Jessie, I was typing my manifesto when you posted. Yes, you do have a dark-form female Tiger there. Very nice! I like the yellow one, too. And the Silver Spotted Skipper. Good work!

Good news, folks! First, that vinegar seems to have done the trick. My feet aren't itchy or stinging or anything. Hmm. Gotta go thank the Florida Forum for that advice.

In other news, I was staring at my mystery caterpillars and found a super tiny one! I decided to see how many I could find and I counted eight! One was leaking, though. These are the kind of caterpillars where I'm just going to keep adding food and one day there's going to be a butterfly sitting there waiting to be let out. I'm just glad I got enough of them that I should at least be able to find out what they are!

Melanie , solving the Sherlock Holmes mystery of Butterflies , deductive reasoning , and logic applies :whistling:

Here is a not so good far away of a couple Monarch ,, as usual , huh folks
I am practicing for the next couple weeks anticipating getting as many as 12 in a photo , as the final Eclose generation happens and Migrators come flying through ,,

I must be feeling inspired. I saw "Mr. Holmes" starring Ian McKellen at the movies last week. I get so distracted by the plants in movies. He had an apiary and a beautiful English garden and I was trying to identify as many plants as I could. There was a gorgeous shot of an Abutilon that had me "oohing" and "aahing". I had the same problem watching "Cinderella". Between the Brugmansia in the greenhouse and the butterflies becoming part of her dress and shoes, I was enamored. I kept elbowing Mom, like "look, look"!

I went down to the street for the newspaper a while ago. Had already fed my "pet" doe and fawn, then did some things in the yard, so the heat was really getting to me. Then...there it was flying around...a TIGER (eastern or two-tailed, can't tell). I haven't had a single tiger cat to raise this year, so I hoasely croaked "Host plant!" and pointed toward my yard. Only madmen and Englishmen go out in the hot Texas midday sun, they say, not to mention trying to communicate with tigers...nobody saw me (I think!). My Spicebush cats are starting to pupate.

Well Melanie the folks here and the Vinegar suggestion , kept your feet in the game also , practical experience of deductive reasoning ,,

LindaTX8 Really hot here also ,walking is okay , only any bending , looking around , or any effort ,, and poof , misery , the heat is , I was doing planters a digging bulbs ,, wore out quick , back at it later though I will be ,

@mellielong Wishing you a very Happy Birthday!

LindaTX8 said:I went down to the street for the newspaper a while ago. Had already fed my "pet" doe and fawn, then did some things in the yard, so the heat was really getting to me. Then...there it was flying around...a TIGER (eastern or two-tailed, can't tell). I haven't had a single tiger cat to raise this year, so I hoasely croaked "Host plant!" and pointed toward my yard. Only madmen and Englishmen go out in the hot Texas midday sun, they say, not to mention trying to communicate with tigers...nobody saw me (I think!). My Spicebush cats are starting to pupate.

Laughing at the picture you painted. Surely anyone who saw/heard you thought the sun had addled your brains.
for Spicebush pupation!

I've kind of given up on what people must think of me. Yesterday, I apologized to my gesneriad for all the rain we've been having. It does not look happy. I didn't realize Mom was sitting in the hot tub until she spoke. Fortunately, I realized it was Mom talking and not the plant! And hey, I did a whole soliloquy to a rabbit today so it's all good.

Linda, we all expect beautiful pictures in a couple of weeks!

Melanie I decided I would stay 4 yrs old ,, mostly referred to as being a 2 yr old ,, So your the 30+ "little old Lady " who teaches about Butterflies and the little creatures that support us , and our planet to me,,

So I've been feeling quite disappointed that I have not seen many butterflies this summer, and the summer seems nearly over with September starting tomorrow. I was working out in my garden yesterday, looking down at the dirt as usual, and noticed a lot of moving shadows though there was no wind. I looked up at my very large Black Adder agastache, and I saw that it was COVERED IN MONARCHS!!!!!!!!!


Open this one all the way --





Zoom zoom














You may see there are also quite a few bees on the agastache. This is surely a magical plant in my yard.

I just stood there awestruck taking pictures (many did not turn out as it was right into the afternoon sun) and could not believe my eyes. In one afternoon I saw more Monarch butterflies than I have seen in the last 3 years, maybe even longer. I am just so happy to see them -- I don't think my feet touched the ground for the rest of the day

Very cool!

Interesting that from what I can see, they are all males. I can't remember if someone said this on the thread or if I was reading random stuff again, but I think I heard something about males and females migrating at slightly different times? Does anyone else remember this or am I making stuff up again? Mine don't migrate so I wouldn't know anyway. But hooray for Jeanie and hooray for Monarchs!

Also, Agastache is an awesome plant.

Love that shot of the Monarch flying towards you!

The Monarchs found my host plant!



I said the one looked more like a Queen and Dad said that's what Mom said when they bought it! She can be taught! Oh, and did you notice we have butterfly placemats, too?

Melanie - interesting that you said they were all male. How do you tell the difference? I will watch for more with a more educated eye!

Jeanie!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bet you're still smiling!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELANIE!!!! You know, after 30, you celebrate for an entire week. Sooooooo 1 down, 6 to go. Nice cake. I take it you love chocolate.

Jeanie, males have scent glands that appear as two black dots on the lower wings. It's harder to tell from the side, like in your picture, but I've seen enough of them I'm used to it.

Ann, that's a Publix special. Not just chocolate, it has fudge icing. Yummy! Every year Mom asks what kind of cake I want and every year I go And she says, "Chocolate?" And I go

Yes nice the cake , really sweet of those that care for you Melanie
Wonder if they tried for caterpillar Bon Bons to go with that ,

Again Happy Birthday Melanie , strange this feeling reminding me of why I have adult Diabetes looking at all that chocolate ,

We did have a sugar-free cake for my brother's birthday on the 27th. My grandma has diabetes (not too bad, though) and even her doctor said she could enjoy her birthday, just don't overdo it.