We were loaded down last year with butterflies, bees and hummers by now. I haven't seen ONE Gulf Frit and we had tons last year. There are hardly any bees and we only have one pair of hummers but they don't make appearance like last year. Is it because we had so many late cold snaps and then so much rain? Has anyone else noticed this? I expected them to be even more prolific with the 2nd year garden. I'm so bummed!!! =(
where are the butterflies?
You are not alone. Fewer bees and butterflies up here also. Haven't seen any hummers yet....they are a rare treat in my urban neighborhood.
Got a couple hummers here, but I agree the gulf frits are sparse. I finally saw one this afternoon, I've got 4 passion vines going for them so I am hoping more show up. As for bees, a nice bunch of them decided to visit our lab the other day. It was infested, but unfortunately for nature most were dead by the time they were discovered. Maintenance thinks a swarm went through and these stragglers were left behind. There sure were a lot of stragglers!
:) Kim
hi greenie... oh yes... i think cause of the crazy weather, starting with all the freezes, then all the rains, mother nature went into hibernation, and am hoping father time will kick in here soon.... have a few hummers.., last year went broke this time of year feeding em all, have loads of milkweed but only a few monarches too.... am hoping it will all come together here soon....
hang in there... if you plant it . they will come :-)
take care...
Last year I didn't even know which plants to have in the ground. This year I planted 80 milkweed (yes 80) and the cats came like crazy, ate them to the ground, got all fat and then torrential rains came and I'm afraid they all died. I can't find any cats and we don't have any monarchs. I planted 4 passion vine this year hoping to keep the gulf frits here but so far there aren't any eggs or anything. Luckily my firecracker cuphea is coming back like crazy and the hummers LOVE those. Funny, the aphids sure had no problems coming back. They're all over all my butterfly gauras (grrrrr!!) and now they're not blooming anymore. I've been dousing them with dishsoap water the last few days and today a lot of them finally turned black, though now the leaves are all really faded out too. I don't mind managing the pest as long as I get to enjoy the treasures too. I just want my bflys back...they were such a joy last year.
greenie67, I love it! 80 milkweeds! If your caterpillars were pretty big, most of them might have pupated. So if you see any green orbs hanging around...I raised mine mostly in containers to protect them, all but one chrysalis has become a butterfly and been released to fly north.
I didn't see any gulf frits. until June last year. I've got a load of passion vine and don't see them yet......I'm hoping a few more weeks will do the trick. I think the late cold spell we've all had may delay things a bit.
I do have plenty of monarch cats (some munching away and some already in chrysalis) and one fat, happy swallowtail cat. He should be ready to pupate any day now. Can't wait.
YAY!! Looks like I spoke too soon. Lookie who visited us yesterday!!
And....
Pretty, pretty, pretty!
Very nice-great photos
Donya, I am glad they showed up for you. My theory has been that since Spring has been so cool, most plants started flowering later than usual, that is why the delay.
Josephine.
This message was edited May 14, 2007 5:57 PM
Well, I'm having an amazing butterfly & butterfly caterpillar year! Still waiting for some, but I was surprised by what's shown up already. Now the Painted Lady caterpillars are here!
Odd, I read this thread over the weekend and tonight when I stepped outside these guys were swarming the coneflowers and coreopsis.
There were quite a few and didn't mind posing...
I wish I had my camera out this morning. I finally saw a pretty GF laying eggs on my passion vines in the back yard.
Fly_Girl has been teaching me how to raise cats and my wonderful DH built me a butterfly cage. I had 13 monarch cats and one swallowtail yesterday. One monarch died this morning when it started to pupate. It never finished and it was so sad to watch. Two more have climbed to the top of the cage and are now "J"ing. I sure hope they make it. 2 cats pupated right on the milkweed leaves. It really is like watching a miracle happen.
I haven't seen any hummers yet. I'm sure the butterflies will be here soon because their babies sure have done numbers on my passionflowers. They are coming back with a vengence so my yard should be Covered in them pretty soon.
Boy ~ we are covered with hummers. Six feeders and a waiting line.
And more butterflies of a different flavor yesterday. This guy was more shy than the last ones...
great shot!! We have our standard pair of hummers this year. We have 3 feeders that hang from the deck. I'm thinking about moving them further out to see if we get more hummers. We're on the deck so much that maybe they don't like being that close to us. I'd love to have more! But they're working over our cuphea like crazy...they sure love that suff!!
The hummers are here in full force. I might suggest spreading your feeders out. I have 6 going but they are hanging around 3 sides of the house. If they are too close, there is too much competition. They will get used to you sitting out there. I sit on the front porch within 6 feet of a feeder and they come to it. I just try to sit very still.