DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 21

cool shot thea611

Four Frits and a Skipper.
1 of 5.
This Frit was really interested in the damp mud near our driveway. Slurping minerals, I guess. It continued nearby for an hour and allowed several pics.

2 of 5.
Another of the Frit.

3 of 5.

Another.

4 of 5.
Last of the Frit.

5 of 5.
Long Tailed Skipper.

Thank you, pford!! But just look at trois' shot!!!!!!!! I've GOT to figure out how to get a good close up with my little camera, although I'm thinking it doesn't have the capability. Trois, your picture is great, the detail is terrific.

Thank you thea611. I have found that for the Skippers very early morning when it is cool works best. The warmer it gets, the faster they move. It is also possible to get much closer when it is cool and they are sunning themselves to warm up. What camera do you use?

trois

Welcome to our butterfly sharing thread Kett!! So glad you're here.. The sulphur pic is so clear, I can see the pollen all over that spelunker in front! Great job!

GTSY too Trois~ Nice puddling pics of the Gulf Frits!
We don't get the LTS up this far. thanks for posting those beautiful pics!

Yours too thea!! Very pretty!
Keep us posted on the Zebras Linda! You so lucky!

Enjoying the nice pics y'all!

debnes

Ditto! Wonderful shots all of you!

GardnerKett - Those sulphurs are awesome, especially against the red of the hibiscus.

And thank you to those that posted the picture of the LTS - we have had one all over our lantana, but I didn't know what it was. And yes, he or she doesn't sit for very long, but it was neat to watch him buzz my mom! :-D

-Christine

I was on the front side of my property today and saw about 8 Zebra Longwings at the same time. Since we've only had two ZLW butterflies around, I was surprised. My cats have only starting to pupate recently. First I thought, cool! Then I was thinking that if those new ones lay eggs, I'll start running out of foliage soon.

Here's one of the little blue guys that lives in the plumbagoes. They usually fly around really fast but this one sat still for so long I figured he wanted his picture taken.

Melanie

Also...my first Zebra Swallowtail eclosed! And yes, I took it to work and I had a meeting at 2:00 this afternoon so he came to that, too. I was trying to pay attention during the meeting and steal glances at the chrysalis (the cage was in the seat next to me) but wouldn't you know one minute he was in the chrysalis and the next he was standing there looking around! I'll give you all the gory details tomorrow because I have to go to bed now, but here's a pic of him (her?) in full glory.

Ok, here's one more for ya! Sorry about the flash reflection but I didn't want to take the lid off and this pic has the best detail of the colors. They have a little gold in them - I never knew!

Mellielong,
Dang! Now that's a tail!!! :)
thanks for pics

The thread is getting more exciting every time I return! :-)

Congrats Mellie!!
Good job! The ZST is gorgeous!!


debnes

Mellie, very cute ZST story!! That's a great way to get people interested in butterflies! How could they NOT be, after that experience! And what a beautiful butterfly, I'm envious.

Ok everyone, I made a ZST thread so I wouldn't hog this one. Check it out! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/781596/

So many great photos and stories on the thread! I've been lurking as usual and loving it!

Congrats on the Zebra Swallowtails, mellie! I loved your picture story on the other thread!

And so cute to see the little girl peering into the monarch enclosure! That must have be so rewarding to be a part of the 'fly out', Sheila!

And all the other butterflies are so beautiful too! I thought our season was pretty much over, but we had several in the garden today even though it was cloudy and cool. Some painted ladies and cabbages and sulphurs...nothing too glamourous but a little life in the garden!

Always learning a lot from these threads, too! This DG Butterfly Forum has got to be one of the (if not 'the') best and most informative butterfly chat forum on the internet, don't you think? I can't think of another that comes close. Can you?

Thanks Judy!
Nice to see ya..though I figured you been watching. I sometimes peep into threads too, and what I'd say was already said, lol. So I just enjoy what people have shared..

