Butterflies of Autumn

In Central Florida butterflies can be seen year-round. The population of them decreases as winter arrives. If it gets very cold, as in freezing, they may disappear until it warms up, but they are hiding somewhere safe until the temperatures rise.

Monarch on Agastache 'Black Adder'

The autumn garden is filled with an abundance of pollinator activity, including many varieties of butterflies. Agastache 'Black Adder' is a popular stop for all the nectar-sipping critters in my garden.

Gulf Fritillary on 'Black Adder'

Long-tailed Skipper on 'Black Adder'

Queen butterfly on milkweed flowers

The Queen butterfly is not as commonly seen in my garden as the other species discussed here. However, this year there seemed to be more than normal. The Queen butterfly is very similar in size and pattern to the Monarch.

Queen butterfly on milkweed flowers

Queen butterfly on milkweed flowers

Queen butterfly on milkweed flowers

Swallowtail plant (Christia Obcordata) is definitely not a butterfly even though it appears to have a gazillion wings of butterflies dancing around on graceful stems. This is not a plant that last more than a season in my garden. I buy them when I find them in late summer, pot them up in containers and place them in partially shaded spots. The leaves fade and drop off as the days grow shorter. You can read more about this unique plant in a previously featured post here.

Tiger Swallowtail on Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Pentas  (Pentas lanceolata) are an all-time favorite of mine and the pollinators in my garden. These are the old-fashioned, tall red variety that survive through most winters or return after being frosted back. The value of red pentas in my garden cannot be overstated. I love them and recommend them highly for year-round bright color in the dense clusters of red. Loads of pollinator activity, including hummingbirds depend on them for nectar.

Gulf Fritillary on Pentas (Pentas lanceolata

Tiger Swallowtail on red Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Tiger Swallowtail on red Pentas (Pentas lanceolata)

Chrysalis of Black Swallowtail butterfly

This summer and early autumn we had the privilege of seeing dozens of black swallowtail caterpillars transform from tiny eggs to each instar stage and molt into butterflies. It was a wonderful learning experience for our young grandchildren and just as thrilling for us to witness each metamorphosis.

New Black Swallowtail butterfly just out of chrysalis

We have pondered how a single Rue herb plant could have hosted so many caterpillars. All the leaves would be sheared off by hungry cats and as soon as they matured new growth would push out rapidly. It's a wonder of nature.

I hope you are relishing autumn days wherever you are. Happy gardening, Meems


If you liked these photos you may enjoy these previous posts also:
Butterflies Galore
Benefits and Beneficials: A Garden Teeming with Life
Autumn Makes A Grand Arrival
To Capture the Sunlight
Hello December


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Meems

Summer Blue

Fond childhood memories come to mind whenever I see shrubs of Plumbago (auriculata). Inevitably as children, in the course of outdoor play times, we would track around with remnants of leaves and blue petals stuck to our clothing.
The fuzzy hairs on the buds of the flowers are sticky. Just enough to help them disperse their seeds but lightly enough that the petals and leaves stuck to clothing can easily be picked off.
Hedge rows of these whimsical, easily grown shrubs in the back part of the property that used to bloom beautifully are receiving too much shade as the oak trees continue to mature. Plumbago prefer dry, well draining soil with lots of sunshine to bloom their best.
If you look all the way down to the end of the northside berm in the above photo you can see a lone Plumbago bush growing in a container pot. I'm using its long, arching branches to hide the pump for the well. It is happy there because the container dries out between waterings and ample sunshine gives it the energy to bloom profusely.

Blue flowers seem to be a popular favorite for gardeners and blue Plumbago is about as true a blue as I know of for this region.

It's nice that the butterflies like them for nectaring; they are host plant for cassius blue larva.

Spiderwort and Spider Webs

Tradescontia ohiensis spiderwort, Native to Florida

A gardener never knows what unexpected beauties await as we take a stroll around our beloved plots of earth.

