I was taking the butterfly's picture and didn't notice the cat at the time. I wish I could have gotten a closeup of the cat. Maybe today.
Butterfly, cat, and milkweed.
I want butterflies & cats. in December, I miss them :o( Take another picture for me please, please lol
OK. I took these this morning. I think a Queen and a Monarch cat.
I am not sure though.
The cat.
Another of the cat.
Just landing.
That butterfly is so beautiful, I don't think I've even seen one of those around here, went to look it up in my book, must have left it in my garage.
Thanks for the pictures, a little bit of heaven in the winter is always nice ;o)
You are welcome. We also have a lot of Sulphurs, but they are very difficult to approach. Also the skippers. Very shy, but fun to watch.
I'm so jealous too. I had lots of cats last year, but only a few this year. I had so much milkweed for them all too. Last year I was spoiled and had about 50 Monarchs at Christmas time. This year, zilch. :(
Here's a pic of my last bunch of Queen's visiting in Nov.
There's no explaning their taste. One year this, next year that. I still have some.
konkreteblond-- is that wild ageratum that they are resting on? Lovely picture. You really had good luck with them last year!! t.
That is West Texas Mist Flower, Eupatorium greggii. It is confusing because it looks like a larger version of the ageratum. It was THE favorite last year for all my butterflies. Looks like I'll have plenty more of it too because I see it's runners spreading. :)
Some of these are still blooming, and we have hundreds of butterflies. Not very many Mist flowers.
Thanks Paige and Trois! Gotta get some of that mist flower!!
John
Hey John! So glad to have you back! I'll try to find some runners with roots (when they get bigger) to share.
I will see if I can find some seeds.
Thanks to both of you! I will be sowing Asclepias tuberosa, Eupatorium greggii and other Asclepias seeds in the coming weeks. More than willing to share with ya'll.
konkreteblond--
I googled the eupatorium 'greggi' which you know asTexas Mist Flower, and found out it is also known as Texas Ageratum or Wild Ageratum--so we are thinking of the same flower. Plant Delights Nursery seems to be wild about it and sells it to we Easterners for $11. per plant. I am going to try to grow it from seed and try for a Monarch display like yours!
I have started purple asclepias, yellow asclepias seeds, also tassel flower, and other eupatorium for the butterfly garden this year. Along with bee balms, mints, sages, etc., etc., so I'm hoping for a bumper crop of butterflies (and some good photos).
I told you it was confusing! My local group of gardening friends have had long discussions about this plant and I still forget! lol
I don't know about growing this from seed but if it's easy, then I should have them all over the yard! Don't pay $11 for a plant because I can pull up a runner to start with and it spreads really quick. I started with one little piece of it and it's trying to take over, which is ok when it's a likeable plant!
I'll start watching for them and transplant them to make sure they survive, then I can share.
Hello!
Are those Monarch butterflies? You called them "Queens"???
It is my understanding that there are three types of Butterflys in the Monarch family. The Monarch, the Queen, and the Soldier. The markings are different on each, but they are similar. I have Monarchs and Queens at this time.
trois
thanks for the thoughtful gesture, konkreteblonde. It would be nice to have a little bit when it's available. If I have something to share with you I would love to. Thanks. t.
I've got two of those Eupatoriums greggis that I planted mainly for the Queens, because they just love the blooms. The Queens usually show up in June here and I start seeing the caterpillars soon after that. This winter being a bit weird with temps often in 70's or 80's, however, I saw one Queen last month. The Monarchs I see less often, but now that I have plenty of milkweed, there's more coming by in late summer/fall to lay eggs. Those little caterpillars can devour all the leaves off the milkweed plants in no time at all! Had to run into town to buy more milkweed last fall! It's not so easy to find milkweeds that haven't been sprayed with insecticides and Bt, but I did find some.
I have several milkweed plants and the only thing that I have seen on them is "milkweed bugs". I had lots of gulf frits laying eggs on the passion flower vine.
They have eaten just about all the milkweed. This today.
Linda-- (a little bit stupid question, but what are 'the queens'?) t.
There were 10 cats on one milkweed that got frozen last night. They were crawling around in a confused manner. I found a couple of sheltered milkweeds that survived the freeze, and moved the cats over. They are now eating like crazy.
This message was edited Feb 12, 2006 11:33 AM