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Butterflies

Discussion in 'Pets and Wildlife' started by KellyW, Aug 18, 2016.

  1. Aug 18, 2016 #1
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    The top one is a Gulf Fritillary. Its host plant is passion flower (Passiflora sp). With the spread of Passiflora as a landscape plant this butterfly has extended its range.

    The lower is a Gray Hairstreak. It ranges through much of North America. The "tails" on the rear of the wings move and mimic antenna which confuses predators. This species has several host plants.

    Gulf fritillary4 RAW-1000.jpg Gray hairstreak RAW-1000.jpg
     
    jai likes this.
  2. Aug 18, 2016 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Thank you!
     
  3. Aug 18, 2016 #3
    jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    Very nice Kelly, looks like your butterfly/native species garden is a success.
     
  4. Aug 18, 2016 #4
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Thanks, Jai. It is mostly a success. It looks good in the winter and spring but by mid-summer everything looks baked. After a few weeks of 104-112F many of the plants look a little weary.
     
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  5. Aug 18, 2016 #5
    jai

    jai Orchid addict

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    Kelly is there some sort of leaf gloss or something that can protect the leaves/plants from burning?
     
  6. Aug 19, 2016 #6
    DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    A fine pursuit to observe!

    Kelly, Marni you guys have for the most part had water restrictions lifted yes?
     
  7. Aug 19, 2016 #7
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Redding does not currently have water restrictions in effect. We are "asked" to water on certain days based on even-odd addresses.
     
  8. Aug 19, 2016 #8
    rico

    rico Active Member

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    Those sure are pretty neat! Up here in the frozen north all I've ever seen are monarchs, painted ladies, swallowtails, and skippers.
     
  9. Aug 19, 2016 #9
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    We no longer have water restrictions since Gov. Brown lifted them a little while ago. I think it was premature. My understanding is that he had pressure from water agencies state wide who were running in the red with less water usage. Around here, many who conserved continue to do so and those who want to squander can do so freely now. I am not replanting the plants I gave up on in the yard, though I no longer save shower water to flush the toilet. I don't think the drought is necessarily over.
     
  10. Aug 20, 2016 #10
    DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    The drought is definitely not over. We'll see when they start the 2017 allocations to the Central Valley.
     
  11. Aug 20, 2016 #11
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Do you still have restrictions there? Was it only residential areas that got lifted?

    Sorry to hijack your thread, Kelly.
     
  12. Aug 20, 2016 #12
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Not a hijack at all. I am very interested in this discussion. I don't save my shower water any more either and feel a bit guilty about that but continue with many water conservation practices. All of my landscaping is on drip irrigation so that is very efficient. Depending on the upcoming winter I may have to get rid of my goldfish and drain the "pond" next summer. I may just convert it to a bog garden or have a dry hole. I would miss it because it attracts so much life in our dry summers.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2016
  13. Aug 21, 2016 #13
    DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

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    I noticed a laizze faire approach to the whole of my city. Sure there's some medians they let die and we are still showing signs of conservation but there could still be some push back for excessive lawn watering that goes too long or goes into the gutter.

    The greenhouses are on a well and it's struggling this summer. I haven't seen any predictions for what sort of rain season we're going to have, but hopefully it's average!