Red Spotted Purple - The Friendly Butterfly

I’ve found the Red Spotted Purple to be a very human-friendly butterfly. If you move slowly, they will transfer to your sweaty hand and stay there for quite a while. Here’s a couple of pictures of this friendly fellow.

Pipevine - I’ve finally learned the “Trick.”

I’ve been trying for years to entice Pipevine butterflies to lay their eggs on my gigantic Pipevine which crawls up the side of the house. I’ve only found larvae once in seven years. It was so discouraging, I was very close to ripping out the Pipevine and putting in a different plant. I’m glad I didn’t since I’ve finally figured out what they seem to want. The don’t want a gigantic plant with older leaves, they want a tender young shoot just coming out of the ground. I’ve dug these out in years past - now I know better.

Sherry, another butterfly devotee, gave me this advice: “In my case, I’ve got so many cats that few of the leaves on my vines get a chance to age - the cats keep them pruned and making new growth. I fertilize mine once or twice a year to keep plenty of new growth coming. In years past my vines have grown vigorously without cats chewing the leaves, and I cut them back deliberately to encourage new growth. Pipevine swallowtail females almost never lay eggs on old, tough leaves, so if I were you, I’d prune and fertilize them.”

Pipevine Sprouts

Video Below:

Charcoal Experiment - August 11th.

Below is a picture of the charcoal experiment where I added unburned natural charcoal to the soil. The charcoal pot is the one on the right and seems to be doing the best. The plant without any fertilizer did die out and the one with just fertilizer, in the middle, is doing poorly. I’ll try this with different plants next year as this particular Verbena didn’t do well in other areas.

Charcoal in Soil Test

Do Butterflies Prefer Native Plants?

According to an online article, Dr. Jeffrey Glassberg made the statement,”Butterflies are very attracted to many non-native species — such as butterfly bush, zinnias and lantanas — but they prefer native plants.”

It’s amazing to me when I see experts in the field make such silly statements. Butterflies prefer good nectar sources and many non-natives are much better sources. I’ve got Joe Pye Weed in my yard and I rarely see any butterflies on it. The reason is, I have Butterflybush, Lantana and many other non-natives which are flowering and are much more attractive to butterflies. In the wild, you’ll see butterflies on Joe Pye Weed, but that’s only because they don’t have any other options.

Given a choice, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails will always choose the non-native Butterfly Bush over the native Joe Pye Weed.

The Only Thing Butterflies Need?

I’m always amazed at the bad advice and misinformation you can find online. One recent article I found said, “The only things butterflies are looking for as they flutter about are flowers — nectar sources — and any colorful garden will make them feel right at home.”
(article)
The statement is actually wrong on two counts:
1. Butterflies are also looking for host plants. Nectar plants will give them energy, but they need host plants to lay their eggs. I frequently see butterflies going from plant to plant searching for the right host plant. Note - they also hunt for minerals, amino acids and all sorts of nutrients they need.

2. The second things wrong is that any colorful garden is good for butterflies - again wrong. Butterflies are looking for good nectar sources not colorful plants. Your garden could be filled with roses, yet you’d see few butterflies. Roses are not good nectar sources.

Plantskydd for Rabbits

If you have trouble with rabbits chewing your prize plants, you can give Plantskydd a try. June Hutson of the Missouri Botanical Garden uses it and says, “Rabbits hate it and I always say if rabbits eat plants that have Plantskyd on them, they deserve to have them. It is usually quite effective.” Note - it’s quite expensive and not everyone has good luck. I don’t use it - I have too many plants to protect. I have been known to use 3′ tall plastic fencing to protect new plants, plus I have used no-kill traps to move them to a different location.
What is your answer for rabbits?

Plantskydd for Rabbits

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

If you want to attract a Hummingbird Clearwing moth, try planting honeysuckle, the host plant. I planted Lonicera sempervirens, Trumpet Honeysuckle, this year. It’s a Plant of Merit in St. Louis. Another moth, the Snowberry Clearwing looks very similar.
Here’s video I took in my backyard.

Dealing with the Phlox Bug

A friend mentioned that she was infested with the Phlox bug and ask for my recommendations. Here’s my answer:

I had a bad year with bugs on my Hop Tree last year because of some bugs, but this year it’s fine. Just because one year is bad, doesn’t mean the following year will follow.

I’d also be inclined to plant other species.
Having just one primary plant is dangerous.
If that one plant fails, then your garden looks terrible.

The plants still need their strength for the following year,
so I’d let them keep growing. Don’t cut them back until the fall.
I’d even fertilize them to help.

I’d follow the advice I found at MoBot:
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/IPM.asp?code=308&group=54&level=s
“The phlox bug overwinters in the egg stage in dead phlox stems.”

It looks like if you do a good cleanup this fall,
you won’t have the problem next year.

Shasta Daisy as a Nectar Plant

Shasta Daisies are usually known for flower arrangements and deliveries, but they make a great nectar plant for at least thirty days. My favorite variety is “Becky,” although by late July they are finished blooming.

Shasta Daisy as a Nectar Plant

Japanese Beetles and the Cool Whip Death Trap

Two weeks ago I had an infestation of Japanese Beetles in my yard. I took a Cool Whip container, filled in half way with water and added a squirt of dishing washing liquid. I then went around, put the Cool Whip container under the beetles and tapped them on the shoulder. They’d fall in the liquid and drown. The first day I collected 200, the 2nd day 100, the 3rd day 50 beetles. Ever since then they haven’t been a problem. It’s interesting to note that my neighbor just two houses down has Japanese beetles all over her plants. I wonder what’s keeping them from flying to my yard? Maybe they’re heard about my “Cool Whip Death Trap.”

Japanese Beetles and Cool Whip Death Trap