stuff in the yard

[maunahaole]

December means monarch butterfly season for us. We have a crown flower tree, which is like heroin for them. It is loaded with caterpillars which are happily fattening up on the leaves.

[Chad]

Awesome pics!

[Too Tall]

What chutney would compliment Monarchs?

[maunahaole]

I leave those juicy morsels to the birds and lizards

[Too Tall]

I leave those juicy morsels to the birds and lizards

But there are soooo many and they look delish ;)
No kidding, I thank you every springtime when they cover my buddeliia bushes. Maryland is part of the fall migration and I understand milkweed is like crack for them. I think that is the main food for larve?

[maunahaole]

That makes sense. That tree is in the milkweed family, something I am reminded of when it comes time to prune it. Real sticky skin irritant. The pruning does wonders though. I got after it pretty aggressively this year and it looks a lot healthier for it.

[Cookietruck]

i couldn't find a pic, but we planted lots of dill the other season and holy crap.
there are some green horned caterpillars i think they were that love that stuff. i think they turn into black swallowtail butterfly's...

i'll do some quick googlin'

edit: nvm. the green horned one was the jerk that ate into the tomatoes i think.
this is the caterpillar for the black swallowtail. we had lots of them.
http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg266.html


here is one of the little guys. got in the house. dizzy my staffordshire terrier almost ate him. i saved him though.

[zetroc]

Beautiful. Growing up in CA we had spiky black caterpillars that turned into Mourning Cloaks year after year, and of course the green tomato hornworms that turn into sphinx moths. I've been thinking about planting some milkweed to attract monarchs.

[Too Tall]

Thanks for the Monarchs Manahole. They are out in force feasting at our wall of Buddleia.