New life again!

Monarch caterpillars on Milkweed

There goes our dill...

There goes our fennel....

There goes our parsley...

...and there goes our milkweed...

Swallotail butterfly pup on citrus tree

As they say, a face only a mother could love...

Asclepias tuberosa seeds

If you grow these in a garden that is not mowed you will have tons of 'free' plants a year or so after you have planted your first store-bought Milkweed (aka Butterfly weed) flowers. If you love your garden to be symmetrical and tidy this plant is not for you as it self-seeds freely and its appearance sometimes leaves a bit to be desired (yellowing leaves, aphids, eaten leaves, etc.).

On the other hand, if you are able to stand nature at its most perfectly imperfect the rewards will be many. The aphids that would normally attack other plants (think citrus, veg gardens, etc.) will naturally prefer Milkweed. Plus, you'll get to be a year-round Monarch butterfly host & get to see their development from egg to flying beauty. This plant is a host plant (meaning the plant of choice for laying eggs and feeding their larvae) for Soldier & Queen butterflies as well.

Its nectar feeds numerous butterflies: Queen, White Hairstreak, Striped Hairstreak, Spring Azure, Banded Hairstreak, Little Metalmark, Monarch, Pearl Crescent, Ruddy Dagggerwing, & Silvery Checkerspot.

IMPORTANT: all parts of this plant are toxic to animals.

Cassia (senna) Bahamensis

Seeds are almost ready! Let me know if you'd like some. For info on this little tree/shrub just type cassia bahamensis on the search box on the top left of this page.

Off to eat & swim!

Asclepia Tuberosa

Aka Butterfly Weed & Milkweed.
This is what I love about photos, they help me see things in a completely different way...for example, I had never really noticed all the nuances of the yellow part or how the red part eventually pulls all the way back. I am usually more concerned about killing those pesky bugs they get...but guess what, I read in one of my books that some organic farmers actually add this plant to their gardens/farms as the pests (most notably aphids) seem to go them-instead of the produce.
Pros: drought tolerant once established, host plant to monarch and a couple more butterflies that I am too lazy to look up right now. Nectar plant to beneficial insects. Self seeds.
Cons: Self seeds, so if you are someone who likes everything just so, be sure to remove the seed pods before they start flying all over the place.

Candle Bush Cassia bloom

Gulf Fritillary butterfly laying eggs

Black Swallowtail

Feasting on the Chaya (Spinach) Tree. Off to transplant seedlings to larger pots for the remainder of the day!

Even in the Gloomiest Mornings...

A blue fence and some red passion vine can lift anyone's spirits!

Garden/Seedling Update

Cassia Candle Bush is in full bloom!