OsceolaFlGardenBlahBlahBlog

Boys will be boys

2012-02-03T13:04:00.001-05:00

In general bluebirds are territorial and accordingly one nest box per acre is the recommended spacing to avoid confrontations. So, I was surprised when a female entered the nest box I have set up and suddenly two males were sitting on top. I can only suppose that one is an offspring of the other. They didn't hang out together very long before one flew off, maybe to find a girlfriend of his own?

Wildlife Charity Contributions -–Act Local

2012-01-25T10:04:00.007-05:00

Addendum: A brave and bold move!: From the NWF website: "...Therefore, NWF and Scotts will work together to end the partnership in a friendly and mutually beneficial way."

I was quite surprised to read a press release from National Wildlife Federation (NWF) announcing their partnership with ScottsMiracle-Gro. NWF is a popular national nonprofit. Many people support NWF particularly through their "Certified Wildlife Habitat™" Program to get the sign indicating such.

I have major concerns about an alliance that pairs up an organization that advocates protection of wildlife with a company that makes chemicals, some of which are designed to kill food sources of wildlife. And, since last I checked, runoff from fertilizers was one of the major sources of water quality issues in Florida. Scotts' products include fertilizers.

NWF has its reasons for this odd pairing as described in an interview with Carole Sevilla Brown, none of which has sold me on the idea that this is a good idea and won’t have an overall adverse impact on the environment. I personally feel that the benefit by increasing the number of people reached will be negated by the brand association.

Clicking on the link from the NWF press release page to the Scotts' Website brought up a clickable link which read as follows:

"Have a Lawn, Garden or Home Pest Control Problem".

I don't understand how this fits in with wildlife preservation. I advocate for insects since they are the baby food for bird fledglings. Baby birds, incidentally, can’t eat the birdseed being touted in the part of the NWF/Scotts alliance called "Save the Songbirds". They need bugs, some of which are not to the liking of some gardeners who buy chemicals to eliminate them. But, given the chance at balance by eliminating this pesticide use, insects can be controlled naturally. My garden is proof of that.

While NWF doesn’t support all of Scotts products, I can’t in good conscience support or recommend an organization that partners with a corporation that makes any products which kill wildlife food sources. I don't believe that people will not associate all Scott products with being acceptable to use. It's that brand association thing.

So, I am advocating that if people really want to protect wildlife in an environmentally sensitive way that rather than contributing to a large national charity, that they look local. In Florida, the Florida Native Plant Society (FPNS) is a local nonprofit organization. "The purpose of the Florida Native Plant Society is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida." This mission, in protecting native habitat, in turn protects wildlife.

When the beauty of your garden and all the butterflies and birds flutter around, you won’t need a sign to let people know you have a habitat which meets the criteria of certification by NWF. They’ll know just by looking at it.

So, please keep your donation dollars local. It will also serve to help the community, as local dollars are used for local purposes so you can see the benefit of your donation firsthand. I’d rather see butterflies landing on native plants than signs stuck in the ground, any day of the week.

Making a Comeback

2012-01-12T22:15:00.002-05:00

A while back I wrote over at Native Plants and Wildlife Garden about when the wind knocked down a large wax myrtle in my backyard. Since that time, I managed to cut the main trunk that cracked and dragged the large branches to the brush pile on the opposite side of the yard where critters will find safe haven.

Nature has a great way of renewal and I was please today when I was walking around the pond and I saw the rounded crown of a wax myrtle that is growing from around the previously cracked trunk. Wax myrtles are multi-trunked and this replacement from nature looks to be a perfect fit. It won't take long before it reaches great heights like its ancestor and it didn't take much time at all.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-29T20:38:00.001-05:00

The whole family is in the holiday spirit. We wish each and every one of you a blessed Christmas season and the best of everything in 2012. Be cognizant of your daily actions and the effects it has on our environment...life depends on it.

Bug Gangs

2011-11-29T17:46:00.002-05:00

The weather is getting cold in most of the country, but one of the rewards of living in Florida is the warm weather almost all year round. This week we are experiencing mid to high 70s during the day and high 50s to low 60s at night. PERFECT! Just PERFECT!

Of course when you get a freeze only occasionally (mostly for 2 days in January), our insect friends are with us year-round and are quite visible. I still see butterflies mating, caterpillars crawling and this week I was passing by goldenrod going to seed when I was drawn by bright redness on the top of one of them blowing in the breeze.

I got closer and saw a nymph gang of Leaf-footed Bugs (Leptoglossus spp. likely phyllopus). I half expected them to start snapping their fingers and humming da doo da doo daaaaaaaaaa, da doo da do da do da! to dramatic music as they slinked along.

This particular species of L.F. bugs can be a pest on citrus and berry producers as they suck the juices out of the fruits and cause premature drop or withering. I generally let nature take its course and hope that some bird or spider will come along to tend to this type of gang mentality. Thus far, my lemons escaped unscathed (6 years). A good thing about a gang of pest insects is that it is relatively easy to flip them into some soapy water as a means of control. No pesticides needed.

Behold the Green Lynx Spiders (Peucetia viridans) who as they age will acquire their “colors”. While technically spiders are not insects as they have 8 legs (they are Arachnids), most of us refer to them as bugs. I’ve seen the Green Lynx snare the leaf footed bugs, so I guess we know which bug gang will get the grip on my front yard territory.

When they get bigger, IPM at its best!

Pond Prank

2011-10-25T18:09:00.000-04:00

Dinner time for the dogs and I send them outside for a run before they eat. Tanner comes back almost immediately with a big appetite and a woof at the door. I look out and there is Chili, soaking wet, standing stiff and looking guilty. I'm immediately stunned and ask her..."how the heck did you get soaked?" Then I realize I left the gate open to the backyard when I took down the laundry. I guess the opportunity to venture back there and into the pond was just too tempting, so she took a dip. She ran when I stepped down the steps and she was flying around the front yard with cunning and zest. I had to laugh.

I figured what the heck, she's already wet, so I grab her and the camera and head into the back with an "it's ok". Into the pond she walks. I'm pretty sure that she doesn't know how to swim, since in all the time she's been going in the pond she never leaves the edge where she can touch bottom. She's not afraid to get her head wet....dipping her nose deep into the water with the entire head going under. Back when Blizzard was party to these fun times, Chili used to bark and bark at him as he swam back and forth across the water. That's why I'm pretty sure she doesn't know how to swim. Odd for a doggie isn't it? She was thrilled to have this fun time and I suppose that I should let her back there more often. She seems to really have a good time, although given permission, I'm not sure she'd appreciate it as much.

The Sulphur Butterfly Emerged Already!

2011-08-25T21:20:00.004-04:00

If you read the blog over at Beautiful Wildlife Garden, you'll know in a recent article of mine I wrote about a caterpillar changing color based on the plant it was eating.

