In Jo's Yard - 18 The Hummingbird Moth

One month since my Phase 1 is planted, a neighbor calls me from the front of my house around dusk because she thinks there are hummingbirds at my Pinelands Lantana.  They are actually hummingbird moths!  Hummingbird moths are insects.  Their rapid wing movement – up to 70 beats per second - creates a buzzing sound and enables them to travel 12mph.  They dart around just like hummingbirds!  The wings of hummingbird moths are mostly transparent with dark borders.  The moths do not have feathers, where hummingbirds do, of course.  Hummingbird moths can be found in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.  Where hummingbirds favor red tubular flowers, in my yard, these hummingbird moths were at the yellow Pinelands Lantana.  The main host plants for hummingbird moths are herbs and shrubs of the teasel and honeysuckle families.  The adults are small, diurnal moths that resemble bumblebees in shape, 2-2-1/2 inches long and they are often mistaken for hummingbirds.


                                                  Internet Photo of Hummingbird Moth

In Jo's Yard - 17 Monarchs & Milkweed

Just 21 days after the Milkweed is planted, the second Monarch Caterpillar wanders away to form a chrysalis. The Milkweed that is left behind is just a bare stalk. 

Despite milkweed’s status as the Monarch butterfly’s only host plant, there are many different species of milkweeds that monarchs can use to raise their young. While some species have been found to be preferred over others, all members of the genus Asclepias can be used as a Monarch butterfly host plant.  It’s important to choose a species of milkweed that’s native to your region whenever possible –in Central Florida that is Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).  Monarch caterpillars are voracious and one can devour a Milkweed leaf in just five minutes.  Even though I watched in amazement as the Monarch caterpillars ate that Milkweed plant down to a stalk, I was equally amazed to watch that plant sprout new leaves in time for MORE Monarch’s the use that very same season.  The Swamp Milkweed then “died-back” by December – I’ve been told this is Nature’s Way of encouraging the Monarch Butterflies to “move on”.  In Central Florida we should not see Monarch Butterflies November to April or so, as they migrate farther south to Mexico.  How this migration was discovered is quite the fascinating story.  If you get a chance I highly recommend watching the show (less than 30 minutes) – Journey with Dylan Dreyer – Flight of the Butterflies (2016).  Look for it “on demand” or other streaming methods. 

The tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is much debated. There’s evidence that it negatively impacts monarch health and migration in some parts of the country. Plus, it isn’t perennial, nor is it native to the U.S. or Canada.  I discourage you from planting this variety.  

                                               July 5 Young Swamp Milkweed just planted                       

                                 July 25 2^nd Monarch Caterpillar “finishing” it

In Jo's Yard - 16 Helmut Skullcap

Twenty (20) days after planting, one of my Helmet Skullcap plants is in bloom!  Yea!  Helmet Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) is the most widespread and common member of this mint family genus.  It is found statewide in Florida except for the most southern tier of counties, and throughout much of the eastern half of the U.S. 

Helmet skullcap is a deciduous perennial which dies back to the ground in winter and re-emerges again in early spring.  It begins as a basal rosette of arrow-shaped leaves, but soon produces its upright stalk with opposite, mostly elliptical, leaves.  Leaf shape can be somewhat variable in this species, however, and sometimes the leaves remain arrow-shaped at least halfway up the stem.  Mature stems reach a height of about 2 - 2 1/2 feet before the flowers appear in early summer.  I look forward to seeing more of these in bloom!  Below are photos of the same plant at 20 days (July) and 10 months (May).  

                 20 days after planting                                                 10 months after planting-spectacular!

                   

In Jo's Yard - 15 Plant It & They Will Come

It’s been barely 2 weeks since the Wildflower Garden with one Milkweed plant was planted.  The Coral Honeysuckle under the trellis came with a ‘bonus” Passion Vine.  I am ecstatic to find that a Monarch Caterpillar is eating my milkweed and a Gulf Fritillary caterpillar on the Passion Vine.  A few days later, there are TWO Monarch Caterpillars eating my milkweed! 

Less than three weeks from planting, my first hummingbird is sighted at the Tropical Sage! She moved fast I couldn’t get a photo – Below is a photo from the internet – that is how she looked!  
I am so happy – Plant it and they will come!

                                                Monarch Caterpillar on my Milkweed          

 Gulf Fritillary caterpillar on Passion Vine

                              Hummingbird at a Tropical Sage plant (photo found on internet)