Simply Gardens » Butterfly Gardening

The Monarchs took flight!

Anne Brewer — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:33:18 +0000

All the caterpillars turned into chrysalises on July 10, and when I returned from a weekend trip on the 19th, all the monarchs except for one had emerged from their chrysalis and were ready for flight.

Monarch

Alot is Going on in the Butterfly World

Anne Brewer — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:18:05 +0000

It seems like I left everyone high and dry for the last couple of weeks. Since I last wrote, I put 7 Swallowtail caterpillars in the butterfly box. Three emerged this morning. Check out the photos! I had my back to the box this morning while having my daily coffee on the patio. I noticed Reba, my beautiful yellow lab, perked up suddenly, looking behind me. I didn’t know what kind of critter was back there, so I turned. Out of the corner of my eye I saw something moving- a butterfly was pumping its wings! I got up to get a closer look, and there were 3! They hung out around the box for a few hours before they were ready to fly, and about 9:00AM the last one took flight.

There are four left to “hatch”. WOW! I think I need another butterfly box- I have 9 Monarch caterpillars on the milkweed and 5 Gulf Fritillaries on the passion vine- Amazing! Life is abundant- just look around you.

What’s growing in your garden?

More on Butterfly Gardening

Anne Brewer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:54:14 +0000

American Painted Lady on Buddelia

As the temperature continues to climb and we get later into the summer you will see more and more butterflies. Make sure you have a varietyof nectar and host food in order to increase the variety of butterflies in your yard. Milkweed for monarchs, fennel, parsley, and citrus for swallowtails, and passionvine for the Gulf fritillaries are all great host plants. Cone flower, pentas, black eyed Susans, buddelia, and Queen Anne’s lace are some of the many nectar plants. Check out the butterfly article in the garden writing tab for more information on the specifics of butterfly gardening.

Tell me what butterflies you are seeing in your area.

Facilitating the Life Cycle of the Butterfly

Anne Brewer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:40:48 +0000

: Black Swallowtail egg on bronze fennel

: Black Swallowtail caterpillar on bronze fennel

There’s been a Black Swallowtail in my garden for several days now. I’ve been checking the fennel and parsley daily, but no eggs or caterpillars have been found. This afternoon I went out in hopes of taking some pictures of butterflies. I knew I’d see the Monarch because she has been there for at least a week (I’m still waiting to find eggs and caterpillars on the Milkweed). I was hoping to catch a shot of the Black Swallowtail- what I got was even more exciting! After looking around the yard for the swallowtail and not finding it, I went to the fennel and parsley just to see, if by chance, I’d find eggs. Alas! What seemed to be hundreds were all over the fennel. I’m still learning how to take macro shots so it took a while to get a couple of clear photos for the blog. Here they are! Then I looked at the fennel without the camera and there right before me was a caterpillar! It had to have been there for days because it is kind of big. As I studied more closely the fennel, there was an even larger caterpillar. I’m so excited I can’t stand it. Now I need to pull out my butterfly box, make sure it’s clean- no spiders or critters that would hurt the caterpillars, and start watching the transformation! I’ll keep you posted with the progress- such fun. Join me and design your butterfly garden today- you will be so glad you did.

Monarch in the Garden

Anne Brewer — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:53:14 +0000

Yesterday, this monarch stayed in my backyard all afternoon. I wish I could have caught her on video, but I was lucky to catch this still shot. My nectar plants are in bloom now so the butterflies have lots of options- buddeleia, penta, milkweed,a variety of salvias, and more. I’m including another pic of her on milkweed. So far, no eggs… maybe tomorrow.

Take your garden to another level with butterfly gardening. Check out my article “It’s All A Flutter in the Garden” for more information on how to create one in your yard.

Butterfly Gardening

Anne Brewer — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:44:26 +0000

I have had a pretty hectic schedule the last couple of weeks and have not been tending the butterfly garden. Looking out the kitchen window I’d see a butterfly here and there looking for nectar. Alas, nothing “nectarish” was blooming- ugh!!! Finally, I went to The Garden Gate for my favorite butterfly plants. I loaded down my car with red pentas; purple, pink, and white (because I love white in my garden) verbena, milkweed, parsley, passion vine, liatris, and much more!

Yesterday, I worked in the garden all day (and do I feel it today!) and got most everything planted. Later, I sat on the patio to observe. Sure enough, here comes a beautiful Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and it found the purple verbena! I just love it. There’s plenty of fennel and parsley now for egg laying… Now the fun begins!

I didn’t have my camera when I saw the swallowtail so the photograph is a shot I took of the same type of butterfly at Sewanee, Tn. when I was there for a retreat last spring. It lit on vinca vine in the woods.