Congrats, Tom! 'Nothing more uplifting than butterflies!

Sherry

Wow Tom, very nice way to start the day!

I didn't know there were Spicebush butterflies in our zone. What host plant do you have for them?

I miss seeing Humming Birds. I'm lucky if I see 1-2 a year. I don't know why they are not here. Maybe it has to do with the more constant and stronger winds closer to the coast?

Enjoy!

Anna

You are near the East coast, Anna? I know there are some there, but perhaps not as many as in the middle of the state where I am.

I have many, many hummingbird plants and literally thousands of blooms. Most of the back part of my property has been taken over by Hamilia Patens. Some are around ten feet tall now and totally in bloom. They are garden thugs and I am constantly pulling them out of other parts of my yard. Once they get established they are extremely difficult to get rid of. Another plant that has spread is the Cuphea Schumannii. It is a terrific hummingbird plant. Now the red firespikes are starting to bloom. It seems like they bloom earlier every year. The hummer really like them.

I have planted some spice bush plants (Lindera Bensoin). (I'm seeing a hummer on the Cuphea right now.) I didn't have much luck with the Lindera Bensoin, and I don't think I have any now. I know that I got another tree for them, but I can't remember now what it was. There is a tree that they like around here, but I don't recall the name. I will try to look it up.

Could it be camphor tree, Tom?

Sherry

No. Sherry. I've been looking for one for years. I believe they have been declared a Category I invasive tree in the state of Florida. I saw a few of them years ago and one of them had a cat on it. I believe it was a Spice Bush cat. I love the fragrance of the crushed leaves. There is another Florida tree that they visit.

It's the Red Bay, I remember now.

I planted several of these trees and at least one is still around, but it doesn't look that healthy, but maybe the butterflies are using it.

I have a large messy garden where I have planted many plants over the years. Many of them I can no longer identify. I remember the red bay now. I believe that many of them have been killed off by a particular beetle. I think you had some Red Bay at your previous property, Sherry, no?

Gorgeous butterfly, Iris. She is a beauty.

I see very few Ladies or Buckeyes, for some reason. Never have seen many.

I haven't seen a black Tiger yet this year. Hopefully with the rain we have been getting I will see one soon.

The one butterfly that I have in abundance is the Zebra Longwing. There are at least ten of them flittering around at pretty much any time of day. They love the Hamelia Patens and the shade--both of which I have plenty of.

We are into butterfly season. It's great!

Yes, Tom, most of the tops of the red bays got killed back where I used to live in the country, including a very big, beautiful one that I had planted myself. After the ambrosia beetles did their damage, saw dust came out from little holes all up and down the trunk of the tree - made me sick. But, they all resprouted from the roots. I planted one here in Hattiesburg, and it's pretty much the only one in this neighborhood, which is sort of an advantage, because the beetles spread from tree to tree. It's very healthy and growing very well. Palamedes swallowtails primarily use red bay, but sometimes I'd find spicebush cats on them, too. Spicebush swallowtails, of course, usually use spicebushes and sassafras.

Iris, that female tiger is gorgeous!

Sherry

Wow, that is a great photo Iris!!

The Tiger Swallowtail always reminds me of my childhood in the rolling hills and forests of northern Mississippi. Lots of Sassafras grew in those woods. I'm wondering if Sassafras can grow in Zone 9b? Some say only to 9a and others all the way to Mexico.

I'm raising lots of Zebra Longwings. They like to lay their eggs on the Corky Stem passion vine probably because it's in a shady area, where the Maypop passion vines are in more sun. The Gulf Fritillary love the Maypop. When I was young, the grandfather of my friend raised watermelons as a side crop. Maypop vines loved growing in that melon field. We loved stomping the Maypop fruit and hearing the "pop" and spraying each other with seeds. Papa Carver didn't appreciate us seeding more maypops in his melon patch. :)

Anna

When one recognizes a pattern of concurrences, how many dozens more such concurrences are required to justify at least a tentative conclusion? To those of you who are visited by both Polydamas and Spicebush STs, try to notice how often the appearance of a Spicebush had been preceded one or few minutes earlier by entry of the Polydamas from the same direction.

Not sure I understand, Four. Did you mean Polydamas and Pipevines?

May 2021 Tom, sorry, I was not notified of a comment.

Although Polydamas and Pipevine STs would seem a more likely cohort, indeed it was Polydamas followed by Spicebush, time after time after time.

Current Spicebush ST news is that they began to appear within the last week or two. Few thus far. Today I was pleased to see one on Porterweed, plant that you have mentioned a number of times. Pleased to add another species of drinker to the long list that I have seen enjoying Porterweed. Certain kinds of plants are notable in that way.

Yes, I saw a male and female Spicebush last week. The Polydamas and Pipevines have been around also, but are not numerous yet. Lots of Zebras now and Monarchs and Giants. The Fritillaries have just about consumed an entire large passion vine. Action should be picking up shortly.