I certainly hope that I am not stepping on any toes here if I begin a new thread.
Coming from here ...
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/845505/
The photo is of our 'newest' Columbine to join our family of Columbines in the gardens. We have no idea what the name is, but it's a beautiful dark blue.
I love crocosima, but it never comes back for me. I'm trying another spot that is hopefully more of a micro climate. It's supposed to be good down to zone 6...go figure..
Thanks for the new post,doubt anyone is bent outta shape . I don't have any talent in that area.
When I am conflicted about ANYTHING including plants, I just let go and roll with the punches. Annas advise is spot-on.
love the Epimedium.... too bad the fairy garden is going in a sunny place... but this one was my favorite.... might have to get it for one of my shade gardens
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76528/
Couldn't help but snap this photo here ...
The girls were outside playing a few minutes ago and Taelar came running inside and told me to bring my camera ...
Butterflies!!
wow how cool
BEAUTIFUL.
Were they all feeding on somethin?
How come so many in a bunch like that?
Jo Ann ~
I actually think they just may be mating. I can't think of any other activity that would make them 'herd' like that. It certainly isn't food, because you can see that they are all in a muddy patch on the back lawn. I am just so glad that Taelar came running in to ask me to bring the camera.
I am not a butterfly genius, but your answer makes sense. I thought how lucky you are to have such a bright girl.
I wish I could remember how I made a "pinhole camera" for a childrens workshop in Photography at the local Art Gallery. It was 30 years ago and the kids did a great job.
Yeah, Taelar is my plant-wildlife-butterflies-hummingbirds sweetie! I just love showing her new things, and she rewards me often with her insights, and her coming to get me when she sees something different or unusual.
Got a nice noID coleus in a 6" pot at Lowe's last night for $2. All black, more black than any other i've seen in person.
muddy..perhaps they were drinking?
What a great picture! I just spotted my first tiger swallowtail today, very excited! I miss my goldfinch this year....he ate all the webworms in my yard in about 1/2 hour last year, it was amazing! I hope he and his family show up again this year, although they sure make short work of any sunflowers I have. Yikes, violent little guys. I have two questions: Candyce, do you have all that much trouble growing roses in NH? I noticed your comment on the RU thread. I'd love to move further north, but I'm a little wary of the cold. And amethystsm, that actually sounds like a very neat color....do you grow coleus in sun or shade? I thought shade, but mine aren't doing anything.
I would love to see that Amy
I don't get butterflies, I don't hummingbirds.
Wa-wa-wa, Mother Nature just doesn't like me.
Great picture Candy.
Chuck
what have we bought>>>> OMG. The list is way to long!!! LOL. I have as many as you probably have an addict to the nursuries and greenhouses.... colombines, hydrangea, ligularias,(3). Have lots of shade and they are my favorites... primrores, foxgloves, brilliancy, clematis, black cohash, jack in the pulpits.... on and on.. Somebody stop me!!! I also love the epimediums!! I have three different colors, dont ask me the sci fi name have no idea!! Oh I also purchased some bluebelles!! Pretty in the spring. Have a great week everyone, Ronna
Drumlin
I tried to look up your name on the 'names' thread. So, I guess I'll call you drumlin - LOL!
Anyway ... it's not NH that poses the problem for roses ... it's this gardener, I guess. So many people around here have gorgeous rose gardens!! It's just me!
I'm so happy that you have all liked the photo of the butterflies. What did you say they are? Tiger Swallowtails? They are so beautiful, ad i feel so blessed to have seen so many.
I read something a few days ago about butterflies--it said to make a muddy area for them, but I can't remember why! Also today in our paper's nature column(Drumlin--you may get the Waterbury Republican) the writer said the swallowtails were the most dominant butterfly right now. I have not seen any yet, but i did have a small copper butterfly yesterday--also a lot of hummer activity on my hanging petunias & fuchsias.
My coleus experience is limited, but i know generally they want shade. This one says sun,. but i don't believe it. i think there are some cultivars bred for more sun, but i doubt this is one of them. (i was pinching flower buds off them at Lowe's - how much of a geek am i?!
IKEA has good sized silver metal window box shaped planters for $2.99. A pail made out of the same stuff was $12.99. Go figure.
dogwalker....hummingbirds I can see but do you know why no butterflies? I thought they were everywhere. You're not far from Tower Hill Botanic Gardens are you? I would think they have enough milkweed in their parking lot to make that part of your state a butterfly resort.
