Almost everytime I go out to stare at my butterfly garden, I find large butterflies, either frits or tiger swallowtails on my swamp milkweed. If only there weren't cicadas out there too...
Gulf Frit on Swamp Milkweed
That's beautiful. I wonder if swamp milkweed grows in zone 10. I have giant milkweed and scarlet milkweed, which love it here.
You're so lucky you get to grow all those exotic milkweeds there. I think I read soemwhere that swamp milkweed grows in FL, but check if it'll be invasive before you plant.
Pretty! I have milkweed, but it isn't blooming yet here in Michigan and so far most of my visiting insects have been house flies. I did see the first dragonfly of the season near the pond this week! Last year they laid eggs and hatched out in the top pool where the fish can't get them. I hope they do it again this year.
I have planted many nectar and host plants and have not seen any butterflies. Have lots of dragon flies and a hummer that visits regularly. This time last year there were lots of swallowtails and caterpillars on the host plants. Wondering why I haven't seen them this spring. Anyone else have that problem.
I'm getting into planting the agastaches, penstemons for hummers and have acquired several varieties of butterfly weed for butterflies. I love your picture, it's beautiful
kathy
Thanks! The negative side to hummers is, (at least it's the case here) they ignore all the hummer plants I bought and grew and just go straight for the artificial feeders.
The butterfies on the other hand really appreciate the hard work you put into a b-fly garden and you'll be rewarded many times over. They especially love mass plantings of flowers. I found the most attractive nectar plants to them are milkweeds, butterfly bush, honeysuckle for the big ones and coneflowers, herbs and annuals for the smaller ones. Don't forget host plants!
I've got a pair of hummers who own my yard, I never put up feeders, they get too dependent on me and then I go off somewhere for a week. and then what??? don't have pets for the same reason.
Still the hummers return year after year build their nest in my wires, feed on my flowers, drink in my sprinklers, and buzz me to see if I'm a flower too.