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

Peaceful Passage

Certain places in the garden, more than others, have a stronger pull to my soul. This particular place holds its very own ambiance and gives that feeling of a garden within a garden. Being there I can hear the whispers of quiet urgings to be still, to listen, to pause. It's like a sanctuary in the midst of the wide open world.

It's been two years (although it surely seems like yesterday) since I covered up the grass (September/October of 2009) linking several expanses of planting beds. It was accomplished by layering newspapers and pine straw to create a pathway. You can go here to see the detailed "how-to" and more before and after photos.

From the beginning of its creation I've been calling this area in the back gardens the 'tropical pathway'.

It isn't because there are exclusively tropical plants here but it is a most protective place for them. Implementing my usual philosophy of mixing up Florida-friendly plants with sturdy natives this area is a blend of many varieties that require little care.

The towering, majestic oak trees have grown a dense canopy allowing just the correct amount of filtered light through as the sun rises and sets each day.

So many exotic and typically cold-sensitive plants such as bromeliads, ground orchids, begonias, bird's nest fern, stromanthe, spathiphyllum, and philodendrons are snuggly sheltered from summer's intense sunshine as well as freezing cold temps. There have been a few casualties in our record-breaking winters of late but no fatalities so far.

The soil here is rich with organic natural materials such as oak leaves decomposed over many years. This contributes to the water holding power and also good drainage which most of these plant types require.

With the addition of new plants ~~ either by divisions, gifts or the ones I can't pass by in the garden center~~ each season the pathway has become narrower and narrower.

These plants don't mind being crowded in together with their neighbors. It is the way of the rainforest.

It eased the width of the passageway when I recently ripped out the volunteer impatiens that had swallowed up the seating area. (They'll be back I'm sure ~~ it's what they do around here).

The butterfly garden that was added a year later adjoins this area. A separate pathway leads one to the property line on the south side. The autumnal southward sun coupled with the natchez crape shedding its leaves is allowing much needed rays for blooming.
This is the season for the white philippine violets to show off their pristine blooms. It is a perennial self-seeder that pops up in lots of places around the tropical pathway.

It is this time of year when the garden is particularly lush... even the pathway leading to the compost piles is worthy of a photo.

I find this peaceful and shadiest part of the garden a most restful spot. The stillness and quiet is alive with the abundance of nature. It is calming to my soul and confirming that gardening is the most productive therapy.

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Because of the positioning of the birdfeeders throughout the garden the tropical pathway is also the corridor the birds use to fly low between the feeders and birdbaths. They are free entertainment! Visit Lowe's Garden Grow Along here to read my latest article regarding the birds that visit Hoe and Shovel.

October Favorites: Bridal Veil

Before we get to the Bridal Veil could we have a quick look at the Clerodendrum ugandese blue butterfly?

It is a sprawling perennial shrub that blooms continuously from late summer through the autumn season. Nectaring critters are frequent admirers along with me.

What's newly opening her pendulous white blooms this month is the Clerodendrum wallichii Bridal Veil. She is tucked away in partial shade under the oak trees creating a wonderful fall blooming treasure in the garden.

Salvia madrensis or Forsithia sage is setting buds and blooms are beginning to burst open from the top and sides of 10' tall square stems. It is a giant of a plant.

Spring/summer I dug up and transplanted starts from the spreading clump in the front garden to additional locations in the garden.

There isn't a single quality I don't favor about the Cassia Alata. So cheery-golden and full of desire for winged creatures.

A favorite last month and this month it makes the list easily. False blue ginger ~~ a fabulous fall bloomer.

With a plethora of bottlebrush-like blooms the Agastache x 'Black Adder' carries its share of the load adding color and critter attraction from spring to fall. I'm loving these plants more each season.

Muhlenbergia capillaris Muhly Grass remains the autumn-star in the sunniest corner at Hoe and Shovel.

The zinnias in the vegetable garden really must be pulled out (soon - like yesterday)to make room for the rest of the cool-weather seeds that need to be sown.

It would surely help to know the sweet, fuzzy bumbles will find some soft petals elsewhere to sleep.

Dangling clusters of begonia flowers from stiff stalks of angel-wing (or is it dragon wing) begonias are flushing back out after retreating from the high summer temps.

These are in containers along the front walkway. These tough tropicals can also be enjoyed as ground plants in other areas of the garden.

It's time to give the Plectranthus ‘Mona Lavender’a soft shearing across the top. One last photo just prior. It won't take long for them to flush back out with their delicate-appearing purple blooms that contrast with the wonderfully dark, two-toned foliage it presents.

Celosia seeds given to me by a garden center in north Florida ~~ I had given up hope they had germinated. Fun surprise in the butterfly garden.

On the edges of the butterfly garden and in three more places in the garden our Florida native Hamelia patens firebush blooms from early summer and steadily qualifies as a favorite even in October.

Dietes iridioides African Iris is planted as borders, as fillers, as clumps for middle layers, as accent plants in so many places. Easily divided and adaptable in shade or filtered light this is one of my go-to Florida-Friendly choices. The stark white flowers with lavender and gold accents are a bonus.

It wouldn't be a proper post without a view of my all-time favorite caladiums still adding lots of impact to the gardens. Have I mentioned lately how very fond I am of these heart-shaped clusters of showy foliage? Oh. Well. I'm glad I remembered to bring it up ... just one more time.

Callicarpa americana beautyberry is especially rich with deep magenta berries all tightly clustered along the long draping stems. More of these Florida natives were added to the SE side of the way-back gardens this summer.

Speaking of berries. I'm partiularly fond of just about any plant that produces berries. Belamcanda chinensis blackberry lilies get their name from the berries that appear once the flowers have gone to seed.

Love every phase of these great plants!

The cooling down night temps allow for the Lobularia maritima sweet alyssum to flourish happily. They prefer our autumn/winter/spring ~~ much like this gardener.

Be sure to scoot on over to Susan's at Simply Susan to see what she has posted as her favorites this month. And check out the other participants while you're there.

October's Frosty Visit

Brrrrr... It was a chilly night. Temps plunged to the freezing point overnight. I don't think it lasted long but enough to leave the icy crystals on the vast open fields.

As far as the eye can see, there is a frosty layer of crystals covering what was green grass yesterday.

Does anyone recognize this beautiful setting?


It certainly isn't Hoe & Shovel. Would it be a stretch to say it is kin to Hoe & Shovel?

There was lots of bird activity at the feeders this early morning... not at all bothered by the brisk temps.

Yesterday I arrived for a visit with my dear sister, Marmee, in (Leiper's Fork) or Franklin, TN. Many of you are regular readers of her blog also. Her country homestead is kind of like stepping into another world for this Florida girl. It gives me much excitement to come "north". The colors of the leaves are a treat for eyes longing to see the changes of season and to feel the crisp air of autumn.

My sister is gifted with remarkable natural creative genius. Her interests and keen eye for beauty and uniqueness of design are well expressed in every nook and cranny of her home and garden. I've shared with you a peek of a few of the vignettes I captured on my early morning venture outdoors.

We are off to visit a botanical garden in Nashville today. Whatever exploration the gardens bring us, there is no doubt the day is sure to provide many more hours of non-stop chatter.