Was at the ranch today and noticed a Variegated Fritillary in the front yard laying eggs on native Green Violet (hybanthus verticillatus). Also noticed a female frit out in the back forty ovipositing on some green violet out there too. I put surveyor flags near the plants so I can periodically check on it each time I drive out to the ranch.
~ Cat
...and another :o)
Yep...Spring has sprung in south Texas!!!
~ Cat
Yahoo!!! Can't wait to see all the butterflies that you find at the ranch this Spring and Summer! Many are probably migrating up from Mexico and South America. I bet you get all kinds of pretty butterflies this year! ♥
I guess they're back! Those violets don't look like one plant could be very big, or hold many cats.
Cool! I wonder if I could grow those violets. I've tried the violets sold in the store and the pillbugs and other insects just devour them.
The Green Violet is small...maybe 6" in height at it's best. Hard to find as it looks like grass!!! I noticed a frit laying eggs in the yard last year and went to investigate and saw the tiny plants and staked them out. A botanist friend from Austin had identified it from photos and then came down last November to dig some up to take back with him.
...and yes...a caterpillar will quickly eat the whole thing. It's a native plant and grows wild but the way I find it is to watch for ovipositing v-frits :o) Am assuming there must be enough out in the back fields as I usually see v-frits at the ranch.
~ Cat
Very cool Cat!
A person really has to watch where they step out there! Must be rough when your host plant is a ground cover, yikes!
Those Vfrits are really pretty!
:-)
Yes....considering the front and back yard as well as the back fields are full of wild flowers and weeds. Didn't realize it until earlier this year that there are a couple of native species of plantain (plantago) growing out there. That stuff is everywhere! I've seen gobs of buckeyes...which are supposed to use that as a larval host...but never can seem to spot any caterpillars...much less eggs. There are also gobs stinging nettle (used by red admirals) and some type of tiny leaved wildflower that grows like ground cover that the dainy sulphurs use. I try to watch where I step...but I feel like Tiny Tim tip toeing through the tulips! :o)
I only wish it would rain out there....the area is so dry...it's amazing how well the natives hold up...but a dose of oxygenated rain water would do wonders.
~ Cat
I hear ya Cat!
(tiptoe through the tulips) You are dating yourself, ROFLMBO!
Would you possibly be able to watch for seeding with that green violet.. even the nettles....
Maybe I could get some of the seed from you, ya think?
Deb
God must've heard our prayers. It's been drizzling all day long!!! Woohoo!!!
I will watch for seeds...but those plants are so small and I think my botanist buddy said it's extremely hard to find seeds as the flowers form only buds then the flowers fall off...odd!!! But they must propagate somehow as I see it coming up in the same location.
~ Cat
Maybe they spread by roots or tubers? Glad to hear you are getting some rain. It's very dry here as well. Something to do with El Nino winds.
We got rain last night and today I've got tons of little seeds popping up everywhere! :)
Will have to read up on that green violet...or email my bot buddy. I've dug them out before and they have a long tap root...haven't noticed any tubers. They wilt terribly when first transplanted but seem to come through. I have a couple in pots that I dug up last October. They are still growing in the original soil and they haven't grown much at all...even though they do get watered more than Mother Nature gives them back at the ranch. I don't see VFs here until around October through...yet they are usually around the ranch area throughout the year.
Am going to have to make it a point to dig up some of those plants from the ranch next time I go out there and put them in small pots. Let them get acclimated to the pots and different soil (the ranch soil is ORANGE - those plants have never seen potting soil or frankly, nutrient soil of any kind - might shock them!) Will keep ya'll in mind for sharing.
~ Cat
This message was edited Mar 12, 2007 8:53 PM
Oh yeah, I've seen that orange dirt. Those plants have to be specially adapted to it and the climate.
I'm happy that the VF's found my PV last year. I sure hope they come back again. I've got a million of those sunflowers coming up for the Bordered Patches. I'm only going to leave about 2 tho. That means I've got a lot of pulling to do!
Thanks Cat!
Yeah Paige, Are you talkin' about the Cowpen Daisy? I am starting several of them too..
I bet your happy to see all the seedlings you planted pop up now...Same thing is going on here.
I really am glad to see this rain!
Deb
No rain here yet. Just hand watering those little seedlings in my "no bog" bed. lol I just dumped the seeds into the soil/compost thinking that only a few would sprout. Oh no! Looks like all or most of the seeds are sprouting! It's going to be a lush garden at this rate. I've got more seeds to sow this week. I love having a nice selection of seeds to chose from thanks to so many of you here on this forum who were so generous and shared your seed harvest with me this past Fall. My garden is going to look awesome this year and I will think of all of you when they start blooming!
No, not the Cowpen's. It's a native that gets about 8 feet tall. It has huge leaves that can feed many gregarious cats at once.
Ok, yeah Paige, I know the one.. G I have lots of that one. I collected a lot of seeds last fall for some people who wanted them and forgot to plant them for myself, lol (duh). I will have to plant some of those today. Glad you mentioned it!!
Deb