The cloudless sulphur caterpillar quickly turned into a beautiful butterfly. Here's a short, "From Caterpillar to Freedom", video slideshow:

It took considerably less time than I anticipated. Only 6 days from chrysalis to emerge. SPEEDY!

My threatened species....REALLY?

2011-08-17T11:15:00.003-04:00

Finding a caterpillar is always an exciting thing. Unless of course you find it gnawing through the leaf of the LEAFLESS BEAKED ORCHID (Sacoila lanceolata--Threatened-State (FL)) you saved while on the plant rescue mission with the Pine Lily Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.

Behold, the Yellow-striped Armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), who apparently has discerning taste. Armyworms turn into moths and I really don't mind the unheralded of our insect population, but I do take umbrage with them eating a species that is having a hard enough time fending for itself due to habitat loss. The Orchid is still in a pot waiting to be placed in the ground. Now that moisture is, pretty much, guaranteed every day, that will be soon since it will give it a good start. Seems it has gotten over the shock of the dig-up and has put out some pretty magnificent green leaves. I feel it is ready to find it's new permanent home. Back to those green leaves. The dang caterpillar chewed completely through at the base of one of the leaves. Needless to say, he has a new home in a display container with that leaf. Might as well watch his full transformation, while ensuring that he doesn't finish off my threatened plant before it gets a chance to move in.

Tribute to a Great Friend

2011-07-29T13:21:00.002-04:00

November 2001 was a rather tough time for me. My thirteen year old Irish Setter Mahogany was suffering from coronary problems and the end was near. While waiting for one of her tests at the vet's office, I perused the bulletin board and spied a plea for someone to adopt a 3 year old labrador retriever. After 3 years of allergy shots, asthma kicked in and the family pet had to go. I asked the vet if he was familiar with the pet and he advised it was a nice dog, well loved and cared for. And BIG! I wrote down the number, left with my setter and didn't give it much thought. The next day it was nagging at me and I thought I would just call and speak to the owners. After a brief conversation, I gathered my portfolio of pet pictures and headed off to meet a dog named "Rosie".

He WAS big...and adorable...and after conversing with the owner and sharing my pics, he told me he wanted me to adopt his boy. I said that I really felt he should come to my home and decide if the dog would be happy. The next day he came over, inspected the place and decided Rosie would be very happy with me. We planned the exchange, he would bring the dog and his gear over. Rosie arrived with leashes and food bowls and toys and food. And his pedigree papers announcing his name as Rosario Grand Champagne Brut. I could see the tears in the owner's eyes and I told him that I would provide the best home I could.

As I said, my Irish setter was very ill. I introduced the two dogs and Mahogany, in her Irish fashion, snapped at the new kid to let him know who was in charge of the household. Rosie merely went over to the couch in the family room and layed down. I decided that it would be best to allow my Irish some alone time to get use to the idea of a new dog, so I opted to have Rosie sleep downstairs the first night. During the night I felt maybe he would be lonely, so I crept downstairs and cuddled up with him on the couch. When I awoke in the morning I headed upstairs to check on the Irish. She wasn't on her bed and I immediately knew that something was amiss. I found her lying in the bathroom that morning....she had taken herself to the Rainbow Bridge. Somehow that girl knew that I needed another dog in my life before she would allow herself to leave. And I guess she approved of my new found friend.

My neighbor's name was Rosie and I wasn't crazy about calling my boy dog by a girl's name, so I started calling him Snow-zy, but the name just didn't fit. After sharing pictures of my new friend with the Colorado Cuties, my friend Janet (aka Liz) thought he looked like a Blizzard. I tried out the name and it stuck. It was a "cool", strong name for a "cool", strong boy.

Blizzard was a great dog. He listened and behaved at all times. He only walked on a leash because it was required by law. He was accepting of the little snit of an Irish setter (Chili) that we adopted in February 2003. He handled the move to Florida in June 2004 with ease. He made fast friends with all the pooches at the local dog park and was admired for his commitment to chasing only the blue colored ball and not the green one assigned to his sister. He didn't bat an eye when a new English Setter boy (Tanner) entered our family in August 2006. He always just went with the flow.

He loved to swim in the pond and as he aged I encouraged it to keep his limbs moving. When the pond got too low for him to get up the sides, I opted to have laser treatments to try and keep those legs moving and pain free. It seemed to help a bit, but return of the rains helped fill the pond and put him back in his hydrotherapy which worked better. He began to struggle with the stairs and then he began to struggle with getting out of the pond. It was becoming too much for him. We tried the pond one last time on July 20, 2011. He got out, but collapsed and lay on his side, the second time in a week that it happened. I knew it was his last swim. Without this fun in his life, it didn't seem fair to make him fight the fight any longer. He needed help getting up all the time. On Monday, July 25th, I watched him as he struggled up the stairs with my help. I told him he wouldn't have to walk up the stairs ever again. I called my vet and after feeding Blizzard half a package of Milkbone soft chews, I loaded him into the car. When we got to the vet, I gave him the other half of the treat bag while standing in the parking lot. Doggy heaven while still on earth!

He lumbered into the office and went peacefully to Rainbow Bridge with me at his side. While it pains me to have lost my friend, it really isn't about me. It is about him and the joy and unending love he gave me for the nine-plus years that we had together. Blizzard, you were a one of a kind and I can't thank you enough for all you gave me! I will miss you forever.

At the end he was surrounded by good friends.

The Blur of the Butterfly -- Missed Opportunity

2011-06-19T12:01:00.001-04:00

I was pulling up some plants (ok, you might call them weeds) which were not their designated area and I noticed at the bottom of one, a tiny green chrysalis, no more than a quarter inch long. I decided to put it in a display container to give it a chance since I didn't think it would survive otherwise (ok, and also cause I was hell-bent on learning what species I had found).

I taped it to the side, trying to maintain the correct orientation. An attempt at a photo of the tiny "speck" proved futile and since I had already taped the screening over the case, I just plain gave up. A couple of days later (I vigilantly checked daily), I was rewarded with a beautiful Checkered Skipper butterfly (Pyrgus spp. likely communis) known as the common checkered. I quickly took a few photos and then released the little beauty where it happily flew off in the direction of the Spanish needles, where I took another few pictures. After he flew off into the sunset (ok, maybe it was a different time of day, but you know what I mean) I headed inside to the computer to see the results of my encounter.

CURSES…pictures all blurred. Usually I get at least one halfway decent shot but these were all blearily unrecognizable. I checked the camera and sure enough, I had the wrong setting. I usually leave my point and shoot camera with the macro setting on and I don't usually check it because I "always" return it to macro setting after taking a distance shot. Of course, except in this case :(

Luckily these butterflies use plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae) as the larval host and in my garden that means fanpetals or indian hemp (sida spp.). of which there are plenty. So, this may be a different butterfly who came visiting today, but at least you can clearly see how pretty these black and white guys are. It pays to have the camera set correctly.