Here's a few shots of what's in the pen>

Many are parked or looking for a parking place...

Some new babies have been showing up too.. they stowed away on some of the new cuttings. lol.

Might have some eclose tomorrow..

Still have the prominent from DD that I'm raising, and she found a Leopard moth cat today at here house that she will raise herself. Thank goodness! lol

debnes

Thanks everyone! I did think those tails were pretty long. My book says they vary in length depending on the season - isn't that neat? I've got four or five Gulf Frit cats right now and everyday I collect more eggs. My eggs from the pipevine are getting close to hatching; they're turning dark in the middle. I still think they're Polydamas eggs, but I did spot a Pipevine ST out back today! Oddly enough, it was by the oak tree in the backyard where my other PVST used to fly in circles. I don't think it's the same one because they don't live that long. I saw this one sit up in the oak tree - I think it must be a popular roosting site. I swear I see so many bfs fly around it. I also had a Palamades on the plumbago yesterday which made me feel better about the one that got hit by the car.

I did go to the USF plant festival and after dropping over $100 on bromeliads, I went to visit the native plant society folks. Dad is determined to get rid of the palm trees in front of the house because they're too much for him to maintain. I was trying to decide what tree to replace them with. I was leaning toward red cedar, but Dad (he's a woodworker) was thinking about cherry. When I got to the booth they only had one red cedar. I figured symmetry was overrated and wouldn't it be more fun to have little mini-gardens on either side of the house? So I got the red cedar and a black cherry. Melanie, Dad, and the butterflies can all be happy! I also got a privet cassia (senna ligustrina) for the sulphurs. Actually, a lot of people were buying them. They are pretty. I also got a yellow anise because I have the red one and it's endangered and I just believe it's like my duty to save all Florida endangered plants, LOL!

There's one vendor that specializes in butterfly plants and they always have great deals. Their one gallon containers are $5 each or 6 for $25 (and you can mix and match). I got three purple porterweed and three blue porterweed for $25 and they're almost as tall as me! I was thrilled! And unlike some commercial vendors they actually seem to care. They were selling passion vine and had a sign that read "The caterpillars are the larva for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Please do not disturb." I was so impressed!

The rare fruit council was selling Pawpaw. They had asimina triloba which doesn't grow this far south (?). They had asimina parviflora for $12 but I purchased mine from Mail Order Natives (check out their watchdog profile on DG) for $7. And they only had one of each by the time I came through. Oh, I also got four coontie for $5 each. They're small, but I saw them priced much higher than that for the same size.

I finally figured out the "Passion Flower Guy" is from Crowley's which is a big nursery here in FL. Some of the folks on the FL forum have been there, but I think it's pretty far south of me. I heard him telling a lady how he brings "whatever sells fast". Now, I went to Wharton and I'm definitely a free-market kind of gal, but when your product affects the world people live in, you should be responsible. Case in point - he must have had ten kinds of passiflora and only one was native (corkystem). I saw a p. quadrangularis and while it was stunning, I hate that he was at the Butterfly festival back in July leading people to believe all the passifloras were good for the butterflies. I saw a zebra longwing come and lay eggs on one of his non-natives and I really wanted to shoo it away. Plus, he's the guy who got all cranky when I asked if he had any p. incarnata. I understand some people grow passifloras just because their pretty, but when you're advertising them for butterflies, just be honest!

So in the end I got some great native plants that also happen to be hosts for butterflies. I love synergy in the garden! I just set the porterweed by the side of the house and the butterflies were already nectaring on it! I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but make sure you support your local botanical gardens, cooperative extensions, and plant clubs and societies. You can get some good deals from people who understand your passion!

