Lots and Lots of Rain

We have had lots and lots of rain recently due to Tropical Storm Debby. I found this Monarch trying to dry its wings in my butterfly container on my patio yesterday. He was still there this morning. Now that the weather has finally started to clear, he has flown away.

Some of you might be interested to see how this butterfly container has evolved since this post. I fertilized it about six weeks ago and the pentas and butterfly weed are quite vibrant now.

Our State Butterfly

I've noticed a larger variety of butterflies flying around the garden at our "new" house compared to our "old" house. I find that a little odd since we moved into a more urban area but it's definitely a good thing for a gardener like me. Remember the passionflower vine I wrote about in this post? I finally attracted Zebra Longwing butterflies to my garden with it and found this little guy...

This is the first Zebra Longwing caterpillar I have ever found in my garden! Now this is an important caterpillar for Floridians - it will become our state butterfly.  

Photo by jjjj56cp via Flickr

The Zebra Longwing is found all over Florida and the Southern United States, Mexico, Central America and into South America. It is a medium sized butterfly with yellow and black stripes. Under its wings, there are usually red spots close to its body. It will lay tiny yellow eggs on the passionvine's tendrils or leaves. These will hatch into white caterpillars with black spikes (Daniels). I always find it so interesting how the caterpillar can look so different from the adult butterfly.

I hope you find some Zebra Longwings in your garden this summer!

References: 

Daniels, J. (2009).  Zebra Longwing, Heliconius charitonia. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in805

Marvelous Monarchs

The Palm Beach Post sent me this video they created of the metamorphosis of a Monarch. It is beautiful! Check it out!

http://clikhear.palmbeachpost.com/2012/life-style/outdoor-life/marvelous-monarch-butterflies-are-free-all-you-need-is-patience-and-milkweed/

Photo by Ari Helminen via Flickr

Passiflora 'Incense'

Hello butterfly gardening friends! I know some time has passed since you last heard from me. My family moved into a new home and this was a much bigger task than I anticipated. There are still plenty of boxes to unpack but we are adjusting well to our new surroundings.

Did I mention we got a new puppy too??

Bailey, our Labradoodle

Well, a new house means a clean slate in the garden. I took what I could from my old garden - some milkweed of course, a stem from my white Angel Trumpet, some herbs... but most of this new garden will be new. I have lots of ideas swirling around in my head but unpacking all of those boxes has taken priority.

I did go by the local nursery a couple of weeks ago and couldn't resist buying this:

This is Passiflora 'Incense.' Now I try to grow native as much as possible but when I saw this striking purple color and smelled the beautiful flower, I had to have it! It has such a wonderful fragrance.  This passionflower is a hybrid of Passiflora incarnata (which is Native) and Passiflora cinnicata. Some of you may recognize Passiflora incarnata as Maypop.  P. 'Incense' is a fast growing vine that tolerates sun or shade and flowers from spring through summer. Sometimes people are hesitant to plant passionflower when I suggest it for their butterfly gardens because it grows so vigorously. I planted mine in a pot and it is doing great. There are lots of flowers and it has successfully attracted Gulf Fritillaries. We found 3 caterpillars munching on its leaves this week! 

In case you are wondering, I bought this passionflower (and pot) at Luka's and the trellis at Restore.

My Favorite Plant Sale

My favorite plant sale of the year is this weekend at Leu Gardens. Vendors from all over the state bring their plants and garden accessories. There is so much to choose from: herbs, flowers, orchids, succulents, citrus trees, Florida natives, etc. Admission to the gardens is free both days. The sale is March 17th and 18th from 9am-5pm.

This is a popular event so I have some tips for you:

1) Bring a cart or wagon for your purchases!

2) If you have been thinking about becoming a Leu Gardens member, now is the time. Members  shop first from 8am-9am on Saturday, the 17th.

3) Parking is tight so come early or later in the day. I usually park on one of the neighborhood side streets.

This is also an excellent opportunity to visit Leu Gardens' Butterfly Garden - one of my favorites!

Leu Gardens by Ricymar Fine Art Photography via Flickr

The BEST Gardening Gloves

It's time to start your spring gardening and I'd like to share my favorite gardening tool with you. Well, they are not so much a tool like a shovel or clippers but they certainly make gardening an even more pleasant experience...  they are the Atlas Gardening Gloves.

As much as I enjoy working with soil in the garden, I do NOT like the way it looks or feels under my fingernails.  I came across these gloves at a local gardening shop, Apenberry's. At first, I was just drawn to the bright colors they come in: green, pink, purple, and blue (black too).  So I purchased a pair in my favorite shade of Robin's Egg blue and set to work in the garden with them. WOW! They fit really well and stretch easily so that I can accomplish all of my gardening tasks. And you can just throw them in the washing machine when they need a good cleaning. They are quite durable - I have had my current pair for a couple of years now. Did I mention they are inexpensive too? A 4-pack on Amazon is $12.50. I think I paid about $5 for my pair at Apenberry's.

Enjoy!

A Chrysalis Movie

Remember the caterpillar that was hanging upside down in my last posting? The next day I caught him in action...