Imagine My Disappointment

2011-05-28T19:01:00.001-04:00

It was late when I let the dogs out for the last trip of the night. I turned the light next to the door on and was very excited to see a beautiful green colored insect. Could it be that I finally would see an emerald moth. I'd found the caterpillar on Bidens alba a.k.a. Spanish Needles, its larval host some time ago, but never got to see a resulting adult.

I grabbed a camera and took several shots from my rather disadvantaged perch. I reached overhead and clicked and clicked and clicked some more. I ran into the computer to check on the quality of my shots. BOO! Horrible, barely discernable.

Back with the camera I went and luckily, the insect was still positioned on the siding. I put the flash on, clicked a few shots and ran inside to again check the quality. Eureka! Not the best shots, but clear enough to identify.

Hmm, doesn't look like any moth I've ever seen and the antenna are all wrong. Off to the yahoo search engine. "green cricket Florida". I scanned a few results and none of the pictures came close. I checked whatsthatbug.com but couldn't find my specimen. Off to bugguide.net. "bright green Florida". Up pop the photographs of bright green insects. THERE IT IS!

I click on the matching photo and oh HORRORS! It is a Green Banana Cockroach (Panchlora nivea). I immediately shudder and a creepy, itchy feeling came over me. I think, "Ok, it's just a bug, let's find out what it's doing here." In the information tab I read:

"Also known as the Cuban cockroach, this is an invasive species that first got to the US on shipments of fruit from the Caribbean. Like most cockroaches, it is nocturnal. It is a strong flyer and is drawn to bright lights at night. This species does not breed in houses and prefers to remain outdoors if possible."

Whew, although invasive, it isn't going to try to live in my house. I did a little more research and learned that some people keep these at pets because of their beautiful green color, which brings me to my next question on this fella. Is he called a Green Banana Roach because he likes green bananas? Or because he looks like Kermit?

I shut off the outside light and was thrilled it was gone by morning. Go back to Cuba and your green bananas.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T13:38:00.004-04:00

It certainly is Mother's Day around my yard. In the picture above, Momma mockingbird is incubating four eggs and seems to be saying to Poppa bird "I'm having these babies, at least you could feed me on Mother's Day". This nest, the second of 2011 is built in the front yard in a bottlebrush tree.

Second brood of bluebird babies starting hatching yesterday and there looks to be all five today, although siblings are covering younger ones to keep them warm until the day heats up, so I can only account for four sets of naked wings.

I saw a mockingbird couple hauling food to a nest in my neighbor's side yard and there are grackles feeding babies that are high up in a young pine, also in my neighbor's yard.

So, plant for the birds and they will come! Then you too can have a fun day, observing mother nature's wonders.

Will this be the Year? Purple Martins

2011-04-16T12:05:00.003-04:00

I heard the wonderful music and looked up at the purple martin apartment that I put up a couple of years ago. There was a pair, checking the back and the front. In and out the compartments they went. They teased me last year with their arrival and got my hopes up that I would become a landlord, but it never happened.

The house is situated so they have a clear flight line and it overlooks the pond. There are plenty of "eats", so I think it is the perfect housing arrangement and I hope this year they do too! Although, I'm guessing they will eat my dragonflies, which saddens me, in a way. Stay tuned!

"Imitation is the sincerest of flattery"

2011-03-29T12:42:00.000-04:00

This quote comes from Charles Caleb Colton (1780 - 1832).

I have nesting mockingbirds in a young oak tree 25 feet or so from the house. Incubation is on day 9 of 12-13 expected days. This photo is from several days ago when mom and dad were busily building their "digs". The dad is always close by keeping watch over the female who is the sole incubator.

This morning I sent the dogs outside as usual and when I called them in, I gave a two note whistle that they are familiar with. From the tree closeby I heard myself as if an echo. I whistled again, and once again I heard the echo. Why, the mockingbird was imitating me, and with tonal precision! Are they mocking me? or should I be flattered?

The Awakening -- Giant Swallowtail

2011-02-23T16:52:00.008-05:00

I belong to the Florida Native Plant Society. Last fall we did an outreach program at one of the many events our chapter covers in our home county of Osceola. I bring various live insects to draw attention of the importance of the relation of native plants and bugs in a biodiverse world. Children and adults alike are often mesmerized by the critters I bring. One of my friends in this quest is Kattya who seems to have the magic touch in getting my caterpillars to move on to the next step of metamorphosis. This was the second caterpillar that under her guidance turned. This one changed to a chrysalis since it is a Giant Swallowtail Butterfly the other is a moth that we are still waiting on and I'll post when the happy event occurs. Be sure to check out Kattya's blog which is full of fun and useful information!

I don't believe in containerizing insects beyond the couple of hours at our outreach programs for the education purposes. Upon return home, I always take a few moments to set the critters back on the branches from which I snatched them in the morning. In these two cases, though, the caterpillars chose their own destiny. I check on them daily as I have since our November event.

Today, I checked in the morning, per usual. I went about my business trying to identify fungi that appeared in some mulch last week. I posted a photo of my mushroom on Facebook to the "Florida Fungi" page and got a prompt response that more details are needed. I went outside to take an additional photo and also to attempt to make a spore print (a subject for a future blog post). When I was looking for a place to protect my mushroom, out of the corner of my eye I saw a flutter of bright yellow. A butterfly is BORN!

Since I had my camera in hand, I snapped a few shots of the poor thing cooped up in a beanie baby container equipped with a screen roof. I undid the screening and snapped another picture before heading out to the closest flowers, which are the coral honeysuckle just feet away. The butterfly seemed a bit disoriented so I reached in and gently removed it and placed it on the flowers, snapping a couple of last shots as it drank some nectar and before it gracefully flew off into the sunset...well, the direction of what will be the sunset when it gets to be that time today.

I always say that I have a guardian angel on my shoulder and my Giant Swallowtail had one on its wing too. On a different day I may not have checked a second time, which is why I generally don't keep critters cooped up for my own amusements. This was a special event that I will hold in my memory....and I'll be checking on the moth 3 times a day from this point forward.

Swallows Passing Through

2011-02-16T14:51:00.003-05:00

Dozens of swallows were giving an aerial show over my property today. I think they are tree swallows...they don't stay still long enough for a true ID. Here's a short video of their acrobatics. Collectively they are known as a "stand" of swallows. Spring is definitely in the air! The bluebirds began bringing nesting materials to the nest box. Get ready for my Bluebirds Twigs2Fledge™ 2011...coming soon!

Bird in the Night

2011-01-26T12:16:00.001-05:00

I recently had a visit from a Killdeer, my first encounter of this plover-type bird. I heard it before I saw it, and I haven't seen it since, but I know it still is around.

