This little guy was hanging on for dear life yesterday in the high wind. Wind gusts were 50mph!
Here is my monarch cat braving the wind and hanging on
Cute little guy. He is so lucky having something to eat. The drought has hit us so hard here I'm wondering how our wildlife will survive this spring.
It's bad here too, no rain, lots of wind. It clouded over this morning, I was hoping we would get rain but it went north. I'm just thankful the resaca is still pretty full and I can water without it costing a fortune.
I'm worried about the wildlife also. I've put containers of water out both inside and outside the fence. It would help if everyone would include a few nectar and host plants for butterflies (with no harmful insecticides or Bt on them). And plants that produce fruit and seeds for other wildlife.
Linda
He looks very happy on that canna Susie!
I've heard the monarchs like a "sand water feeder". Find clean sand, keep damp (but not flooded), and put in one of those plant pot bottoms that catch the run-off (the name eludes me--age! lol) and put into the garden. They stick their proboscis into it and drink--its said they prefer this to bird baths. We do it in our butterfly garden at the middle school I teach at and it has attracted them. I guess you can just spray the plant leaves for the cats!
Ain't life grand?!?
Debbie
Debbie, he's on an asclepias in front of the canna, the leaves are almost gone he's eaten so many of them!
The butterflies like wet sand or mud. I think I read somewhere they get minerals from it but I could be wrong.
Since we live on the resaca most of the wildlife can drink there and be safe from Bleu the dog. The giant kiskadees swoop over my pool and skim off the dead bugs, especially the june bugs. Bleu barks at them but they don't care!
You are so right--I'm glad I took a closer look at the fellow! Good for Bleu--I'm sure he fells soooo ferocius! He probably thinks those big bad pool bugs are going to get you!
Deb
Deb, he barks at anything that moves in the pool, especially the little robot thing that cleans the bottom. He will even grab stuff that is floating like leaves and banana petals(those big red petals that are on a banana). He won't swim in the pool though, he won't go past the first step but he loves the ocean and the resaca.
I noticed a chrysalis (first time I've ever found one!) hanging inside a piece of garden art - a rusty bee skep. It's been so cold, don't know if it's just frozen or still alive. I'll be watching it.
I'm glad you guys talked about watering the butterflies. I keep several "critter" water spots in the garden besides the bird baths, pot trays or shallow plates with pebbles and water. I know bees and lizards are supposed to like water like that. I thought butterflies would too. I'll keep some wet sand out now.
I forgot about my pebble tray for the lizards! I do that too. I went out one morning and a greensnake was drinking from the dew on a brug leaf. He was so cute(they eat bugs and aren't big enough to hurt a person). We have lots of lizards, spiny ones, racing lizards, geckos, anoles plus various skinks.