I've got this native bush growing in the front side of the yard, Netleaf Forestiera, kin to Elbowbush. It takes up space, nothing showy about it, but I've resisted taking it out for one reason. In late winter, it blooms, little tiny blooms. And the nectar-hungry insects are happy to see ANYTHING blooming like that! A Red Admiral, nectaring on it today! Soon, the Arizona Ash and the Agarita will be blooming.

Awesome RA photo!!!

Hey, I saw an RA today - it was checking out the pellitory plants in my yard. Never did get to see it lay an egg - it was a tad to skittish and would fly away anytime I tried to get within a dozen feet of it - didn't occur to me to get the binocs out!

Guess that means I won't be weeding out the pellitory just yet. It is really popping up all over the place. Will give it a while to see if I notice any munching or nests on it.

~ Cat

Pellitory was growing in my flower bed on the south side and I removed it before I found out it was a host plant for the RA! More showed up in the spring but I think the sun has done it in, hope it dropped seeds.

That's a great pic of the RA Linda!

They are gorgeous BF's!

Saw a Red Admiral this evening just after watering some hanging baskets. It lit there and I went to get the camera....of course it was gone by then.

They really ARE a pretty butterfly! Last year I had caterpillars for them all over!

What were they using as a host plant down there Linda?

Sheila, they were using Stinging Nettle and also the Pennsylvania Pellitory.

I had pellitory but in this heat I don't think it is there now. I am sure it will come back from seed next year. Hard to kill a weed

Still get a lot of things blooming.

Pennsylvania Pellitory is an annual. But yes...it comes up easily the next year.

Wren, glad you do.... you haven't had over two months straight of 100-110 degree days! Now this week we have to go to twice a week sprinkler cycle. Only hand watering otherwise. I am just praying I have milkweed and frostweed to offer the monarchs as they migrate.

One frostweed in the yard is starting to bloom just recently. But the normally very plentiful frostweeds out by the dry creek...dead, dormant or barely there, so probably no blooms there. Any butterfly that heads south to Texas will find very little nectar! San Antonio has been on (edit) once a week watering all summer.

We are on twice a week but I hand water only the flowering plants.

Sorry, brain wasn't turned on...I meant to say that S.A. has been on ONCE a week sprinkler watering all summer, 3 to 8 am and 8 to 10 pm. Handheld anytime. They keep talking about going to Stage 3...but they have been almost all summer, so people don't even pay much attention to that. I live in a rural county...supposed to follow S.A. rationing stages, but who's going to enforce it? I've discovered that almost nobody knows we're in Stage 2 outside of people that live in certain towns in this county. In my subdivision, not too many garden, the majority just mow whatever grass is left when needed, some have some shrubs they planted.

LindaTX8 said:Pennsylvania Pellitory is an annual. But yes...it comes up easily the next year.

Have you found a commercial source for seed? I looked on the web it seems like it's sold in bird food mixes .... ?

Makes sense, where it is it was deposited by a bird I am sure.

It's always been around here, I guess. In the occasional better rain years, it's plentiful. But mostly, it just comes up here and there. 2010 was the only year I actually saw the caterillars on them...the plants were all over!

Well, at least I'm still getting a whole lot of attention to my zinnias - had two Monarchs on them yesterday, this is the first year I've seen them since I moved here 5 years ago. The buckeyes have come out and - as always - the Frittilaries are swarming.