One Butterfly and Hummer Gardener's Success Story!
Did your choice of both nectar-source and host plants bring a variety of butterflies to your garden? And have you been able to identify any of your "flying flowers?"
Yes, absolutely! I have been able to identify many different species of butterflies that have visited my gardens. Some I've identified include Spicebush Swallowtail, Viceroy, Gulf Fritillary, Tiger Swallowtail, Monarch, and also many others.
Terri, have you ever had the pleasure of watching a caterpillar emerge from its chrysalis?
Yes, I have! I was fortunate to be able to witness the entire metamorphosis process of a Monarch caterpillar. I observed this during the second season after I finished my gardens. I had been watching all of the caterpillars, and there were a few of them munching on my Alcepsias. Each day I would go check them out. Finally, all but one caterpillar disappeared and there was just one chrysalis, and it was on the milkweed. Each day I would check it out to see what was going on with it. Very close to the end, the chrysalis became transparent. I was actually able to see the wings of the butterfly through the casing! At that point, I knew that it wouldn't be long before the butterfly would be born. So after I had been outside to check it again, I came back into the house and kept checking it through my window. Within five minutes, it was born! There it was--a wet, beautiful Monarch--just sitting on the milkweed branch waiting to dry up. I continued to watch it, and I actually saw its wings drying out and "pumping up." What an amazing sight to behold! This was my reward for a butterfly garden well done. I hope this will be the year I get to witness this awesome miracle of Mother Nature once again.
Did you plant different flowers to attract hummingbirds? Have you observed any hummers sipping nectar from your flowers?
Hummers seem to enjoy all of the same flowers my butterflies do, so I haven't had to plant anything really different to attract them. And yes, I've been very fortunate to see hummers sipping nectar from many of my flowers, right along with the butterflies!
Do you also provide nectar in feeders for hummers? Do hummers seem to
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