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Dec 14, 2015 9:07 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Ibis, I meant to comment on your cats - Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! That's a beautiful passion vine you have there -- pretty blooms!

Yes, Melanie, here's hoping you get to feeling quite the thing very soon. Probably this lousy weather having an effect too. Dreary.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Dec 14, 2015 10:22 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Melanie
Lutz, Florida (Zone 9b)
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers hot summers Hummingbirder Birds Bee Lover Bookworm
Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Bromeliad Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Salvias
Thank, guys. Dad is sick, too and he's going to the doctor in the morning. He has immune problems and he's still recovering from hand surgery so we're keeping a close eye on him. He saw his hand surgeon today for more follow up and his hand is healing fine. Now, it's the rest of him we're worried about!

Ann, I keep forgetting how much farther north you are. I've covered milkweed with Monarchs on it so I think it would be fine to do the same with Zebra Longwings. Just be sure when you take the blankets off you don't transport any caterpillars! I've also seen Monarchs eat milkweed leaves that got frosted so other caterpillars might do the same. I've also noticed when it gets cold, some caterpillars will get down on the ground, even in the mulch, where it's warmer. So watch where you step and maybe make sure you spread some of the covers around the base of the plant, too. Of course, that will help the roots, as well. It's strange to think we're going to have such a drastic change coming! The football game in Miami tonight was saying it was 75 degrees with 90% humidity and several players were cramping and had to get IVs to rehydrate. But this Friday our high is supposed to be in the 60's! Crazy Florida weather. And I'm still blaming El Nino. Hilarious!
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Dec 15, 2015 6:26 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Melanie
Lutz, Florida (Zone 9b)
Butterflies Enjoys or suffers hot summers Hummingbirder Birds Bee Lover Bookworm
Region: Florida Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Bromeliad Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Identifier Salvias
Okay, here's a few photos from Saturday.

I released the Black ST that morning. It was male.

Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/40b0ee

I also had to feed my (probably Tropical Checkered) Skipper caterpillar and his moth buddy.

Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/debee9

There were still several Barred Sulphurs flying around.

Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/2de35d Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/45db1d

Some bad photos to prove there are still Phaon Crescents.

Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/f2002c Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/8cc33e

Not a butterfly, but here's an update on my gopher tortoise. I think it's making the burrow a lot deeper because the pile of sand outside has gotten much larger.

Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/d954f7 Thumb of 2015-12-15/mellielong/648dbe
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Dec 15, 2015 8:08 AM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Nice photos Melanie. Maybe the gopher tortoise knows more than we do & is digging deeper for a cold winter. ??????? One can hope.
Thanks! That makes me feel much better about the cats. I plan on raking up a BIG pile of sycamore leaves we have & piling them up all around that area to help protect plants & cats. Thumbs up

Yup, I'm blaming El Nino as well. Crazy!!! FL can have crazy weather as we who live here know well, but this year is abnormally crazy insane!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Dec 15, 2015 10:24 AM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
mellielong said: I've also seen Monarchs eat milkweed leaves that got frosted so other caterpillars might do the same. I've also noticed when it gets cold, some caterpillars will get down on the ground, even in the mulch, where it's warmer.

And I'm still blaming El Nino. Hilarious!


Hope you and yer Father get better,

I wonder what the hardiness of Monarch Cats is? Rolling my eyes.

Mellanie - El Nino has a great deal (> 75 %) to do with this crazy weather we are getting all over the place. Too bad that info is not mentioned very much. This may be the strongest El Nino ever (FWIW, I was a member of the American Meteorology Association for ~ 20 years.)
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Dec 15, 2015 3:39 PM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
flaflwrgrl said:Well you learned the word instar so you must have learned something critter. Cool! Thumbs up Big Grin


Saw it in some posts but I haven't gotten past "I gotta look that up" yet. Shrug! Hilarious!
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
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Dec 15, 2015 3:46 PM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
DavidLMO said:I was a member of the American Meteorology Association for ~ 20 years.)


SPREAD THE WORD David, SPREAD THE WORD!
I get scared when things are this far off normal.
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
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Dec 15, 2015 8:49 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
crittergarden said:

Saw it in some posts but I haven't gotten past "I gotta look that up" yet. Shrug! Hilarious!


