all had me glued to my chair! LOL!!!
~ Cat
Keep up the work on the border. Hope that little puppy has sharp teeth.
Be well
(o_O)
FlyboyFL, how did your 'timer' turn out? Did the little one eclose? It's so nice to see you posting again.
I must confess -- I lucked out. It is still sitting in its slings, attached to the branch.
Well, maybe the lizards would have gotten to it with the rest of its brood.
The swallowtails are still hanging around -- and I planted more parsley -- but no luck yet.
Hope springs eternal!
Be well
(o_O)
Eternal Springs; where we may enjoy nature bounty everyday. (0_o). Currently I have a total of 7 first instars Black Swallowtails, one 2nd instar, on Parsley and Bronze fennel. I plucked those branches with the caterpillars on them and brought them inside. It's unusual that I don't see any lizard in the garden this year. But, I do have plenty of spiders and wasps that may take my butterfly's offspring for a protein-meal as well. *sigh.
I tried to capture some photos of the cats. but they're too small to be photogenic -- lol. So here is another -- a bee dancing on the Lotus flower. Enjoy.
You are doing great.
Good luck.
Be well
(o_O)
Hi everyone, as of today, I've nearly a dozen BST cats that I kept indoor. The largest one maybe a 3rd instar(?), the rest; 1st and 2nd instars. So far so good, they feed on both Parsley and fennels and appear to be thriving.
Definitely lucky -- for you -- and them.
Be well
(O_O)