At night I let the dogs out for their last trip to potty around 10:00 p.m. There is a street light a couple of lots over which is more than enough light for this "Dark Sky" loving individual, but pretty much it is dark in my rural yard…VERY dark. The Irish Setter and Yellow Labrador are free to run on their own at this hour, but my English Setter, Tanner, needs to be on a leash, as he would never come back inside given the choice of searching out wildlife in the garden or coming back inside to sleep. He's a nature lover, as well.

Stomped down grasses with a "hole" at the fenceline from my neighbor's natural area is evidence that I have marsh rabbits that visit the pond at night. The sound of doves taking flight as we walk along the driveway also whets his appetite to stay outdoors. But, nothing has captured his interest as the killdeer (pictured top during the day). The alarm sound of this bird has created a monster in my English boy. At first he merely perked up his ears and got in a "set" position. Now he wakes me faithfully at 4:00 a.m. with pleas of needing to go out. He really doesn't need to go…he just wants to flush out and hear this bird that is using our meadow grasses as night cover. Although sleep deprived, I find it amusing.

I find it more interesting that the bird chooses to stay in the area that the dogs have access to 24/7. Just yards away, on the backyard side of a fence, is my bird "promotion" area which the dogs only have access to when I am with them. Perhaps the killdeer is lying in wait to be amused as well.

Butterfly of Winter

2011-01-09T16:32:00.002-05:00

I saw another Common Buckeye today when not much else of the insect variety was showing itself in the cooler temperatures. Somehow "common" doesn't describe them at all...they are quite regal-looking with their numerous eyes on colorful wings.

The photo here is one from after the first freeze in December as I was not quick enough to capture today's brave soul with the camera. You can click the picture to see it full size.

Junonia coenia is the scientific name for this species which uses several different larval hosts in Florida which in my garden include: fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora); toadflax (Linaria spp.); plantain (Plantago spp.) twinflower (Dyschoriste spp.) and bluehearts (Buchnera americana). Based on this long list (there are other hosts too), the caterpillars aren't particularly fussy.

They are a little on the shy side...darting off if you cast a shadow too closely, but every now and again they will be so enthralled in a flower or hanging out in the gravel driveway that you'll get a good photo. And they sure do help brighten a winter day.

Be sure to visit over at beautifulwildlifegarden.com for great ideas on attracting wildlife to your own garden.

Sweet and graceful

2010-11-12T10:49:00.000-05:00

A sweet smell wafts through the yard as I walk around to take photographs of natural things that catch my eye. It is the scent of Florida native plant, Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium). Considered a weed by many, it is a goldmine for wildlife in my book. It shakes it feathery green head in a light breeze throughout the year showing a graceful elegance and during the fall it goes into bloom producing white flowers which shimmer in the sun and seem to light the way in the dark. The photo shown here reveals a spider and an ambush bug. It is also a favorite of green lynx spiders who raise their young and grasshoppers where it shows little, if no damage from their taking up residence. Ladybugs seem to find plenty to feed on and the birds always stop by for a morning and afternoon snack of what is held within. It is one of the many overlooked wonders for wildlife.

Lynx Spiders: It's a boy and a girl and a boy etc....

2010-10-22T14:39:00.003-04:00

I guess by now, if you've read my articles at Wildlife Garden or here, you have figured out that I am all about gardening for wildlife and appreciate when the critters procreate.

Some people consider spiders creepy....I don't particularly want them populating in my house....that would mean I must have bugs in the house...but I do try to encourage them outside, so I don't blanket my garden with pesticides or chemicals.

October, it seems, is green lynx spider maternity month in Florida. I have many of these gals on the plants in my garden, including the bidens alba, solidago (goldenrod), wax myrtles and dog fennel all with nests in various stages of production. There are fascinating "quick facts" about these pretty arachnids over at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/beneficials/beneficial-48_green_lynx_spider.htm

Today, the sac on the beautyberry successfully came to life.....mucho life. How many will survive is an unknown, but I saw the lizards close by and I'm sure the birds are preparing for the feast as well. Wasps, other spiders and praying mantids all partake. Since it is the return time for lots of migratory birds from the north, I'm glad I provided a habitat for the spiders that will feed them.

Blog Action Day - WATER!

2010-10-15T09:18:00.003-04:00

I just found out it is Blog Action Day 2010 and the subject is water. A very important subject, I might add, especially here in Florida where we rely on the aquifer for our drinking water and every other kind of water. As can be seen in this 30 second video, during rainy season water isn't much of an issue.

However, I just was out in the yard and the pond is lower. We haven't had measurable rain for days. Dry season arrived suddenly and early this year. Soon the four-foot deep section of the pond will be empty, luckily the 15-foot deep section never has run dry...but it always is a concern. Once the four-foot section empties out there really isn't enough circumference for me to paddle the kayak around any longer and these days the extent of my paddling capabilities is limited to my backyard pond. Hopefully rain will arrive soon to replenish so I can continue to get this exercise. It serves a reminder that we really shouldn’t be using our potable water for gardening. It can all to quickly disappear.

I keep rain barrels and rain buckets and I took a scoop today to rinse out the compost container I use to transfer coffee grounds, veggie peels, fruit stems and my daily sudoku page from my kitchen into the compost bin, strategically located next to my brush pile in a corner of my property. I always make use of the collected rainwater whenever possible.

The compost was drier than it should have been, but is now revived with beautiful rainwater...water that is perfect for bringing it back to life. You should consider rainbarrels in your own garden. It is great for watering your container plants or your veggie garden. It's free and easily maintains itself…running down the teacup rain chain from the gutters all on its own. Leave the water from your tap for drinking and make use of mother nature's wonder for your garden. The plants will appreciate not having additives and the aquifer will appreciate not being overtaxed. Reduce, reuse, recycle…it makes sense for water use too!

Ceraunus Blue FINALLY return

2010-10-10T18:44:00.000-04:00

It's been a long time since I've seen a Ceraunus Blue Butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus). As a matter of fact, it was last winter when a week long freeze made them all disappear. I've been watching daily and finally their return has come.

This is a fabulous time in Central Florida. The White Peacock butterflies are back in abundance. I looked out today mesmerized by 7 all at once sipping nectar from the Frogfruit (Phyla nordiflora) which also serves as one of their larval hosts, although I'm pretty sure mine use the bacopa. The buckeyes are abundant as well. The Green Lynx spiders are becoming more and more plentiful and I've seen several females guarding egg sacs which can only mean more on the way. Cooler nights and warm but breezy days makes it a great place to observe nature when the north is getting ready for the gardens to go to sleep. My garden is just beginning to reawaken from the hot summer. Stayed tuned!

A new venture!

