Felicia, what a beautiful garden. I want mine to look like that someday. Mine is a little bigger area but way more thinned out than that. I have all my nectaring and hold plants altogether. Is that bad? Now girl that is hilarious. Your imaginary shrimp plant, rofl. Great pic anyway. Is that the same shrimp plant you sent some to me because I am not real sure how to germinate an imaginary plant. lol. Just kidding you girl. That was too funny. Beautiful garden. How long have you had that garden out? And how does one get butterfly bushes and Lantana to take over? Mine are just kind of sitting there in the same spot,same size as when I planted. I do have a Lantana in my front yard that is pretty big but it is four years old. And it is white. The only white Lantana I have seen really since I bought it. I wish my other beautifully colored ones looked like that one but I won't complain. At least it is there and it is big and it does bloom. lol. Anyway, beautiful gardens Felicia and glad to get to see them. Hope your cats are doing well. Can you believe I have Monarch cats now. I have not finished up my GF's yet. I think I am crazy bringing those in but what can you do. Just wish me success with them. I don't want to mess up the Monarch population anymore than it is and believe me I am capable of doing just that.
And thanks James. Hope everyone has a great Sunday and have many visitors to the gardens.
And also James, I was thinking, even though it has been your first time with Monarchs, you have done such an awesome job I will probably coming to you with answers. Hope you don't mind helping.
Thanks everyone.
Leslie
Leslie
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 18
Leslie,
I don't mind at all .......... and any help I can offer I certainly will ........ I think what is helping me the most is the input form the Veterans on this site .....another thing with the Monarchs is that I think that my location is probably right in their migration route !!
okay ..................here are a couple of pics from this morning ........... alraedy what I believe to be a pair/couple of maonarchs out on the infamous milkweed !!!!!!!!
james t
another pic from this morning ..........
and lastly, but definately not leastly !!!!! ........... the crysolis this morning.......
I am not sure if this crysalis has been compromised or not ......... are there predators that prey on the crysalis?
I think that I remeber awhile back where someone on here had a crysalis that had been compromised by something that had bore into the crysalis .........
Great stuff James. Not sure how you have any milkweed left but it gives me hope. I ordered some more small plants from Live Monarch as I had to order a bigger cage. My biggest cage is not going to be big enough for Monarchs. So I ordered some more small plants. I figure if they are not eaten this year I can winter them over in the house and plant them for next year. Now watch I am going to have a ton of milkweed and not very many Monarch cats. Oh well. Listen I appreciate your offer of help. I know that the experts will be extremely helpful to me also as they always have been but since you are a newbie I figured you probably went through some of the apprehension and stuff I am going to go through so thought you might be able to talk me through some stuff.
Great pics and are you feeling lucky to be on the migratory path or not so lucky? lol. I am on the path too but they are not coming through here yet. I cannot wait as it is such a beautiful site. But if half passing through lay eggs I am going to be in trouble.
Leslie
yep ......... I am now worrying about that crysalis ......... I think that it should be more clearly defined inside there ........ but I am not really sure .......... My thoughts at this time is to learn and watch for the rest of this season and then retool next spring ........... as for too much milkweed I don't think that is possible is it !!!!!!!!!
we are like the rookie team !!!!!!! Leslie, Lily and James !!!
by the way nice pics Lily.
We should start at thread with pics of our BF gardens ......... want to?
Leslie and James and anyone else who might be interested .....
We are going to be doing a Round Robin seed trade here on this forum for nectar and host plants for Butterflies/Moths (and hummers, too!) in November. These are seeds that you can either wintersow or grow next Spring.... or both! Most of these plants grow pretty quickly so the seeds should help build your garden beds with good plants for the flying beauties!
I would suggest everyone to start looking around your yard for a location to make a new lasagna bed for this seed trade or think of a garden area you already have that you want to add to or change some plants around. Stay tuned for more information as November approaches and ..... start saving your seeds for this RR seed trade!!!!
sounds good to me ........... I will probably need some guidance on collecting the seeds and so forth, but Iam interested !!
What I've seen with chrysalis problems this year is I had a couple that turned black and mushy after forming the chrysalis. Then there were some that would get to the point of actually forming the chrysalis and couldn't complete the process, just hung there partly done until it was obvious they were dead. Oh, and of course, the dreaded fly larva that would come down on a string to the bottom of the cage. Sorry if I grossed anyone out. It's just been a bad year for cat or chrys problems here.
Beautiful, James!! Sorry, don't know what to say about your chrysalis, though, because I've not had that experience yet -- Monarch's, I mean.
Leslie, yes, that very imaginary shrimp plant is the one I sent you cuttings from. See, the sky's the limit with that, and you really don't have to worry about rooting it, it just magically happens. LOL!!