"There are certain minerals that some butterflies, such as swallowtails, sulfurs, and blues need that are not provided in a diet of nectar alone. These minerals are found in standing water, or mud puddles. On learning this, you may be inspired to dash right out into your garden and make a mud puddle or two so your butterflies can get their daily "mineral fix." Not a bad idea! Just another healthful way to attract butterflies to your yard."
You can read more on it here:
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/planning/bflyneeds.asp
and here:
http://cloudbridge.org/butterflies.htm
Don't know why im having such a hard time to copy and paste tonight. Heat stroke? LOL
This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 9:41 PM
This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 9:43 PM
This message was edited Jun 8, 2008 9:44 PM
Wow - interesting. i had no idea.
But mosquitoes are also found in standing water and mud puddles... sigh.
RosyDawn has suntolerant coleus,Do a search.
I'm off to bed.
Wow, Celeste! I didn't know that! Thanks for those links (and for the trouble you went through to post them!) I especially liked the Starbucks reference ~ LOL!
David, funny you mention Tower Hill. Just there Saturday. Didn't see many BF's but I was happy to see a good amount of honey bees. They were few and far between last year due to that Lost Hive thing I read about.
We were at "Garden in the Woods" in Framingham about two weeks ago. They had plenty of BF's
Chuck
ohhh. BF = butterfly. i get it.
i was wondering how many boyfriends (or best friends) you might have expected to see...
; )
LOL - LOL - LOL
PICK MYSELF UP OFF THE FLOOR.
That was funnyest thing I've heard in a LONG time.
Thanks, I needed that.
Chuck
I haven't seen many BFs (I'm going to giggle every time I see that now) at all this year yet. I saw a Spicebush Swallowtail and the Tiger both on the same day, but then again I'm only outside on the weekends for the most part (this thing called day job, ewww). Ooo, speaking of butterfly things, I rescued a really pretty pink butterfly bush from Home Depot this weekend. The poor thing had been crushed, but I see new growth, so I think it will be OK. I've got several butterfly weed varieties, butterfly bush, and of course the usual phlox, but they're not blooming yet, so they're not working to attract anything. I've never, ever seen a hummingbird in my garden, so I'm so jealous Robindog! I just have to be outside more to see, I think.
I saw Monarchs today!! No eggs yet though. And 3 types of Swallowtail.
I'm seeing butterflies up here in NW Vermont, no idea what kind, they are flying too high to tell (no good flowers blooming for them yet).
I told myself this year I wasn't going to buy, instead learn to maintain what I have. Ha! While I have been good, I ordered some perennials from bluestone this weekend (first time) to fill in the gaps I have from the eaten rudbeckia and echinacea. I think it is the groundhog, and from a thread at gardenweb they seem to be their favorite. Because I planted this big swath of them, I have quite a gap in my bed. They are slowly growing, and some reseeded, but the bed needs help. So I ordered a bunch of butterfly/hummer plants that folks listed as not being eaten :) I plan on keeping the favorite snack, I am doing a wildlife garden and they are wildlife, but at least I'll have something pretty to look at too!
And speaking of no good flowers blooming yet for the butterflies, I really need to work on my late spring blooms. That doesn't mean I have to buy right now though.....at least that is what I keep telling myself!
I've seen a few monarchs and many swallowtails so far.
Seen lots of swallowtails.
Great photo of the butterflies, Candyce!
Good information, Celeste.
I planted all the coleus in sunshine to see who would love it the best and the least. I'll report if I have any casualties.
A few plants hitchhiked home with us from Cape Cod but I don't have any photos downloaded yet.
great to have you back Pirl
Thanks. The dog was more than ecstatic to see us!
Welcome home Arlene!
Thanks, Harper. I miss the food!
Evie_beevie, you made me laugh....the harder you fight the temptation to buy, the worse it gets, until you're like me and spend $500 at the nursery because you just can't take it anymore!! Those gaps just need to be filled, and what's life without a new perennial (or three)? The thing that finally stopped me is the work in planting it all! Enough for this year, already....
And it's getting too hot!! (But I just placed two more orders! Shhhhhh.)
My order from Select Seeds came after they called me twice to tell me that the delph's I ordered were not available---I told them TWICE to send any delph--they did, but not labeled, so it's potluck, I guess. Thanks, Pix , for the info on the butterflies--it was driving me nuts! And what, Victor, did you order? Drumlin--glad you got the butterfly bush--love them!