2010-10-04T15:33:00.005-04:00

I've been invited by beautifulwildlifegarden.com to be a voice from Florida with a weekly blog post on Fridays on providing for wildlife. I'm an eternal procrastinator as you can see by the lack of recent posts here. Given a deadline I meet the challenge and maybe it will inspire me to keep up a little more often here as well. It is a grand group of bloggers and tweeters who all care about wildlife and I'm honored to be a part. Click on their logo on the left side of my page to go read the fabulous information on gardening for wildlife that has already been posted. I've picked up great tips from these environmentally conscious writers and I'm sure you'll learn a thing or two from every post no matter what area of the country you live.

Twigs2Fledge™ the Sequel -- Not as good as the original

2010-07-16T14:21:00.000-04:00

Well, only two of the four eggs hatch and the two babies are getting big and fat. This brood was by far the strangest I've ever monitored. Mom spent a good deal of incubation time with her nose out the hole of the box....something I never encountered before. I wonder if the heat caused this and thus had to do with the eggs that didn't hatch.

The two seem quite content and it definitely makes a difference in behavior when mom and dad only need to provide enough for two. Well fed babies are boring. I peak every day but they don't do anything. When the brood is larger, there is always at least one who gapes or peeps looking for food any time you get near the nest box. These two are asleep every day that I have checked, mostly because I check after I see Mom do a feeding in the morning. I pause for a minute to make sure they are breathing....but I know they are active at some point because their positions change ever so slightly each day. There also isn't the constant back and forth of mom and dad entering the box to feed and again to clean up. Not as good as the original 2010 brood, but still rewarding. Hard to believe it is already Live Day 11. Two more days and no more peaking. Just will wait and use the binoculars to try and approximate when fledge day will be. I've yet to see the birds hop out...maybe this time!

Twigs2Fledge™ the Sequel

2010-07-06T11:49:00.001-04:00

My kitchen windows overlook the backyard where the blue bird nesting box is set up. Currently I am monitoring the progress of brood number two of the 2010 season. There were four eggs and incubation has be ongoing over the past couple of weeks. I've pretty much been ignoring the box so that momma is not disturbed as she was spending many hours cooped up "cooking" the eggs.

Today, after finishing up breakfast I noticed momma exit the box and my camera was within reach, so I quickly headed out back, grabbed the step ladder and took a quick peak. Based on the timeline I have been following, I knew that they should hatch sometime this week. I was thrilled that I caught the event when a single baby has hatched. Pappa has been checking in pretty regularly today...and I hadn't seen him in quite some time. Now I will check again tomorrow and see if we have progress with the other three eggs. Stay tuned!

Batting a thousand!

2010-06-28T15:29:00.000-04:00

A few days ago I noticed a mockingbird quietly leaving a groundsel bush in the front corner of my yard. They are usually so noisy that I decided I needed to go check what was up. Lo and behold, I discovered a nest. Now mind you, I couldn't see into the nest, I could barely see the nest as they are very adept at disguising and blending in. I reached my point and shoot camera in between the leaves and took a shot. I checked the camera and saw that there were four eggs inside the nest.

Since Momma chose to build it in the "dog area", instead of the back where the dogs are fenced out, I figured I better put up a temporary fence so the setters don't have wings for lunch. I did that early yesterday. Today, as I passed by to see if mom was keeping the eggs warm, I noticed a small beak sticking up. Again, I stuck my hand in between the leaves and clicked. Looks like 4 healthy babies. 4 for 4.

I'm a little amazed that I only found the nest a few days ago. It has to have been there for quite some time. Nature certainly knows how to protect itself.

Lacking common "scents" or how I learned from nature

2010-05-17T15:11:00.003-04:00

I was walking around the backyard taking pictures like I do every day. The batteries had just gone dead so I wasn't looking too closely at things because I hate missing a "once in a lifetime" photo. I passed by a small sapling that a bird planted a year or so ago. I always assumed it was some sort of holly since it retained its leaves through winter and there is a dahoon right close by in my neighbors scrub area. I really never gave it much thought until today, when I was surprised to see a large caterpillar resting square in the middle of a leaf. Now, I've learned to identify some caterpillars and this one obviously was in the swallowtail family but I thought...what the heck is it doing on a holly? I ran inside to get the spare set of rechargeables when suddenly........... DUHHHHHHH! A lightbulb went off in my non-working brain. I returned to the tree and immediately snapped off a lower leaf. I was intoxicated by the spicey smell brought forth when I crushed the leaf between my fingers. The tree is a RED BAY! Florida native persea borbonia with it's lovely smell and leathery, glossy leaves. Mind you, the tree is not even my height (about 5 foot) and is one of the "bloom where God planted you" additions to my yard bought on when I I had little luck in buying and planting things around my yard.

Since that time I learned about the Florida Native Plant Society and joined the Pine Lily Chapter (Osceola County). I studied up on ecosystems, "right plant, right place", the importance of choosing native over exotic and about two years ago I started letting various sections of my yard just grow to see what had been chopped prior to my buying the property. Once again I have been rewarded by my new "garden addition" attitude. I also learned today that I should snap a leaf off of the things I'm not sure of the identification and take a whiff.....or maybe I'll just wait to see what creature of nature can clue me in. In this case, I initially thought spicebush butterfly, but a check on the internet clued me in to its relative, the Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes) this guy will grow up to be.

Embrace your bugs

2010-03-07T20:19:00.002-05:00

Most gardeners love birds, butterflies and the like. A lot of gardeners think they are doing their part in offering a habitat for these beautiful critters to enjoy by providing annual flowers, trimmed landscapes and bird feeders.

Unfortunately, sometimes they do quite the opposite. If you use pesticides to kill grubs well, you are poisoning a food source for birds. If you spray your plants to remove what is eating them, you are poisoning a food source for birds. You probably wouldn't consider spraying insecticide on a butterfly, yet, if you spray caterpillars, you are doing that very thing. You wouldn't put fertilizer in a bird bath yet if you put too much weed and feed on your lawn and it runs off into a culvert or storm drain, somewhere down the line you are poisoning a water source that birds use.

Monocultures (vast expanses of the same plant) can wreak havoc by enticing one type of feeding insect resulting in an esthetically damaged looking garden. Avoid the problem! Diversify! Plant several different types of native plants. Like the look of all one color? Match up native plants of a similar color but different species to avoid the potential of having a damaged looking landscape. Different insects feed on different plants so if you have a lot of diversity, chances of an area being bare due to insect feeding will be lessened. Insects play a vital role in helping birds rear their young since insects provide better nutrition for fledglings which can't be found in all the store bought seed or berries you can provide. A bird feeder full of seed is nice so you can get a good view of what passes through your garden and is a great help in supplementing natural food sources during times of cold and snow, but the fact is, if you'd plant a landscape of native wildflowers and grasses and just not mow toward the end of season, the plants would go to seed and feed the birds naturally. Nature tends to provide what the local wildlife thrive on so think about stopping the fight against mother nature and embracing what she had done so well for years before we began tinkering and deciding "what looks good". Personally, I look at a yard with a manicured, green lawn and think it is just plain mean. No food potential for wildlife!