Here you go.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
It's a short read.
Green Grin!
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Dec 15, 2015 9:23 PM CST
Name: David Laderoute
Zone 5B/6 - NW MO (Zone 5b)
Ignoring Zones altogether
Seed Starter Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Level 1
crittergarden said:
Saw it in some posts but I haven't gotten past "I gotta look that up" yet. Shrug! Hilarious!


Well Critter - I look things up scores of time per day and I been in horticulture for 40 + years. :-)
WRT butterflies, I am just learning as well. My main area of interest is Monarchs.
Seeking Feng Shui with my plants since 1976
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Dec 16, 2015 9:26 AM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
flaflwrgrl said:

Here you go.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
It's a short read.
Green Grin!


thankyouverymuch
(that's my imitation of Elvis in typed form)
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
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Dec 16, 2015 9:28 AM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
DavidLMO said:

Well Critter - I look things up scores of time per day and I been in horticulture for 40 + years. :-)



THAT means you are still dedicated and NOT sitting back on your education.
bravo for that!
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
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Dec 24, 2015 8:03 AM CST
Name: Sondra
NE Houston, Texas (Zone 9a)
Bulbs Cactus and Succulents Cat Lover Region: Texas
I've never posted in this forum before, but I was excited to see Monarch caterpillars on my tropical milkweed and wanted to share the photo. Then, as I was watering some new plantings yesterday, I saw this.
Thumb of 2015-12-24/SALL20/2cfc1a


Thumb of 2015-12-24/SALL20/a93450
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Dec 24, 2015 9:05 AM CST
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Lovely Monarch caterpillar and chrysalis Sall20, thank you for posting the pictures. I live in North Central Texas and they are not active here at this time, lucky you!! Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
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Dec 24, 2015 9:37 AM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
Welcome to the thread @SALL20 . I've only been here myself for a couple of months.
We have lots of fun here!
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
Last edited by crittergarden Dec 24, 2015 9:37 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 24, 2015 2:01 PM CST
Name: Christine
North East Texas (Zone 7b)
Shine Your Light!
Heirlooms Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Hummingbirder Bee Lover Herbs
Butterflies Dragonflies Birds Cat Lover Dog Lover Garden Photography
Welcome! Sall20, that is exciting to see this time of year. Thank you for posting! Hurray!

But, we have been exceptionally warm this week... which is subject to change at any moment.
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb

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Dec 24, 2015 7:47 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Hurray! Sondra!!! Thanks for posting & join us more often. Thumbs up
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
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Dec 24, 2015 7:50 PM CST
Name: Ann ~Heat zn 9, Sunset
North Fl. (Zone 8b)
Garden Sages Region: Ukraine Native Plants and Wildflowers Xeriscape Organic Gardener I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database!
Garden Ideas: Master Level Butterflies Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Dog Lover
One of my Zebra Longwing cats went into it's J on Dec. 18th. Here are photos:

Thumb of 2015-12-25/flaflwrgrl/dc099e Thumb of 2015-12-25/flaflwrgrl/b2e21b

The next day it began making it's chrysalis. I keep trying to get a moment to get out there & take a photo.
I am a strong believer in the simple fact is that what matters in this life is how we treat others. I think that's what living is all about. Not what I've done in my life but how I've treated others. ~~ Sharon Brown
Image
Dec 25, 2015 7:11 AM CST
Surprisingly GREEN Pittsburgh (Zone 6a)
Rabbit Keeper Bee Lover Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge) Butterflies Hummingbirder
Dog Lover Birds Plant and/or Seed Trader Bulbs Echinacea Irises
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
SHOW ME YOUR CRITTERS! I have a critter page over at Cubits. http://cubits.org/crittergarde...
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Dec 25, 2015 10:18 AM CST
Name: josephine
Arlington, Texas (Zone 8a)
Hi Everybody!! Let us talk native.
Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Butterflies Garden Ideas: Master Level Forum moderator
I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database. Charter ATP Member Plant Identifier Birds Cat Lover
Thank you, and the same to you!! Smiling
Wildflowers are the Smiles of Nature.
Gardening with Texas Native Plants and Wildflowers.
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Dec 25, 2015 12:24 PM CST
Name: Danita
GA (Zone 7b)
Charter ATP Member Forum moderator Hummingbirder Salvias Butterflies Birds
Plant Identifier Vegetable Grower Container Gardener Seed Starter Cat Lover Region: Georgia
Merry Christmas! Angel

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