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Post by garnetmoth on Sept 25, 2010 15:14:12 GMT -5
so Karen gave me the butterfly bug pretty bad at the swap... totally not her fault. I was thinking about pitching the use of the side yard instead of a heap of brush and bottles to a butterfly garden to the apartment complex... still waiting to hear their decision in the meantime, ive started researching who/what/where and trying to pick better (ie more native and host plants) for the yard (which is a cottage garden) this forum post is pretty awesome (Links to another forum, hope that is OK!) www.wildlifegardeners.org/forum/butterflies-moths-hummingbirds/2926-native-host-plants-midwest-butterfly-garden.html and this is a crazy thorough list I found linked in the same forums. udel.edu/~dtallamy/host/index.html and I sat and watched some skippers, a pearl crescent, and a big old monarch on the asters and goldenrod today. it can only get better!
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Post by plantsnobin on Sept 25, 2010 17:21:28 GMT -5
Kelli, one of my favorite cats is the spicebush swallowtail. You just won't find a cuter bug. The host plant is Lindera benzoin, which is a bush. Tiny yellow flowers in the spring, red berries on female plants in the fall. More of an understory woodland shrub in the wild, but can take sun too. Another favorite is the pipevine swallowtail, host plants are aristolochias. Wicked looking cats, kids love them. The tiger swallowtails will use your pawpaws. The giant swallowtail, which is also a great looking cat, will use plants in the rue family. I grow dictamnus alba for them, though in the southern states they are killed as a pest of citrus groves. Since you have rabbits, you can put out a dish of poo for them too. You will be surprised how many butterflies will flock to good old rabbit poo. You should check out the book'Caterpillars of Eastern North America' by David L Wagner. Terrific guide book.
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Post by garnetmoth on Sept 25, 2010 18:33:54 GMT -5
I traded for seeds of spicebush a few years ago and never got around to planting- Ill go ahead and try it (read something that says they can remain viable in the litter layer for years) who knows!
where do you grow your pipevines? they sound like monsters. I like the native (virginia) but it seems slow to establish....
Giant swallowtail- ill have to make sure I only use the Latin name. gasplant. lol.
We actually have some amongst the aster and snakeroot in the back yard that come near the chicken coop. I usually dress the garden beds with the bunny beans and havent noticed them there.
I set up one rock with a concave part with a handful of sand and watered it in the back yard- Id like to find a stone for the front but the rock pile we have from our retaining wall this year are a bit too heavy for me on my own.
thanks for all the leads!
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