She was black, not very big, but my eye is trained now to see the movement! She was hovering and hopping from one small green blob of a plant to another. Desperately tasting them...is it Larkspur or is it...Queen Anne's Lace?!
I can't prove it, because she left before I got my camera, but I know it was a BST either planning ahead or trying to get an early start on me! Good grief! I'm so not ready! I thought about sticking the potted Rue out there but then decided I'd rather she find the QAL because it will be big soon.
She might not be back right away but I'll be watching for her now. :)
No pic, but I saw her!
I've been noticing a BST here, too. I saw one today checking out the plants in my backyard. She didn't stop for very long, but I have parsley and dill growing, so I expect her back eventually. It's officially Spring when the BSTs show up in my area! LOL!
Something else I just noticed today. I have the purple flowering Lantana (vining variety) around my Oak tree in the backyard. I have seen so many butterflies on the flowers lately. All kinds of butterflies. None will let me get close enough to them to see exactly what kind of butterflies they are, but when I was out there I kept noticing a sweet scent. Couldn't figure out what plant it was coming from. Finally realized that it was the purple Lantana. I had no idea that they had a pleasant scent. Most Lantana have a very strong almost stinky odor. Apparently the vining Lantana smells nice when in full bloom. What a surprise!!! They sure are pretty. I had 5 plants I put in last year and they have completely covered the ground around the Oak. Looks rather lovely much to my surprise! I am learning not to underestimate any plants when there is a group of them planted together.
Woohoo a BST!!! Am positive she'll be back. I've seen one at the ranch for the past three weeks. Very fresh when I first saw it...so am thinking there is some type of larval host growing out there...but can't figure out what it could be. I've only seen one native rue (dutchman's breeches) and that was last year in another city. I tossed out some QAL seeds but not sure they will grow. That area is always suffering from a drought. Lots of native wildflowers and weeds in bloom.
Here's a photo from 02/25/07. I think it's nectaring on a native verbena - ground cover with tiny white blooms.
~ Cat
Y'all have confirmed they are here so it wasn't my imagination! The BST's are the first ones here every year but I wasn't expecting one so soon. It would be really nice if they would use the QAL because I've got a few that are coming back from last year and are very thick. I'm not even going to put the dill I've started inside outside until it's big enough for them! I don't want them finding it when it's just tiny. They did that last year.
We were just out riding our bikes a few blocks over and I saw a GF and a few other little things. I'm still waiting for my passionvine to come up...somewhere. It's always a surprise.
Yep gang ...they're back! And yes, Becky it means Spring here in Texas when BSTs return as well, (to me anyway). One of my BSTs eclosed yesterday, and I have been babyin this Parsley patch all winter. It's paid off bigtime now. I still have 4 Parsley plants in pots that made it all winter too. The big row I have now is only a few plants that got some organic feeding and tending/covering/&sunshine all winter. :-). The parsley seems to like fish in thier diet. Then about a month ago I applied some Rabbit Farm food around the beds, and it's a virtual forest of herbage ready for ovipositing.
Sweet how my first fly through sighting aligned with one of my BSTs eclosing!! Maybe they will hook up, LOL!
o/ Deb
I started a thread for the remaining chrysalids btw:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/701230/
Truly awesome, Deb! An away we go ..................
You all are so lucky!
I did see my first Monarch today!!! He didn't seem to recognize me so it probably wasn't one I raised lol. I hope mine follow me around like Becky's do.
Unfortunately my MW is just starting to leaf out, no blooms.
Gotta love those BSTs!
Yes siree! It's Spring!!! Deb - I can't imagine having cold, freezing weather. My zone is pretty mild in winter. I can imagine that everyone is so glad to see Spring and to get out in the yard to do gardening. I love it!
I never really noticed a big drop in butterflies this winter. But they seem to come and go during different weeks. I cut back quite a bit of the herb garden and much of the Basil, so the bees aren't too happy right now. I am getting ready to re-seed some of the plants and add some new seeds/plants. I noticed my porterweed in the front yard isn't blooming much right now. I need to get out front and cut everything back, add some compost and fertilizer and add some new seed for some different plants. It's really over-grown. Time to do Spring cleaning in the garden. lol
Lots of G.F., Swallowtails, Monarchs, Skippers, Sulphurs, and Whites I've seen recently. We've gotten some rain and a little cooler weather, so all the plants are smiling! Our garden at school has so many Monarch cats that we are calling some of the teachers at other schools to see if any of their classes would like to raise some cats. lol! They've eaten much of our school garden milkweed. I will probably bring some home, too. I have been seeing cats on my short milkweed at home. I had cut them all back a few months ago and they are really starting to grow the leaves, but are still pretty short. No butterflies following me around. All the ones I released awhile back have probably lived out their lives. I am probably seeing their offspring now. Which are wild, not hand-raised. And very shy and skittish of humans.
I now have the squirrels and the birds following me around. lol! The bluejays, cardinals, and crows squawk and scold me. lol The dang squirrels climb on my screened porch to get my attention when they are hungry. Drives my indoor cat crazy! He sits out on the porch flicking his tail at the squirrels. I think the squirrels enjoys teasing my cat. There are 4 squirrels who visit my yard every day and the same pairs of birds. Plus a small flock of Gold Finches that are so cute. I was out working in my yard yesterday and a number of the birds lined up on the power line directly above me and made all kinds of noise trying to get my attention. I had visions of them dropping their business on me directly below. lol But I didn't see a single splash of whitewash were I was working. Can birds control where they poop?