I started the nectaring garden in the middle of May. I planted Agastache, lantana, butterfly bush, Salvia greggii, hollyhock (by seed, so I guess they won't bloom till next year), Mallow (overtaken by lantana), and one lone goblin blanket flower and two coral bells. Unfortunately, Lantana is not hardy in this area, so, I've been collecting seeds, and letting it self seed too, so we'll see what happens. I think the reason the plants are so big now, is because I also grow brugmansia (I have about 30), and they are VERY heavy feeders. So, when I feed the brugs, I feed the butterfly garden at the same time. Well, I used to, now it would only be asking for trouble! LOL!! Also, since we've been going through this horrible drought, water everything every day before I go to work. It takes about 25 minutes to water everything every morning.
I had my parsley in a separate area of the yard, but the BST's never seemed to have noticed it there, so I just stuck the little pots they were sitting in at the front of the nectaring garden, and BINGO, the rest is history. So, I guess it is good to have the host plants close by.
Anyway, here's a picture of the garden from May 19. Big difference, huh?
Linda, I have had the same problem, I thought it was the plants I had bought...maybe they were sprayed with an insecticide. Now, I'm wondering if it's something else, since you are having the same problem. I had many that formed the chrysalis then turned black. Some started the metamorphasis, then stopped after the head was done and died.
I cleaned the cage, replaced the top screen, moved them to my new cage...same thing. Another thing I've noticed is that the silk, the cremaster is connected to, is weak and they have fallen.
It's been very depressing and have even thought about not helping them at all, figuring Mother Nature has to be better than I am doing.
But then I go out to the plants and see all those defenseless little cats and predator bugs all around......so, I bring them in.
My plants in the garden are finally filling in so I'm trying those to see if there's any difference. It is hard to give up on them, it's such a beautiful thing when one emerges, and you let them go.
Found this Brazilian Skipper cat this morning eating my canna blooms. Isn't it fat?
thats a cool looking cat ......... probably a cool looking bf as well !!!!!
I had a new visitor in my garden today !!!! ........ am unsure what it is yet, but it never would sit still !!!!
and another
It is a Great Swallowtail James. I had to take a second look, because of my picture! LOL!
hey ......... no kidding !!!!! they do not stay still for very long !!!!! ..........if at all .....
This message was edited Sep 16, 2007 8:04 PM
nice picture Sheila !
ok .......... just one more pic of my latest visitor !!!!!!!
.........just one more!!!!!!!!!! ........ I thought that this was a cool picture!!!!
SOMEBODY STOP ME !!!!!!!
James you are getting some great BF's to your garden. I am so jealous. I sometimes see the great swallowtails flying over but they never stop. They are very close to being my fave butterfly. Of course, really they are all my faves. But you are getting a lot of action out of your milkweed and not just with Monarchs. I hate to hear that about the chryaslis as I just brought Monarch cats in and am hoping this does not happen to me. Of course it probably will but let us all pray it does not. I am so excited about raising these guys, I cannot stop going in and looking at the little cats and they are so tiny right now. But you can see the little black things on their heads and/or tails. And they eat a lot for tiny guys. It is amazing.
Will keep my eye out about the round robin and thanks for the heads up on that.
Felicia, that bed is quite an amazing difference. Your plants all look so healthy though even in May before they were planted. Is that tutti-frutti agastache you have there? It is my favorite so far, the only one I have that has bloomed good for me so far. I have about 9 different kinds but none have bloomed for me yet but the tutti-frutti. It smells so good, the name is very appropriate. Also how are your coral bells doing? I bought some of those and put them in my shadier garden and one or two are doing okay, no flowers, and the others are shriveling into nothing. It is really weird. Oh and you will have to tell me about your brugs sometime. I have researched them but for some reason did not think they would do well here or the fact that they are poisonous scared me or something scared me off. I cannot remember what it was but they are the coolest things. Got any pics of yours? I would love to see them.
Oh and to stay on point here, any more eclosures and how are the cats doing?
Leslie
That is a great pic James and why should we stop you. You are doing great and your pics are great. Keep up the good work.
Leslie
Thanks y'all ........ I just love taking pictures of them ......... and with the new digital cameras it is a snap .......... no film to load/unload etc ......... just come in and download the pics and voila !!
I had a monarch (i think) hang around for most of the morning ........i could almost get her to land on me ..... as a result i took some really close up pics of her ........ here are a couple .......... hope you enjoy them as much as i do : ) !!
and ........
one more !!!!!!! .........this is a cool one too ........
The Frostweed are starting to bloom now. It attracts a lot of the butterflies that are going through the area. I believe this is a Juniper Hairstreak.
"He" is stunning James. Nice close up shot. I usually don't have a camera when I get a photo op like that.
This morning at 5:30 I saw a shadow with wings on one of the chairs in near the security light. Got my camera thinking it was a moth. I was very surprised to see a Monarch. I think it was the one that landed on a deck plant when we released it yesterday after noon with the kiddos. There is a large praying mantis somewhere in the deck plants that I spotted last week; so she was lucky not to be supper!
I love the Frostweed too Linda. The Sivery Checkerspots all but stripped one though.
Sheila how do you tell the difference between male and females?
Your pic here http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=3983588 shows it plainly. See the spot on the lower wing, it is a scent gland only the males have. Look at my female for comparison.