If you are unwilling to provide plants for caterpillars to eat, you are selfish if you call a spread of nectar plants a "butterfly garden". To only provide nectar source without providing plants used to rear their young is again....just plain mean. Relish in the fact that you are providing a continuation of a family when your plants slowly get eaten by the caterpillars. Consider the resulting chrysalis and the beautiful butterflies as the price for a little chewed up area of the garden. If you aren't crazy about seeing your plants with some insect damage, well, hide them in a far off corner of your property. I personally love watching the process of life as it was intended and chances are that area of your garden would be my favorite.

No where in nature do I ever see carefully manicured lawns. Insects are an integral part of biodiversity. Pristine green lawns were created by humans....probably those with control issues. Nature wasn't designed that way, so design your garden the way mother nature intended...the resulting wildlife will be your reward for taking a different garden path!

Twigs2Fledge™

2010-02-23T13:51:00.005-05:00

It's been just about a month since the bluebirds were scouting the nesting box. Construction of the interior is well underway. I'm putting up a picture or two each day at Twitter under the hashtag #twigs2fledge...sort of a mini-blog...so you can see the progress from...well....twigs to fledge...when the babies leave the coop. I've decided to name Momma and Poppa "Twigs" and "Fledge", respectively.

I got involved in monitoring my bluebirds when I first moved here in 2006 and saw an article in the local paper by one of our extension agent experts. She wanted people to report where we saw bluebirds. I had them in the yard and was surprised that they were a rare occurrence. I reported in that they were always flitting around my yard and Eleanor Foeste (the extension agent) inquired if there were nesting boxes in the area. I never heard of a nesting box so I looked it up on the Internet, read up quite a bit on how bluebirds are dwindling in numbers due to habitat loss and decided that would be the perfect gift for Santa to bring me for Christmas 2006.

I put up my box in February/March 2007 and was surprised to have residents almost immediately. It is of cedar construction and was purchased at a local big box store. I had read that it can sometimes take years for the bluebirds to find and be comfortable enough to use a nesting box. I guess because I maintain a good deal of my yard as a natural landscape which is in a semi-remote rural location, the birds were happy to move in quickly. That first year I had two broods. In 2008 I had four broods (the last a mere two babies) and in 2009 I had three broods. I follow the tips I found on http://www.sialis.org/ and I do check the babies for parasites and last year provided meal worms to help momma when she had a rather large brood (6). It is a well written and informative site and I even asked a question one time and received immediate (less than a day) answer when I thought I had an early loss (apparently they were older than I had initially counted and fledged on time--I need to go back and relearn arithmetic).

Bluebirds are fascinating and fun to watch. They are tolerant of human help (although they will dive bomb your head...without making contact).

I hope, at the end of this first brood of 2010 venture, to put together a video slideshow containing all the pictures. You can follow along as I go by searching twitter.com for the keyword "twigs2fledge" or Google it...both Twitter and TwitPic feed the keywords into Google search. I hope you all enjoy the journey! I know I will!

Survivors

2010-01-31T15:06:00.011-05:00

Over at Facebook where I maintain a page for our local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (http://www.Facebook.com/PineLilyFNPS), I just had someone ask what plants I have seen in bloom or green in our area (Central Florida) since their yard was hit hard by the freeze. I dashed off some pictures of my St. John's Wort (Hypericum tetrapetalum), Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida) and Shiny Blueberry (Vaccinium myrsinites) which I had just taken a day or two ago.

I was pleased to report that my Blue Curls (Trichostema dichotomum), though not in bloom, were green and they are considered an ANNUAL. As a matter of fact, I had remarked to the local nursery operator how nice they looked in the sea of brown that was my mowed area.

I suggested Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) and Dahoon Holly (Ilex cassine), both of which reared their heads at the freeze and laughed loudly. The birds are feeding off of the berries of these two choices regularly.

As a side note, shortly after the freeze I headed out to Maple Street Natives in West Melbourne, Florida (http://www.maplestreetnatives.com/) to shop for a tree to be planted in honor of Florida Arbor Day which was January 15th this year. I purchased a Red Cedar and planted it the next day (January 16th). I also bought some Twinflower, Ironweed and Horsemint all of which looked healthy enough at the nursery, so appeared to make it through the colder times. They are in the ground and seemingly happy.

My Bidens alba (Spanish Needles) are not cold tolerant and died back completely, but have already started to show signs of renewed life from the vast amounts of seeds they spew forth. Not every native is cold tolerant, but if they are recommended for your zone, they will come back. The Fogfruit (or Frogfruit) (Phyla nodiflora) was unaffected and I already saw Phaon Crescent butterflies fluttering around. These tiny beauties use it as their host plant, as do White Peacock Butterflies.

Another native, often considered by some to be a weed, hasn't bloomed yet, but the green and red tinge of its leaves indicates that it won't be long...that is Wild Geranium or Cranesbill (Geranium carolinianum). The butterflies will use this low grower for nectar.

There still is a smattering of goldenrod (Solidago sp.) that is in bloom and I spotted some Yellow Stargrass (Hypoxis juncea) and Toadflax (Linaria sp.) beginning to blossom so the Little Metalmark, Common Buckeye and Sulfur butterflies who are already making an appearance have some nectar sources.

Life is returning after our dreaded hard freeze...and the native plants stood up boldly to it.

How a Bluebird House Hunts

2010-01-22T13:05:00.003-05:00

I got a new camera which has a decent zoom to take photos of birds. I captured a few bluebird pictures that I was satisfied with and was in a "fun" mood, so I put together this 1 minute video slideshow with some tips on attracting bluebirds. Hope you enjoy!

It Doesn't Have to be Fancy to be Effective

2010-01-20T09:47:00.001-05:00

Birds and nature don't care how much money you spend on ornamentation for your yard. They appreciate functional. I had a garden clog that cracked and started allowing in water so I tossed it aside and came up with a perfect recycle use. I drilled a hole in the toe for drainage, nailed it to a snag, put some screening in the toe to "prop up" the feed and added bird seed. Free, saved some space in the landfill and as you can see, the red-bellied woodpecker loves it!

Assessment of what grows in my garden!