Wow! We all better plant more host plants, otherwise the butterflies are never going to leave Mellie's house. Sounds like they have paradise over there! :)

A DG'er (loess_roots) had an offer of some virginia snakeroots seeds, so hopefully I will have pipevines next year. I ordered a couple of his larger plants as well so I will be sure to have enough. He even threw in some Mayapple that I have been looking for my shady area. It's not even winter hear yet and I am sooo excited about next spring.

chris

Oh, Chris, I'm glad you mentioned Rod. I got 2 mature Virginia Snakeroots from him. Also got some more natives for my shady border, bloodroot, mayapple, and Solomon's Seal. I'm trying to create a woodland scene with only two shady pine trees.

Yes thats his name, Rod.
I should be receiving my plants anyday. Very resonable.

Nice choices Mel! Great deals!
Yaay you got a Cherry too!! Mine is kinda skinny. I hope it takes off in spring next year.
I looked all over for Porterweed here, and couldn't find any.. Konkreteblonde (Paige) was so kind and sent me some seeds, and now some of the plants are about 3' tall. I have a couple shorties too, already promised to people at the Arlington swap coming up Sunday (the 28th).

Btw~ Deborah, Did you get the Mistflower I sent? How did it fare in the mail?

Fall is a great time to get perennials in the ground folks. AND Don't forget the Round Robin seed trade is just around the corner now.. I hope you guys are collecting and tagging your seeds! :-D

debnes

Oh, Yes I did Deb, it's already blooming. Thank you So much!
You are exactly right about fall planting, Deb. It's amazing how well they become established over winter especially small trees.

BTW, where is konkreteblond? I seldom see her posting and I'm wondering how she and her butterlfies are doing? Helllooooo! Konkrete!

Rod of 'loess roots' has an excellent rating in Garden Watchdog. I think he has some A. serp. in stock now... here's his address if anyone needs it:

http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/c/4253/

I wonder what else he grows for butterfly gardens?...

I never thought of growing host plants in the shade until I learned about Virginia Snakeroot. What other host plants grow in the shade?

I think Pawpaw does OK in shade. Also violets. Sometimes Ironweed.

I had a Link to a whole list of shade host plants saved from Garden Web and now it won't come up. There must be many more--maybe this would be a good topic for a separate thread??

My Blue Mist Flower (Eupatorium greggii), 2nd year in the ground, attracted its first male Queen recently. It's also a favorite of the Monarchs.

Carla

Every morning I go out to leave for school and I have at least 8 butterflies on my salvia 'coral nymph'. Today I decided to get some pics. Enjoy!

Kim

sulphur

Gulf fritillary

Lovely Queen Carla!!

Nice pics Kim!!


debnes

Kim, how do you get the bfs to look in the camera!? Great pics!

My cherry tree is pretty skinny, too - but for $12! And yes, I am planning to dominate all the bfs in my area (evil laugh!). Speaking of that...I was reading about people who have these new "green" roofs where they literally have plants growing on their roof. I got to daydreaming at work about what I could possibly put on our roof that would live in FL. I thought about pawpaws and blanket flowers and I had these wonderful visions of butterflies hovering over my house. It could happen, LOL!

Porterweed not available?! That's horrible! In the preserve where I hike I once ran across a stand of porterweed and lantana and it was like a butterfly buffet! They love the stuff! Plus, blue is so hard to find in the garden. And a blue flower that takes full sun - priceless!

My gulf frit eggs keep hatching and today I counted seven cats. Two more Zebra STs are about to make their chrysalis. My polydamas cats (small chance of them being pipevine STs) hadn't hatched so I told Mom to put them in front of the window in her office, thinking that my room is too dark. Maybe it was coincidence but they hatched today! Check out the pic - I counted at least 23, and I still have that one cluster that should hatch in a few more days! Thankfully, I have plenty of pipevine. I'm going to have to really study Virginia Snakeroot. It must grow in the wild but I'm sure I just walk right by it. I love finding host plants in their native environments. It helps me decide where to plant them and I love finding cats in the wild, too.

Great news Mel!
I like the green roof idea myself.. in my dreams lol.

Saw one of my favs today... American Painted Lady.. All over the TX Mist flowers.

In the dappled light>