The "alpha male" squirrel came to the feeder and ate. He didn't care whether I was out in the yard working or not. I think they have gotten used to seeing me and they know I am the one putting the seeds and peanuts out for them. So my yard creatures have expanded to birds and squirrels now. Never a dull moment, that's for sure. They all keep me chuckling with their antics and noise. The butterflies just flit through the yard and stop to drink or lay eggs. They don't seem to pay any mind to the birds or the squirrels. Looks like I now have a true creature habitat. :-) :-) :-)
I have 2 Monarch chrysalis in a cage on my porch. Came from my school. They are for my class, but the plant leaked muddy dirt all over the bottom of the cage, so I am waiting for it to dry out. The Monarchs aren't going anywhere for at least 10 days. lol I just love Spring!!!
Sounds like you have a great habitat for everyone Becky.
I like to watch the antics of the squirrels too. There's a pair that are building a nest way up in one of my Sweetgums. It's loosely constructed, foot long sticks...I don't know how it stays together, it looks like a big wind and down it would come. My neighbors have some banana trees, but they are leafless, just maybe 12' tall stalks. The squirrels will attempt to climb it, it's slippery, and pull pieces of it down and get these 2' long strips. It's so funny to see them try to stuff it in their mouths to carry it back to the nest. They are hard workers, running back and forth until it's done.
So, you're back in to cat-nanny Becky, you didn't get much of a break. lol
I'm not quite ready, but then again, are we ever really ready? I haven't reworked the bf cage, I still have some time.
I don't think birds can control where they go, you were just lucky....be sure and wear a hat.
fly_girl - Good idea! I will definitely get a ball cap to wear. Something that I can wash. LOL! Those birds DO like to let me know when they want food! Or maybe they are mad cause they want me to leave the yard so they can go to the feeder. They aren't totally trusting of me yet. Maybe in the future.
The squirrels aren't scared of me much at all. I have to beat the screen on the porch to get them to scoot. They hang on the screen upside-down and make loud chattering noises. I go out there and tell them to skadattle. They just hang there staring at me in defiance. Such strong-willed squirrels! lol I had one hanging there for 40 minutes one morning just making my cat go whacko! LOL! They can be a bit of a nuisance, but they deserve a place here, too. They were here first afterall. And they do keep me and my family entertained. ;-D They play chase in my yard all the time. It's hilarious! It's usually 3 against the 1 alpha male. He spends more time guarding the food and chasing the others than he does eating! It's quite funny to watch!!!
I am soooo glad that it is Spring!!!!! Yay! I'm doing the Snoopy dance!!!! Whoo Hoo!♠
Sounds like somebody's having loads of fun with squirrels and birds!!!
Must say I miss watching squirrel antics and the rawkous blue jays. Had gobs of both when I lived in Memphis as our home bordered a wooden area. Squirrels would steal dog food from the dish on the back porch. Have no idea if they ate it or not...but I'd catch them scurrying off with it all the time. I don't get to see any squirrels out here although they can be found just a few miles down the road at other places. Bummer!!! I also hired a guy to dig out a large grove of banana trees from my back yard this past Saturday...he must've dug up at least 50!!! They just grow too fast and I had pups coming up through my brick pathway! Had them all removed...and took the majority of root bases to the ranch. Planted them around both ponds. Had been meaning to do that for years but didn't want to dig those buggers out myself :o)
I forgot, I have one squirrel - "Sammy" who is a polyresin bird feeder that hangs from the front yard oak :o)
Used to have a canal running behind my house here and got to see all kinds of critters. Birds of all sorts used to perch on my wooden fence. But alas, the city dug it up and filled the area with dirt. Now we have a grassy plot of land running between the subdivisions. All I see now are 'possums and big rats!!!
Hope you share photos of your garden and the critters too.
~ Cat
Cat - Ewww .... "big" rats ..... ewwww..... possums look like big rats, too! LOL I don't mind the possums, but am not a big fan of rats. The black ones look evil. LOL!
I never thought of taking photos of my squirrels and posting here. I did post some photos on the Bird Watching forum. I wanted to show photos of the 4X4 post baffle I bought to show that it DOES work to keep the squirrels out of the bird feeders. LOL!
Here's the thread link if anyone wishes to see the photos:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/690200/
Your Sammy sounds like the perfect squirrel! :-) Do you have bird feeders other than Hummingbird feeders in your yard? I didn't have any birds in my yard until I added the post feeder. Now the resident birds come visit me several times a day. And boy! do they have some personalities! The squirrels are the neighborhood clowns!
Attached is a photo of my feeder now. I added a squirrel feeder at the bottom of the post so the squirrels don't feel slighted. LOL! And the dish on the ground with bird seed is also for them. They are looking a little overweight these days! lol And the birds and the squirrels drink from the other dish with fresh water in it. I dump it and rinse it every day for them. They are spoiled critters for sure! Instead of squawking at me and chattering at me, they should be singing me some nice songs and being good instead of teasing my cat. LOL!
Heck, I love every minute of it. Just wish I could add some feeders at my school for my students to enjoy the birds like I do. We do have some clown squirrels at my school, too. But they don't get fed there. They eat the louquat fruit and seeds.
Toodles!
Added to say: SO sorry, Deb. I think I just hijacked your thread. So very sorry. How's the caterpillars and butterflies doing in your yard currently? Any new butterflies to your garden? Your parsley is amazing! Seriously!!!!!
This message was edited Mar 21, 2007 7:59 PM
Have only seen two butterflies so far. One was orange, probably a gulf frit. The other was a BST flying, or rather flopping upside down about a foot off the ground, crossing the street. I captured it and put it in my BF house and emailed Gainesville Butterfly Museum to see if anything could be done.
They said it sounded like neurotoxicity from chemicals used on lawn or plantings and there was nothing to do. It died the next day.
My neighbors are probably sick of me lecturing them about chemicals in our environment, but not one of them has changed their ways. Very sad and frustrating!!