2010-01-09T15:43:00.006-05:00

After viewing my "Butterflies of Holopaw" video, @HDMarsh asked if I could name some of my native plants. This made me sit down today to organize my thoughts and gather the names from the various files I have created in the past six months on what actually grows in my yard. Well, here goes:

Top 10 Nectar sources in my yard:

1. Bidens Alba : Spanish Needles, Beggarticks

2. Elephantopus elatus : TALL ELEPHANTSFOOT

3. Lachnanthes caroliniana : REDROOT

4. Eupatorium capillifolium : dogfennel

5. Lyonia lucida : Fetterbush

6. several species of Goldenrod

7. Symphyotrichum pilosum : WHITE OLDFIELD ASTER

8. Pityopsis graminifolia : NARROWLEAF SILKGRASS, GOLDENASTER

9. Conoclinium coelestinum : Blue mistflower

10. Poinsettia cyathophora : PAINTEDLEAF; FIRE-ON-THE-MOUNTAIN

Many of the above plants people consider "weeds", but they bring such a rich biodiversity to my yard. Keep in mind that I have just shy of an acre of land and don't have to cater to the whims of a HOA that insists on aesthetically pristine landscapes. I always state: "I garden for wildlife, the benefit to my senses is merely a bonus". Most of what is in my yard just grew when I let the property begin to grow to see what was there. About the only things I purchased to plant were some passion flowers, the tropical sage, some blackeyed susans and a vine or two, that are still in their infancy, growth-wise and haven't begun to show the signs of what fun creatures will appear due to their addition to my landscape. Before I joined the Florida Native Plant Society, I purchased and lost a great deal of plants because I was trying to conform my yard to a vision that I had. Once I discovered the importance of native plants and stopped fighting mother nature, I found a yard full of wonderful plants and happy critters, which in turn made me happy and got me into my hobby of insect and butterfly photography.

Others nectar natives include:

Erigeron vernus : EARLY WHITETOP FLEABANE
Baccharis halimifolia : GROUNDSEL TREE; SEA MYRTLE
Spermacoce remota : WOODLAND FALSE BUTTONWEED
Salvia coccinea : scarlet sage TROPICAL SAGE; BLOOD SAGE
Euthamia caroliniana : SLENDER FLATTOP GOLDENROD
Pluchea baccharis : ROSY CAMPHORWEED
Xyris caroliniana : CAROLINA YELLOWEYED GRASS
Lygodesmia aphylla : ROSE-RUSH
Hieracium gronovii : QUEEN-DEVIL; hawkweed
Liatris spicata : blazing star, dense gayfeather
Rhexia alifanus : savannah meadow-beauty
Lobelia glandulosa : GLADE LOBELIA

I also have various species of tickseed (Florida's state wildflower).

Now for the Host plants, many of which also serve as nectar sources:

Bacopa monnieri : HERB-OF-GRACE water hyssop host for white peacock

Phyla nodiflora : TURKEY TANGLE FOGFRUIT; CAPEWEED host for Phaon Crescent

Chamaecrista fasciculata : PARTRIDGE PEA host for sulphurs

Thalia geniculata : ALLIGATORFLAG; FIREFLAG host for brazillian skippers

Passiflora incarnata : passion flower vine host for Gulf Fritillary

Oxypolis filiformis : WATER COWBANE host for eastern black swallowtail

Sida rhombifolia : CUBAN JUTE; INDIAN HEMP host for Tropical Checkered-Skipper

Buchnera americana : AMERICAN BLUEHEARTS host for common buckeye

Myrica cerifera : SOUTHERN BAYBERRY; WAX MYRTLE host for hairstreaks

Desmodium : hitchhiker plant host for Long-tailed skipper

Mikania scandens : CLIMBING HEMPVINE host for little metalmark butterfly and Scarlet-bodied Wasp Moth

Rhus copallinum : Winged sumac host to grey hairstreak

citrus (not native) host for giant swallowtails

I'm sure there are more hosts since i have more types of butterflies appear than corresponding host plants above...I'm just not always sure who eats what, but I'm learning....DAILY!

There are many more species than are shown in this list. A lot I still don't know the names of. I didn't include any of many sedges and rushes that appear or the plants that are in my pond. I'll put together another list when time allows.

Heidi, thanks for asking about my natives. It made me realize just how much I have growing on around here!

Let's make 2010 the year the word gets out that what you plant--matters!

2010-01-01T13:28:00.015-05:00

As we begin 2010, I hope that everyone will help spread the word on the importance of native plants in the scheme of things. There is an excellent article entitled "Why Native Plants" in the 2010 Guide to Real Florida Gardeners published by the Association of Florida Native Nurseries (afnn.org). You can get a free print copy by visiting their website or read the entire magazine online. Click here to go to their website!

I hope you enjoy the article as much as I did! Here are the excepted pages:

August to December 2009 Butterflies in my yard

2009-12-18T16:41:00.003-05:00

I wanted to see if I could put together a slideshow of my butterfly photos that was set to music. I'm rather pleased with my first attempt at doing this. Hope you like the results!

Sometimes my own senses come first

2009-10-27T17:27:00.003-04:00

Twitter has proven to be a great educational experience for me. I tweet with a grand group of nature people who share interesting photos, web links and thoughts on ecology and living green...as well as their fun interpretations of life.

Recent pics from one of my favorite bird photographers, @Kerrifar showed birds eating off a wreath she had hanging in her yard. The birds seemed happy, the wreath was creatively decorated with seed covered suet decor which looked pretty and I thought...heck, I could do THAT!

Now mind you, in Florida you can't really provide suet encased in birdseed as attracting decorations...the sun just turns it into a gloppy, mold ridden mess (a lesson learned early on with my hanging suet feeder), but I had other ideas!

I have native grapes on my fences and the vines tend to get out of hand at this time of year. I cut back some and created a grapevine "base" for my bird-feeding wreath. I tied a fallen slash pinecone to the top. I added some sprigs of various native plants which have recently gone to seed: Carolina Redroot, Black-eyed Susans, Bushy Bluestem, Tall Elephantfoot and a few different forms of sedge. I then added some color in the form of berries sprigs from the Gallberry and Dahoon holly.

Now, what makes me think the birds will flock to my wreath when they have all the given ingredients at their beck and call throughout my property? Well, I don't actually think they will, but it gives a nice decorative touch for MY senses. On the other hand, if you don't have a bounty of wild things at your own place, perhaps you could obtain the ingredients from someone who does and make a native plant bird feeder to hang in your own yard...for those less fortunate "city" birds! Look at the two mine has attracted already! ☺

Cute just can't 'cut it'

2009-10-25T12:00:00.001-04:00

There is no denying they can be cute from a distance, but up close they are slimy and messy and can produce allergic reactions in people.

The Cuban Treefrog, (Osteopilus septentrionalis) a big name for a BIG invader which is threatening Florida's ecosystems as they eat and out compete our native species of treefrogs. They hide in dark places and can short circuit electric lights or your water softening system threatening your pocketbook.

If you find them, euthanize them using the methods suggested by the University of Florida. You can learn that and more about this invasive species at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/UW259

I've got seven in my freezer as we speak.

