Wow -- lucky you. I first saw the caterpillars crawling along the ground in an old family cemetery on the southeast side of San Antonio, which was regularly mowed, and never could find the A. erecta, 'swanflower' plant although I've searched every time I've been there. Indeed, they are very hard to spot unless perhaps blooming or a Pipevine swallowtail caterpillar is on it.

Cool! It looks like a cobra snake.

Omar

Wow!

Lorelei, Can I get some seed from you? I have been looking for seed for awhile.

Mara, I'll try. I just hope they don't get trampled before the seed pods form.

Would it be possible to put an empty wire hanging basket over them for protection?

They've popped in 3 or 4 locations, all in very heavily trafficked areas. I've got them all marked with surveyer stakes and rocks where I can. There is one seed pod already formed, I can probably protect that one with a wire basket.

I will keep my fingers crossed!! and give a prayer to the saint of small plants in pathways.

St. Fiacre?

Omar

I wouldn't know, but those little things in the pathway need some heavenly help. Maybe the Saint could move the mountain,... I mean pathway..

I think you are very lucky! Neat looking plant.

Mara, I've dug some up and they seem to be adjusting to their pot. If I can keep them alive, I'll give you one in October.

One epi for one pipe vine. I actually might have a rooted plant to spare.

Lorelei, I'm assuming someone planted the native pipe vine in the community garden. Do you know who it was and where they got the seeds? I'm just curious if they grow wild around your area or if they collected seed from another location.

Ragna, nobody planted them! These have popped up in 2 areas of our community garden, both in very heavily, trafficked areas, both very heavily mulched. Now, they may have popped up before and no one noticed them, I don't know. The 2 spots are about 30 feet away from each other. One of our members is a native plant society member and she dug one up and moved it to the butterfly bed within the garden. I've dug some more up to get them out of the way, they seem to have survived the move and are in a pot at home. The others we're leaving as is until they set seeds. I'll make sure to get you some seed or some plants!