Been doing some reading, and it seems that these 2 flowers are among the best for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. I'm just starting out and don't have a whole lot to trade, but I do have loquat babies, spiderwort out the wazoo, and some seeds.
Wanted: Monarda or Salvia (any)
Oh Chrissy, I wish Id known you wanted that, I have a bunch of Jacob Cline manarda I wouldve thrown in that box for you. If you would like some I can do postage again, I can throw some shasta daisy in there for you too. Let me know .
Edited to add, Im trying to think of what else I might have that I could get to.
This message was edited Mar 21, 2005 10:51 PM
Chrissy,
Have you considered Asclepias or Buddleia. Butterfly weed and butterfly bush.
I believe the Butterfly weed is a big attractor of the Monarch Butterfly. These plants are very easy to grow and I'm only suggesting them because you are here in Florida with me. They both come in a variety of colors too.
Just a thought for you.
Molly
:^)))
LOL Molly, I suggested the buddleia too, plum forgot about the butterfly weed and I even have some. Unfortunatly not enough to share yet.
Well, I have a butterfly bush (buddleia) growing, right now it's about an inch tall LOL. I received some white asclepias seed in a trade, and it's in my seed-starting dome, but no sprouts yet. Thanks for the information! I just discovered that my local library has a book just on butterfly gardening in Florida, so I'll be heading over to check it out after work.
If you want Monarda, I can share soon. I know for sure I have lavender and hot pink. I have to pot some up for our first local round up and would be glad to get you some too. :O)
If obedient plant attracts butterflies, I have plenty of that to share. Anyone know?
Let me know if you still need any. I think if I hurry, I might even get some that are still dormant to send to you. I have Magnus and some red variety that grows all over the place. I started with just 5 plants. BTW, this is one of the easiest plants to start from seed. I just wait until after frost (lucky you - it's already frost free for you - expecting 5 inches of snow thank you!). I just put the seeds out in my regular garden soil (my soil is very friable though) and put four sticks with yarn to mark the spot. Water it once in awhile and up they came - all sweet and in a row.
Also, let me know what variety of butterfly you are trying to attract. I have tons of milkweed seeds, my monarchs lay eggs on it all the time. Curly parsley planted exclusively for the swallowtail (feed the caterpillar - keep the butterflies :). I also have cosmos, trumpet vine and coreopsis for nectar. The milkweed plant self seeds readily but the plant is easily identified and easily plucked out of the garden. I like the round ball shape. I also have this icky recipe (hamburger, dry urine, filtered water and sugar) that they LOVE (http://sage.sedition.com/howto/butterflies.html). I use sugar-water mix (a 4:1 ratio of water to sugar) and they ALL congregate at my manure pile after a rain - I guess they get salts and minerals from the manure. I know - something that pretty loves to eat poop!!!! lol.
I have hesitated to chop down my black walnut tree despite the mess and the toxicity to all plants around it since my favorite, the Lunar Moth loves the tree. I even sigh and leave the leaves be in case there might be just one little larvae is making it's home in a leaf :) My extension service was the resource for most of my butterfly information local to my area.
The most important thing I have to remember is to leave plants be in the fall and never spray pesticides so next years crop of butterflies are well protected. I love to see when Monarchs are migrating back in my area: http://www.monarchwatch.org/
(Sorry so long!)
Mindy