Every time of day offers its own unique ambience and surprises. It would seem the delicate spider webs are bracing the spiderwort. First streams of light radiate here and there through the tree limbs to disclose fresh scenery only morning's sun can provide. In the native garden it is the white blooms of Oakleaf Hydrangea that are highlighted for these few moments. Clear and crisp. Brilliant brightness illuminates dew drops, petals, and foliage, and showcases characteristics of the garden that must be discovered during this short window of time. This is the view that drew me out this morning. In the distance this is what I see directly through my kitchen window. All that shimmering and glimmering from the soft rays of morning streaming into the tropical pathway and the circle garden. Can you see the spider's web on the Cordyline 'Red Star' in its small orbed pattern?

There we go... now it's visible. Elsewhere in the garden I'm drawn from place to place and met with unexpected garden gifts. Keeping an eye on the bud for the amaryllis just outside the pool cage... Today it has burst open in red flames of color. For some unknown reason (to me anyway) only this plant sends up buds and blooms each year. There are several more in the garden that don't bloom. Ever. Trachelospermum jasminoides Confederate jasmine is sending out its sweet fragrance to greet my senses. This care free vine covers the entire fencing surrounding the edible garden. It doubles as a wind break and privacy screen. The fresh earthy smell of edibles mixed with the lemony-clean aroma of jasmine all at once carries with it the power to cause a girl to swoon. Confederate jasmine wraps its strong roots and twines its foliage over the arbor that connects the perennial garden and the wildflower garden. A pretty moth I've not noticed in the past is nectaring from the sweet flowers. Juxtaposed to the arbor is the more than 20' single trunk Ligustrum japonicum tree. It is loaded with white buds and blooms for spring... and the pollinators. A quick peek in the edible garden and the Black Swallowtails are seen laying eggs on the parsley. There should be plenty for the instars to eat. This year flat leaf parsley sprouted all over the garden from seeds dropped by last year's parsley. Just one more unexpected but welcomed surprise on this bright and beautiful spring morning.
Happy gardening,
Meems

Making Summer Memories That Count

"Grandmother is a state of grace, a chance to be a child again, to be whimsical, to dance, to sing, to explore, to believe, and to scatter your love, like glistening drops of warm spring rain, onto your grandchildren."
Sharon Lovejoy


One of the most glorious parts of summertime is having more time with the grandbabies. None of which are babies in the slightest way anymore with the youngest one being 4 years old.

Extended stays at Mimi's and Papa's are calendared once school ends to be sure we have longer, uninterrupted days together ~~ especially with the two older ones. Randomly visits are a result of whims and wishes and spur of the moment requests.

Our doors are always open ~~however they get here is just fine with us.

This time of year butterflies are as much a part of the garden as the plants. Drawn by bright colors and the nectar they seek and often times their host plants we get very used to sharing our outdoor experiences with them.

Children are equally as fascinated with them as adults. They sure do provide easy conversation for young, bright minds to engage in learning the processes of life in a garden.

And sharing the Agastache 'Black Adder' are all sorts of flying critters. Some we can identify and some we don't. One thing for sure is that with summertime temps all sorts of God's creatures can be 'seen' and 'heard' all over the garden. And smart little minds and hearts are very keen to 'listening' as well as 'seeing'. Always they are eager to identify and determine which are harmful or helpful. These are good things to know when pouncing about the garden.

What excitements have been stirred as we've discovered so many caterpillars in every stage.

Passion vine, parsley, bronze fennel and dill all being chewed to pieces as host plants.

Everyday lessons from the garden full with the journey that growing habits of each creature affords and the meaning of transformation being understood in deeper ways.

Dragonflies have been overly abundant this year. This being my own observation with absolutely no science involved. But I've asked around and other gardeners in this area agree. There hasn't been a definitive reason why but we are certain the increase in numbers is not just our imagination.

Every imaginable color, too. My littlest fellow helped me take a photo of this golden beauty.

He is my 'number one bug finder' and 'curious mind for all things buggy' extraordinaire. He thrills at the sight of a bug we haven't seen yet. "Mimi, get your camera. I found a bug."

Without the magnification of the camera lens this miniscule spider appeared to have only four legs. But we knew it couldn't be so because "spiders have EIGHT legs."

