perennials@hort.net
- Subject: RE: butterfly counts
- From: &* R* <1*@rewrite.hort.net>
- Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2017 19:00:56 -0400
Title: Re: butterfly counts the syrica smells so sweet and the critters all love the nectar but the leaves are tougher than the other milkweeds so those that have choices would eat more tender leaves. I put 2 plants out here at house in town. Now have 14 in less than a year. Milkweed bugs are having a good time and I cut most back to see if I could get new growth incase a monarch comes by. The seed pod formations have been interesting any way. Wish my passion flower had not died since I did get caterpillars on it and released 2 gulf fritillaries last year. Dull year for most butterflies after the frantic spring. Nancy
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From: "Kitty Morrissy"To:
Cc:
Sent: 30-Jul-2017 19:04:30 +0000
Subject: RE: butterfly counts
Don,
I would assume they might have a preference but would take any Asclepias they come across. Maybe you should put up a billboard, â??Eat at Donâ??s!â?? along their migration route.
I found this at http://monarchbutterflygarden.net/5-butterfly-flowers-attract-monarchs-and-hummingbirds/
â??These 3 varieties are all monarchs host plants for caterpillars, and nectar plants for both monarch butterflies and hummingbirdsâ?¦and lots of other pollinators! (The same canâ??t be said for most other milkweeds.)
Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed)
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp Milkweed)â??
Iâ??ve grown all 3 of these. I didnâ??t see any interest in A cuassavica, but then, I only had a few plants. Interestingly this site says purists, native-only advocates, are hell-bent against A cuassavica. However, the reasons for it really only apply to our southern coastal areas, so you might try it. On another page it states Common Milkweed for Monarch Caterpillars Asclepias syriaca. Apparently A syriaca doesnâ??t provide nectar but is still a host plant for the babies.
Oh! On their list of 6 irresistible plants wasâ?¦. Verbena bonariensis!
Itâ??s disappointing to provide what they supposedly want and need and they seem to skip over my place. Shouldnâ??t they be showing up here in droves??? Oh well, Iâ??ll keep watchingâ?¦and wishing the Monarchs the best on their trek.
From: owner-perennials@hort.net [mailto:owner-perennials@hort.net] On Behalf Of Don Martinson
Sent: Sunday, July 30, 2017 11:54 AM
To: perennials@hort.net
Subject: Re: butterfly counts
For years, I let a small patch of Asclepias syriaca grow in my front yard, only to find nary an egg or larva even though there seemed to be enough adults around. Are there other species which they prefer?
-- Don Martinson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
On 7/29/17, 10:33 PM, "Kitty Morrissy" <1018@rewrite.hort.net> wrote:
So far itâ??s just one Monarch and one Yellow Swallowtail.
Last year I had only a couple of Monarchs but 8 Yellow Swallowtails. I have an area thatâ??s about 10x12 of Korean Hyssop with a sprinkling of Ox Eye and Catnip. The butterflies and the bees seemed to adore it last year so now Iâ??ve let it get thicker than ever. I hope they come; the bees have already been busy all over it. The lone Monarch seems to go for the Verbena bonariensis.
Any butterflies in your area?
Kitty
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