Yes, I go to the spring and fall festivals , too. I'm the crazy girl that makes a mad dash to the bromeliad guild booth. Mom takes the cart and catches up with me, unless she gets distracted by the African Violet Society like last time. Luckily, the AV booth is within sight of the bromeliad booth so I could see her. There's one vendor that always has lots of butterfly plants and is at all the festivals. They're up front and they all wear the same Hawaiian-type shirt. They always have good deals - most of the plants are buy 5, get one free (at $5 each, that's 6 plants for $25). And you can mix and match. Plus, these are pretty good size plants. That's where I got all my porterweed last year. I also like them because they put signs on their passion vine that say things like, "Don't disturb the caterpillars" and they tell people what they are. The FL Native Plant Society folks are always right inside the gate. I got my cherry tree, red cedar, Tampa verbena, and yellow anise from them. They also gave me a nice brochure on butterflies and their host plants (for free)!
I really like that most of the booths are run by clubs and organizations. The people really love the plants and love talking about them (especially the "Ginger Man"). It's so nice to talk to people who understand that the cats aren't "worms" and that they're not destroying the plant. Last year, there was also a guy selling Soursop as an alternative food for the Zebra Swallowtail. I don't know if they really use it, but I guess it would be worth a try. I like my pawpaws so I stick with them.
My little Giant ST cat just ate some of the leaf for the first time. For some reason, I was worried he might not like it, but he seems okay. Still waiting for the other one to hatch...
Melanie
DAILY BUTTERFLIES Page 30
That's so cool, I can't wait to go there! I won't know which way to go first...bromeliads sound good, bf plants, herbs, natives, oh boy.
Selby Gardens is having their Spring Plant Sale next weekend, March 8 & 9. So, I have 5 weeks in between events to save up!
Look what came in the mail today! I can't wait to decorate!
Cathy
Mellie,,,, I just love people (like me) who 'rescue' those plants and save their butterflies.
Nice bumper stickers ya got there Cathy!!! Are we going to be able to see your car behind all those? :o)
Great going on the sulphurs Mellie. It's amazing how well those little cats will blend in with the leaves.
Here's a link to a post about butterflies on butterfly brew, scat, mud and puddling. Hope anyone who has photos will add them there.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/818163/
~ Cat
Good thing I don't have a Mini Cooper!
I'm hoping to mix up a batch of brew this weekend. I have been putting out some of the excess little bananas that have dropped from the big bunch on the banana tree, but I haven't seen any bf's yet, but I'll keep trying!
Melanie, I went to USF Botanical Gardens for the 1st time last year. I bought those 6 plants for $25. What a steal, huh? Nice plants. I plan on going back this year, too. Don't let me forget when it is. : )
Svplantingfool, I'll have to look up Selby Gardens, maybe I can hit that one next weekend, also. : )
~Lucy
Lucy, here's a link for the Selby sale, I'll be there, waiting at the gate on Saturday morning!
http://www.selby.org/index.php?src=events&srctype=profile&id=950&category=Featured%20Events&PHPSESSID=f5062716935f1133221e8f35fb529f83
The gardens are beautiful, and they have a glass room with orchids galore, a bf garden, and lots to look at!
Cathy
Oh my Cathy, I've been wanting to go over there for a long time, to tour the gardens, but never have. When DH comes home for lunch, I'm gonna see if we can go. Maybe, I'll just tell him we are going. LOL : )
LOL Cathy!! I hear ya! Lovely set of car bling girl!! (If I do say so myself.)
I love people like Elaine and Mellie that rescue plants, lol!
Hey y'all, my candletree seeds sprouted in just 4 days!! Yehaw!!
If anyone wants any seeds I still have a lot left... just send me a 41c stamp or a sase. My address is in the Address exchange under "Extras" in the main Dave's tab menu.
I am planting cassia seeds this weekend! Only 4 days, super! Don't know why I've waited so long...
Selby is a beautiful place. On Plant Festival days it's really crazy, with everyone jacked up, I think they've got green blood running through their veins, myself included!
Yes, Lucy, definitely tell him you have an adventure planned for him!
Cathy, I just told him. He said, O.K. : ) YEA! I'm going to Selbys,.... I'm going to Selby's.
(dancing around the room) : )
Alright! That's the way to do it!
Ooh, I get in trouble at Selby's. Last time I went they were having a bromeliad festival. Then, since I was so close I went to Michael's Bromeliads in Venice and then I was broke and went home. But I had all the bromeliads so I was happy!
Today Mom and I went for a walk one street over from where I live. It's citrus season and a guy had his "U-pick" sign out, so I figured it wouldn't be suspicious if I was wandering around his trees. I picked a few leaves for the Giant ST cats, and Dad brought a few leaves home from his mail route as well. One nice thing about FL is that we have plenty of citrus. I didn't find any more cats, but I did find some ladybug eggs! Thanks to the folks on this forum I recognized them this time around. I brought them back to my yard and placed them where I had previously found my other ladybug eggs. I hope there are still aphids in the area (can't imagine why there wouldn't be).
I just have to stop for a moment and say how much I love the smell of orange blossoms. It's definitely one of the highlights of living here in FL. I remember in school riding the bus through the neighborhoods and just inhaling the scent. I think the only other flower that could equal it is tuberose.
Ok, back to the Giant STs. My second egg hatched today. Despite only being one day older, it's amazing the difference in size.
Melanie
In other caterpillar excitement, one of my sulphurs molted! Oh, and I found another one out on the cassia. He survived the cold weather last night (30s) so he must be a tough little guy.
Also, I could be hallucinating, but I think I saw osmeterium (stink horns) on my Giant ST cats. I wasn't sure if they had them from the first instar, but I think maybe they do.
