Landscaping for Wildlife & Butterflies

 Our local extension office is hosting a butterfly gardening class!

Birds & Blooms: "Butterfly Gardening Myths"

Hello butterfly gardening friends... I'm just back from vacation with my family. We were visiting the Pacific Northwest  - stay tuned for some butterfly photos from our trip!

Our friends at Birds & Blooms magazine sent me their wonderful butterfly gardening article in their current issue (August/September 2012)...

Plant It and They Will Come - Butterfly Gardening Myths Revealed in the Current Issue of Birds & Blooms Magazine

Attracting butterflies to your garden just got a whole lot easier thanks to Birds & Blooms Magazine.  The current issue is debunking butterfly gardening myths and discovering the truth about getting these beauties to your yard, and increase your chances for success.  According to the article, it really can be as simple as – “plant it and they will come.”  If you plant a patch of milkweed, you’re bound to get monarchs.  If you have an out-of-the-way corner for nettles, get ready to welcome red admirals.  To check out the myths and truths about butterfly gardening featured in this month’s issue, pick up a copy of Birds & Blooms or visit http://www.birdsandblooms.com/mag to attract even more butterflies by planting flowers that will last into fall.

Well, you can read the article right here. They were so nice to allow me to share the article with you on Milkweed Gardens! Enjoy!

 

 

Snapshot! Passionflower

I couldn't resist sharing this photo with you - this passionflower vine's colors and scent are amazing! Have a great weekend!

Passiflora incense

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.