Here are some beauties ... cropped in Photoshop for that up-close experience! A fritillary on the tithonia (to my surprise the hummingbirds like this flower too!) ...
My latest butterfly pictures ...
A painted lady on a pink delight butterfly bush ...
Tiger Swallowtail on Magnus coneflower ...
One more fritillary on a coneflower ... th th that's all folks!
Don't desire interrupting your image posting 'spree', of such flutterfly beauties, crockny .. but, I've jes gotta inquire about the Magnus coneflower!! More info, please .. (when ya get a spare moment, that is).
I could kick myself in the fanny, for not planting more zinnia seed this year! (uuuugggh) ..
Oh well, jes gives me ample opportunity to sit and enjoy seeing the rest of you guys' buggs on beauties! (heehee)
- Magpye
What do you want to know? I suggest you read the write-ups in Plant Files ... for me they grow tall and not floppy in full sun/acidic soil ... in part shade they get leggy and tend to flop ... I cut some for bouquets and leave the rest for the birds and butterflies ... I leave them standing through the winter for the birds ... they self-seed readily, which for me is a good thing ... easy to pull out if you don't want them. Nice lavender/pink petals and orange cone ...
I did, crockny - just as soon as I saw the photo a while ago.
Just sometimes, a lil personal input about a plant/flower in a thread .. reveals a whole lot more, than just taking a gander in the files.
May already have a few of these, that we'd dug and transplanted earlier this year. I'll just hafta get a definite ID soon. But, in the mean time, I've also discovered an excellent source for the seeds and plants right near by.
Thank you.
- Magpye
Great pics of your butterfly visitors! My tithonias are just starting to bloom so I am hoping for some fritts to take notice! Interestingly the monarchs are always stopping on them and checking them out even though there are no flowers. There must be a fragrance that we can't (at least I can't perceive) just from the foliage.
Mags, I am upset that I didn't plant more zinnias, too. The zinnia threads over in the Annuals forum really have gotten me 'smitten' with them. I'm going to get my seeds from Stokes Seeds because they stock the various kinds in separate colors.
Likewise for the coneflowers. I read the threads this season and became enamoured. I have Magnus and a few others. While reading up on them, I noticed they call "Ruby Star" (or "Rubenstern" in German) the successor to "Magnus". They say the color is better. I am not sure if there is seed available on the market, though, but I would like to find out!
I love everyone's butterfly pics! My butterfly border has been very busy in the past few days, but those tiny ones move so quick I can't get my lens on them for pics!
Just learning about butterflies. Is this also a Painted Lady?
Looks like it to me ... they do get around!
I planted zinnias this year ... big tetra mix -- three came up and are far from flowering -- don't know what happened! Very disappointing ...
'Howdy' tabasco ..
Several of the images that are in the PlantFiles, seemed to look quite similar to other 'species' .. but, then, I jes barely qualify as a 'novice' gardener! .. heehee ..
By the grace of the Almighty, I've been blessed with a few zinnia plants, that came up from seed that fell from last years' zinnias - which apparently, wintered over and sprouted! Along with some lovely unknown sunflowers that sprouted from the bird seed that the munks stashed (planted) in a few spots 'round the yard!
Incidentally, those sprouts survived 2 late season freezes we'd had here, this year! The things never suffered the first set back. They were the first of anything to sprout! I can't help but wonder if the munks even knew the 'right time' (of the moon) to plant! Ahh, jes maybe they know something, that we're not privvy to ..
An interesting point you bring up tho', Judy. Makes me a bit 'jubous' about spending any $ for 'propurted' seeds from anywhere. Guess when they're practically dirt-cheap .. one really isn't out much in the long run; short of a bit of a frustration somewhere down-the-line. But, a body can always fair far worse scenarios .. (hee)
I'm just gonna keep my ol grubby fangers crossed that these latest digs of coneflowers may be what I was told they are. Who knows: I sure don't - but no worries. Certainly haint qualification enuff to rant, rave or cause a ruckus about.
.. heehee ..
I'm usually jes plum delighted to either find or be given such plant shtuffs. All the coneflowers are lookin' quite a bit raggedy 'bout now - and only because I'm really wanting to harvest the seed! lol
Crockny, I do so very much appreciate the extra lil tidbits of info you shared.
((huggs))
- Magpye