James - The butterfly in this photo http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/fp.php?pid=3983290 is a Giant Swallowtail. Shelia almost had the name correct.
You had some wonderful butterflies visiting you today! Congrats on having so many different species! Great shots!
Doh!! Yes, thanks Becky! Having another senior moment there! LOL!
Wow James. Those are awesome and I can identify the male in your picture. I say that because I had asked earlier how to tell the difference between the male and female. Yours is a great picture showing off the male. If I could ever get that close to one I should be able to make it out. Love that first close up. You don't get to see the head that close up very often. Beautiful. So glad you are having so much fun. You can just tell that you are and it is great. Keep on keeping on.
And my Monarch babies are doing great. But I tell you what to be so little they can tear up a milkweed leaf. That is incredible. I knew they were voracious eaters but they are so tiny. Anyway, found one more yesterday bringing my total to 7 and still have the three eggs. Not much going on with them yet.
Have a great day everyone. I will NOT be in the garden today as I will be at work. (yuk)
Leslie
I love your GST, James. Gorgeous! And, of course, your Monarch is very handsome as well. You are getting a huge assortment of flutterbyes, aren't you? Very nice!!
Thanks, Leslie. I'm kinda amazed everything got so big too, especially with the 100+ weather and the drought. The Agatasche is Salmon and Pink. And, the smell is out of this world. The only ones that like it though, are the bumble bees and hummers. It's a tender perennial here, so I'm hoping for another mild winter! Um, brugs, yeah, I've got a gazillion pictures of them in bloom. And, they would do quite well in your area, but I think you'd have to overwinter them inside. Don't get me started on that tangent!!
Hope everyone has a great day and that no one has to work too terribly hard!!
Cool Becky, Your getting back in the swing of things!! (Could really use your help, lol!) And a new patio...That's so awesome!
Felicia, your beds look great, and yes the HH should bloom next year. which ones did you plant?
Roxanne and Linda, I had a few 'hangers' too.. but so many more let go healthy, whew!
I bought a few cannas Saturday (half price), that had some B skippers on them.. When I got home and turned my back for just a couple minutes, a paper wasp had the big fat one, just going to town on it. I was a little upsetting, but I had to get over it. I put the pots in the big hamper.
That's a nice looking monarch sheila! I love the darker ones..:-)
James! Way to go.. and yep you are right in their path buddy! Nice pics!
Leslie, I hope I managed to collect a few babies from my MW too.. We'll see today whose hatched.. :-O
Was busy this weekend with my grandson's 9th bday.. and a few other exciting things.
Saturday I collected 1 Sleepy Orange eggs off the candletree!! The wasp was following her around, and there was a green stinkbug lerking too. Glad I swooped them up or they would have been gone.
Getting kidos out for school now, I'll check back in a while.
debnes
Thanks, Debnes! I THINK I planted single white with green eye HH. Probably should have gone with something more colorful what with all the color I have in there. I know the butterflies and hummers won't mind, but they may stick out like a sore thumb next year. LOL!!
Sounds like a festive weekend -- birthday parties are always a lot!!
Now, if we could all just get rid of the paper wasps, life would be much better for us and the butterflies!!
Thanks evryone ...... and thanks for the new info in telling male/female on the monarchs!!
I'm back...not that I went anywhere, just been catching up on my sleep. Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one whose caterpillars die. My two zebra ST cats have vanished. I dumped out the dirt in my potted pawpaw and sifted through it. Dad: "Might I ask what you're doing?" Me: "Looking for bodies; if my cats are going to die on me I want to see bodies!" I think if I had founf anything I would be performing little caterpillar autopsies in my living room.
So right now no cats for me. My plants are still recovering and the butterflies seem to know when a plant isn't big enough yet to support babies. I have had a lot of visitors though. I finally saw two pipevine STs at the same time and I'm hoping they were a "couple". I've had what I believe is a male flying in circles in my backyard. I stood and watched him for like 15 minutes and he only stopped for one second. I got a pic of one though nectaring on -what else - the plumbagos.
I keep sneaking up on this yellow guy. He always hangs out on this plant: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/71283/index.html
I'm so jealous of the folks here who got those beautiful shots of the Giant Swallowtail. This is the best I could do! I've seen this guy flying all over the yard, but my bougainvillea finally tempted him to stop. I think this one roosts in the oak tree in the backyard because it seems like he flies in and out of it an awful lot.
I've been chasing a Palamedes around the yard a lot lately. I like this picture because it shows a unique feature of this ST. My book kept talking about a yellow line "near the wing base that runs parallel to the abdomen" on the Palamades, but I never got a good shot of the underside until now. Apparently, it's the only ST in our area that has that line.
I like the Palamedes because they tend to be camera-friendly. This is the same one as in the previous picture; I chased him to the backyard. Notice it's missing the left "tail". Oh, and once again notice that it was feasting on plumbago.
cool pics Mellie, how big is that Plumbago?! ..... it looks huge in that picture!!
show us your BF Garden!!