Whew! 'Sounds like it's just as hot and humid in OK as it is here in southeast MS! I worked outside last night until it was so dark I couldn't see - a cloud cover had moved in, and the temps were much cooler. I finally got the new passis planted that I hadn't planted yet, specifically, p. mucronata (2), p. umbilicata (2), p. 'Amethyst', p. amethystina'Minas Gervais', and p. eichlerianna. I went to Walmart right after supper, got 2 giant bags of potting soil, and used this potting soil mixed with the native soil and some chicken manure in the raised bed boxes that are no longer useful in my garden, which I moved from my garden to places next to my new fence. I've got something planted and/or growing in front of just about every square inch of my picket fence!
The gulf frits are continuing to lay more eggs on my passis, so I should reach the 'no vines left' stage again this year by early fall.
I'm still not finding any palamedes swallowtail eggs or cats - I'm only seeing males, and the female I released the other day hasn't shown up. I hope she's alright!
I'm raising lots of pipevine, giant, and spicebush swallowtails, and gulf frits, also cecropias - the red-spotted purples and buckeyes have all pupated, so they should be emerging soon.
It's been a good year, but I wish I could see and raise question marks and viceroys again like I used to.
The heat is the big thing now, but then it IS mid-July!
Sherry

Susan,

It's very hot and sticky here, too. We had 4 inches of rain last week. The skeeters are huge this year with all the downpours and water continually in the drainage ditch. There are also hundreds of frogs and toads all over the place. They aren't all the same kind. There are several kinds of tree frogs with little suction cups for feet, and the regular frogs--some really cute ones. Every time I walk out near the garden, the hopping starts. I'm hoping they're eating the skeeters.

I am keeping busy with the weeds and still planting the remainder of the things I started from seeds. The new bed has slowed down due to the heat--no moving huge stones in this weather! Everything needs a layer of mulch, so I'll be busy mulching in the evenings.

I'm getting a lull in the BF nursery, so that is good. I've been spending a couple of hours a day with cleaning and feeding. When they pupate it is such a relief!

Hi Susan, It was good to hear from you--been wondering where you've been! :)

It obviously doesn't get too hot up here compared to you all, but it has been a steamy summer for us. The weather was a bit wonky for a bit...hot then cold...then cold rain, hot rain., etc.

Butterflies are still not like they were last year, but skippers just were a couple of days ago such a welcome sight. There have only been the big, dark, slow, flappy skippers. These were the little, burnished coppery ones.

Monarchs also have just arrived, just a couple.

I'm pleased with the new beds I've put in--they're small but I'll expand them in the fall. Our yard is big with rotten soil, so I have to do so much amending all of the time.

I'm growing verbena bonariensis for the first time, and I love it although butterflies haven't discovered except for some skippers and an American Lady.

BG - I just saw on the news that it is going to be 90 degrees in Boston today and 98 in Pittsburg, PA. That is really hot for those folks!

I can barely get out in the yard right now it's so hot here. If the humidity would lift, it wouldn't be so bad.

I have V. bonariensis popping up everywhere, but it fits nicely among the other plants because it's tall and lanky.

I guess I'm getting BSTs in the yard, but when they visit, I'm indoors away from the terrible heat, so I haven't actually seen them. They can be sneaky like that, though. It's like they lie in wait until no one is around to do their business. LOL!

Susan

Yep Susan, it sure is Hot up here in CT. It's been like this all week and the air quality has been poor too. It makes it really hard to get any work done. And I've got two large outdoor projects going now..painting the house and removing a swimming pool, and neither is going quickly.

Here along the coast, it's been a few degrees cooler, but no rain at all during this hot spell.

I wish I had some BST cats...not one egg yet this year!

Finally today I collected some monarch eggs. This past week there's been a couple flying around the yard from time to time.

Maryann in CT

Susan,

My garden is on its own. If the auto spinklers that I keep increasing the time on don't keep it going, so be it. It is just too miserable to be out except right at dawn most days.

A little tidbit... About 10 days ago it was 127 in Death Valley, but cooled off to a balmy 101 that night. With the relative humidity that day, the heat index was 169 degrees there. Perfect weather to do butterflies in.

Local weather guesstimaters were predicting a possible new record for DV (old one is 134), but the humidity foiled it. It was really a miserable day in Vegas as well, but I didn't catch what the heat index was here that day. Probably well into the 120's though as we had some humidity.

One good thing about it, I am getting well acclimated to where I will spend my eternity. Ooop!

Heat index today was only 116 thanks to overcast skies and a little rain. So we are having a cool streak. LOL

L.