Saturday, October 18, 2008

Butterfly Days

We have not had very many butterflies visit this summer. Not really sure what the deal is, but they just didn't come.
There had not been a single Gulf frittilary caterpillar on the passion vine. I have seen very few adults. Today the beauty in the above picture showed up. Isn't she pretty. She did lay a few eggs on the vines, but I don't know if they will have enough time before it gets too cold for caterpillars.
Most summers we watch dozens of black swallowtail caterpillars eat my dill, crysalize (look I made up a verb), and come back to visit the zinnia. This year only one batch ate the fennel in the front flower bed. We had a black swallowtail visit today. I didn't see any egg laying. This is a good thing, because the dill is tiny and there would not be enough food.


Remember this from a couple of days ago.

It now looks like this. I planted it with carrots. Next week I will buy some leek seeds and add a few right down the middle. Should be an interesting looking veggie patch.
What are you growing this fall?
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7 comments:

  1. Not many butterflies over here either Debbi. Two poor summers in a row have really taken their numbers down.

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  2. vp, us too. My sister says it has something to do with a wasp over population here.

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  3. I planted coneflower, black-eyed susan and bee balm recently. Oh, and also hollyhock and foxglove. It looks good in this cooler weather. You're right. Haven't seen many butterflies. I wonder what accounts for that?
    Brenda

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  4. H Brenda, Don't know what is going on with the butterflies. Sister says it is wasps. You have luck with foxglove. Maybe I will give it a shot again.

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  5. I had quite a few visitors this summer & some lingering monarchs this fall. I'm growing lettuce in a container at the moment. Next year I hope to have a more permanent veggie space.

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  6. Racquel, I really missed all the butterflies this summer. Maybe next year will be better. Good luck with the lettuce.

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  7. I thought it was due to storms. I didn't know about the wasp problem.

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