This from a four year old.

There is something about water ~~ any source of water ~~ that draws children to touch it/ feel it/play with it if possible. An easily accessible faucet in the back garden provides a watering source for both plantlife and the humans who tend it. What starts out as "Can I help you water, Mimi?" often turns into wet shoes and clothes. In summertime when every living thing is steamy and hot it matters not.

Empty water bottles re-filled with water and dirt over and over again makes for many minutes of entertainment while Mimi gets some actual gardening accomplished.

Lots of toad frogs doing their helpful deeds. Hoping they are enjoying the abundance of slugs and snails offered in every border.

Not our favorite critters but frustratingly frequent visitors. Armadillos have wreaked their fair share of mayhem in the summer garden. These smaller ones haven't been taught very well yet. They shouldn't be out in broad daylight. Their youthful inexperience does make it easy to see how they bury their noses deep into the soil and then tunnel around searching out worms and other crawly fare.

Mimi doesn't like anything about them but the kiddos think its great to see them scamper as they run through the pathways and surprisingly discover the night creatures are out during the day.

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Summer is for taking advantage of relaxed school schedules and creating memories that make a difference in every heart. The garden offers a perfect resource and naturally accommodates curious and investigative young souls. What a blessing it is to have the privilege of being such an integral part of our grandchildren's lives. They make our hearts sing and our world spin with joy!
Shhhh... all three of them are still sound asleep after long days of swimming, board games, golf, scrapbooking, and simply laughing until we can't breathe.

Butterflies Galore Today: Zebra Longwing

Black Swallowtail, Papilio Polyxenes asterius

The September garden is always chocked full of butterfly activity.

Today was no exception.

Juvenal's Dusky Wings, Erynnis juvenalis

The morning started off with the rather drab Dusky Wings making its way around to the blue porterweed in the veggie garden. Drab brown or not they still fascinate me.

Long-tailed Skipper, Urbanus proteus
Flitting about with its quick movements the skipper landed on the confederate jasmine leaves momentarily.

Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae eubule
...Nectaring at the Firebush, Hamelia patens.

Cassius Blue, Leptotes cassius theonus
One of my very favorite butterflies.... wingspans range from 1.4 to 2.5 cm. Host plant in my garden is the plumbago. They are just so dainty, yet flitty, and erratic in flight. Their beautiful blue wings when open are brilliant.

A perspective of its size with its entire face buried in the small opening of one of the trumpet shaped lantana petals.

Plumbago, host plant, offers refuge for egg laying.

We have enjoyed a large population of Zebra Longwings, Heliconius charitonius tuckeri this summer.

I've convinced myself it is due to the passion-flower vine, passifloraceae which is its ONLY host plant. I planted it in the spring hoping to attract more of the Longwings to hang around.

Last-stage caterpillar. It seems the Gulf Fritillaries made the vine their home in the spring and now the Longwings are taking their turn.

A closer look and even I was surprised to see so much activity going on high up in the air on the tips of the vine.

Many generations are produced each year.

Elongated yellow eggs are laid in small groups on the young leaves of the food plant.

Today, I witnessed this process in action.

And now there are more eggs just seconds later.

Adults of the Zebra Longwing occur all months of the year in south and central Florida.

Zebra Longwing is unusual in several aspects of adult behavior. One such behavior is pollen feeding. Females visit flowers not only to sip nectar, but to gather a ball of pollen at the tip of the proboscis. Regurgitated enzymes digest some of the pollen into smaller components, especially proteins, that can be used for producing eggs.

The Firebush, Hamelia patens, a native plant is sited right next to the host plant. Regardless, that firebush gets visitors of all sorts. There was another hummingbird on it today as well. I hesitate to even say it. It was way too fast for me or my clicker. Out of nowhere it came and it went away the same route.

The Zebra Longwing became the official state butterfly of Florida by an April 1996 vote of the legislature.

Its flight is slow and fluttering and graceful unlike any other butterfly... at least in my garden. It is one of my favorites for that aspect alone.

It was a good day to be in the garden.