Melanie
Forgot to say that's his head capsule underneath him!
This message was edited Feb 28, 2008 9:12 PM
AWWWWWWWW, I am soooooo jealous. I have NEVER been to Selby Gardens (yet..) So many gardens, so little time. sighhhhh. Have to get my 'Lucy' candle seeds sprouted too..
Elaine
Mellie,,, and I am REALLY jealous that you are smelling all those orange blossoms. There is NOTHING that smells any better.
Elaine
I agree Elaine, orange blossoms are exquisite!
Melanie, Selby & Michaels are a dangerously wonderful combination! Good for you, I bet you have a splendid bromeliad collection. I'm counting the days until Selby...
Oh no, not a place called Michaels, close to Selbys. I better pack a lunch. lol
Oh Geez Lucy, you'd better pack a cooler! Would you believe I found out about Michael's Bromeliads using the zip code search engine here on DG? The nursery is 2 miles from where I work! Talk about right under my nose. Great place, I highly recommend it.
Is that all Michaels has? Bromeliads ?
Lucy, yes, that's pretty much it, maybe 1% is different, but it's pretty much broms as far as the eye can see. Here's a link to their website http://www.michaelsbromeliads.com/HyperCart/OurCollection.asp and if you click on See Our Collection, there's a list of 30+ pages of broms. There aren't tons of pics on their site, but it's easy to find the brom in their list if you know the latin name.
I bet Debness will start a new thread today....
We are going to the Butterflies in the Garden Exhibit at the FW Botanic Garden this weekend. Whoo Woo!!! Get ready for some wonderful pictures!
Anyone local planning on going...here is the website. www.fwbg.org
Cool! I hope you have lots of fun and take tons of pictures, we are ready for the show!
Yes, Sheila, take lots of pictures! If at all possible, post the names of the butterflies too.
Seeing everyone's pictures sure helped me to recall seeing some of those same butterflies in my yard last year. Not to mention some bf's I wish I would come fluttering by.
My goal this year is to learn the names of the butterflies that I see in my yard at first site. To help me do that, taking a diligent record of photos this year should work. Just hoping I can stay of top of it and have my camera nearby! This coming winter, I'd love to be able to look back at my full album of those that did visit me and be able to name them.
I'm growing new host plants this year too. It will be interesting to see if these new plants draw new little flutterbys to my gardens. Please, everybody, keep your fingers crossed for me.
Deborah - Plant it = they will come! Trust me on this!
Shelia - Looking forward to seeing your butterfly exhibit photos! Yes, please try to get their names. :-)
Elaine & Melanie - There is an old abandoned orange grove a couple of blocks from me and it is delicious to be outside at night and smell the fragrance of the blooms! Very strong and sweet! Though not as strong as gardenias! When they bloom - it's SPRING!!! LOL!
Lucy & Cathy - I've never grown broms. Are they a nectar plant for hummers? Anyone know?
Deb should be adding another thread any time now! :-) And I am sure she will start it off with a wonderful photo! :-)
Saw a Common Buckeye, when out taking a walk today.
Lovely Buckeye! Oh, guess what? I just saw a fly-by of the first TST I've spotted this year! I was walking down where the dry creek crosses the road and there it was, flying overhead. It headed over the neighbors house, so I couldn't see it anymore. Probably to follow the creekbed. I've seen butterflies do that many times. Doesn't have to even have to have any water in the creek at all, they just fly along over the creek, sometimes they light on a tree or something for a while.
Bromeliads don't tend to have nectar in the same way other flowers do. I do like having them because they provide a great habitat for my lizards and frogs (even the bad, invasive Cuban ones). Because they hold water they're a great attraction for lots of critters.
Spring definitely seems to be arriving for everyone! My buttonbush just started leafing out - I hear it attracts hummingbirds as well as butterflies. I like it because it's native, and it's got the coolest blooms ever! I saw one while I was hiking and thought, "I have to have one of those". My pawpaws are also starting to leaf out. I need to get over there and weed this weekend and then I'll try to take some pics for everyone.
Mom was playing warden for the sulphurs today. They're clever - two managed to escape. Mom recaptured them, but when I came home and did a bed check we found two more had escaped. Everyone is now present and accounted for. I've got saran wrap over the lid, but I'm also trying to air them out as much as possible so moisture doesn't build up. But then they wander off and escape...
Tomorrow Mom and I are going to the USF gardens quilt show. I'll definitely check out the butterfly action and share photos.
Melanie
Ok,,, I just couldn't resist. Here this,, here this,, THERE IS A KNOWN BUTTERFLY ESCAPE IN LUTZ, FLA. .. He/she is yellow with small dots. Anyone seeing a sighting, please call Melanie or her Mom, AKA "Butterly Mama"
I love quilt shows.. wish I could go. too,
Elaine
I'm telling you - they're quick, and they're organized! And, after much staring and the assistance of Mom's magnifying glass, I think I have cloudless sulphurs. One of them is getting kind of big so I got a better photo. Check him out!
Melanie
He is sooo pretty..
Elaine
Melanie, that is a cool photo, you can really see the detail. Have fun at the quilt show!
Elaine, you're too funny!
bsharf, that Buckeye is lovely, I have never seen any around here, think I'll go check the bf & moth site and see where they roam in FL.
LindaTX8, lucky you! I sure wish we had a little creek around here. Visited a friend last weekend, she has an empty lot next door and there were TONS of bf's there! I could see passionvine popping up here and there, and the GF's were there in droves, it was beautiful.
Becky, I've never seen anything visit the bromeliad flowers, I mainly grow them to add some interest to the garden. Just one more addiction...
Cathy
Hey everyone! I started a new daily thread sine this one is getting long and I'm going to post a lot of pictures. Come join me at http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/819078/