Who knows what evil lurks in the garden

2009-10-14T19:12:00.000-04:00

Background: Last Friday my Labrador wouldn't eat. Now, for some dogs that might not be strange, but my lab? It just doesn't happen. I figured maybe he had a tummy ache and I've learned not to panic unless they aren't drinking water, which he was. I went about my business and later on when I returned home he was still out of sorts, but had eaten. When I let him out he had terrible diarrhea and apparently he had thrown up out in the yard in the morning. I put him on a diet of solid packed pumpkin (comes in a can) and monitored him. It was a slow go, but he was improving.

Monday: I was walking around the yard with the camera and noticed what I thought was some sort of cocoon. I approached and took the above photo, headed in to the computer and went to whatsthatbug.com my favorite place to find out what bugs are. I punched in "white hairy caterpillar" as my search term and found a similar cat which was listed as Megalopyge opercularis aka Puss or Asp Caterpillar. I did some web searches and found out that it is "one of the most toxic caterpillars in North America".

A review of data from the following website showed a list of symptoms which sounded amazingly like what Blizzard had been going through. I remembered that he had been in the brush close to the wax myrtle where I found the caterpillar. My conclusion? He was stung. The information I have found stated that there are usually no ill affects after 5 days and sure enough, Blizzard was his old self by Tuesday, jumping and looking for his food. I found another two of those caterpillars on the same bush and all three are now safely drowned in soapy water as was suggested as a way to exterminate them.

cites: symptoms: http://neuro.bcm.edu/eagleman/asp you can find their full study in pdf form on this page.

first aid and extermination info: http://www.bugsinthenews.com/First%20Aid%20for%20Puss%20Caterpillar%20Stings.htm

second view of the caterpillar can be seen at: http://twitpic.com/lihco

What a Critter-filled day in the Garden!

2009-09-22T15:53:00.000-04:00

As usual, I headed out in the yard with the dogs this morning and checked the citrus trees for Giant Swallowtail Larvae. I was greeted with a caterpillar who was beginning the Pupae stage. I noted his location and continued to look around to see what I could see. I saw a Giant Swallowtail bobbing a weaving by the citrus.....hopefully laying more eggs. I headed to grab the camera when I saw a long-tailed skipper which is an illusive butterfly to catch on film (ok....sd card). When I looked around the bottlebrush, I saw a Green Lynx spider (Peucetia viridans) sitting atop her nest. I captured a photo of the swallowtail chrysalis and then was rewarded with patience because the butterfly came right in my area and alit on some native blackberry (Rubus). I also captured a stink bug (Podisus) on native Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). Completing my morning trek was a Black Saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata). The spider is pictured. Photos of others can be seen at http://twitpic.com/photos/PineLilyFNPS

It takes a caterpillar to make a butterfly II

2009-09-16T17:06:00.000-04:00

I decided to prove my point when a Gulf Fritillary caterpillar made it very easy for me to observe metamorphosis. I caught him hanging down early one morning and realized he was about to become a chrystalis. I photographed him in the afternoon....how fast they transform! TODAY was emerging day and I was lucky enough to, once again, capture it on film (ok, an sd card). I am amazed that this large butterfly came out of that tiny chrystalis. Nature never ceases to amaze me. He fluttered a time or two, but wasn't ready to fly away.....by noon, however he (she??) was gone, hopefully to lay eggs and start the process over again. Think twice before you complain about something chewing on your plants.....it might be a rewarding experience!

It takes a caterpillar to make a butterfly

2009-09-05T10:58:00.000-04:00

Gulf Fritillary Butterflies have been prolific in my garden recently. I saw 1 or 2 after I planted the first Passiflora incarnata (aka Purple passionflower, Maypop). Today I saw 4 or 5 flying close by and 2 of the vines are alive with caterpillers. I don't understand why some gardeners don't want their plants eaten. Don't they realize that you wouldn't have the beauty of the butterfly if you didn't have a caterpillar eating away at some point?

Upcoming FNPS Pine Lily Chapter Presentation

2008-12-12T15:42:00.001-05:00

Click here for full details on event

The Pine Lily Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
invites you to a presentation by Jim Egan of the Marine Resources Council on “How Native Plants Save Lives: The Untold Story of Tsunamis and Hurricanes”

Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church, 101 W. Dakin Av, Kissimmee FL 34741

This is a must see presentation for anyone in a hurricane prone area. Everyone is welcome!

Pine Lily in Bloom

2008-09-24T16:37:00.001-04:00

I'm extremely JEALOUS. While out walking the property today, I spotted a bit of color in the natural area of my neighbor's property. Lo and behold.....A PINE LILY. I immediately went over to the area where I was graced with this lovely flower last year but nary a one in site. Here is a picture of my neighbor's flower. They are so lucky, but then, so am I....I got to see it firsthand.

Fay Fay Go Away!

2008-08-20T15:49:00.000-04:00

Tropical Storm Fay has really put a damper (no pun intended) on my gardening. Based on weather.gov, we have gotten somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 inches of rain and it is still coming down. I've been annoyed with the weathermen who continue to report from the Kissimmee area of Osceola which hasn't been as hard hit and forget that Osceola is very large and the eastern side is getting weather the likes of Brevard which is flooded.

At my house the rain started at 430a.m. on Tuesday and has not let up for more than 30 minutes since that time.

The pond is outside its banks although not too bad today. Last night when I went to bed I expected to wake up with water licking at my steps. Luckily the rain continues but not with the force or intensity that it had yesterday. However, I fear that some of my plants will wind up drowning since it seems unlikely that what is here will be going anywhere anytime soon.

The pine snag that was the post for my bluebird nesting box was blown down and squished three sections of the side fence. I will put a post up in the same location for the nesting box but it certainly won't be as natural a look, and I won't have the benefit of watching the woodpeckers and other visiting birds high up in the tree. Hopefully the bluebirds won't be put off by a new modern look of a purchased mounting post.

Now I am a bit concerned about the other pine snag as it is taller and if it comes down in a similar fashion will hit the carport or even the house. I might have to get a tree trimmer to cut it off a bit so it won't be so far reaching. Perhaps in the future since the tree that fell was hit by lightning during Hurricane Charlie (based on my neighbor's observation since I didn't live out here then). The newer snag was hit by lightning just last year in an afternoon storm (based on my observation when my hair stood on end when the lightning hit).

Prior to Fay's unending visit I had spotted the mangrove sapling I planted in the bog end of the pond area. It is still ALIVE! We got inundated with rain about 2-3 weeks ago and the extended pond area quickly filled with water.....much higher than I ever expected. It completely covered the mangrove sapling. The pond slowly receded and the mangrove reappeared. Needless to say, it is back under. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will reappear sometime in the future.