And I think Melanie often uses containers from "take out food". If I recall correctly, she uses cheesecloth or organza -- stuff like that to cover the top with. I don't know if she anchors it on top or if she just simply drapes it over.

Cross posted with you Jim.
Nice photos!

It's great seeing all of the monarchs!! haven't seen any here but wouldn't expect to since there's very little milkweed nearby. Hoping to change that.

Great photos Jim!
Yay Christine! Plant milkweed!

wildflowers said:It's great seeing all of the monarchs!! haven't seen any here but wouldn't expect to since there's very little milkweed nearby. Hoping to change that.

Me too. I got my seeds & they're in the fridge waiting 2 months.

I out back digging the syrica .. little plants . big plant runner roots , at least a grocery bag full of pods
This is not weed bragging , I am containing them in a huge planter , as they are over running everything , I am glad they did okay , but my goodness , I know why weed is in their name ,
I know there are other threads for this , but I am


Getting ugly ,











Just thought I would bring back the Maple Sapmoth to stay with the thread .

I got a good moth pic today, tiny little thing -

Also, some BFs -

Cabbage Whites -


A Skipper


Buckeye -


with a grasshopper

Really good clear photo jmorth ,
Looks a little like my orange mint Moths do ,

Thanks Jim
It might be a Spotted Beet Webworm Moth.

Jim, your garden looks a lot like mine right now!

Love the photos, J--that is really quite a photo of the Buckeye and grasshopper together!

Yeah, the garden here has looked better too.

Tried to get both skippers in the shot... poorly successful!


This is the first time all year that I've seen a butterfly on the Zinnia elegans "Envy". They're pretty but they must not have anything to offer the pollinators. Doubt I'll bother growing again.

Christine, that is a great skipper shot!
I know what you mean about a lot of the cultivars--sometimes they just don't attract the pollinators as well as the straight species does. I have the straight species Zinnia elegans in my yard and the pollinators flock to it! I also have a couple very pretty Zinnia cultivars which attract little interest. I've noticed the same thing with the double blossom coneflowers--the pollinators sniff and move on. Thank goodness they seem to like all the different aster cultivars I have!!

So true, Robin. Often, the "goodie" is bread out of the cultivars, they're either sterile, no pollen or nectar or the double blooms have so many petals, they can't get to the food. I'd rather grow food for the insects than eye candy. Sort of like a really attractive person with no substance... good looks only goes so far!

Great analogy, Christine! yes, some skin-deep pretty blossoms out there with nothing of substance to offer the pollinators...

Well said both of you.

It's almost October and I figured I better make a new thread before I slip back into my coma. So here you go. Don't forget to click on "Watch" so you can follow the thread! The thread "October 2015 Butterflies, Moths & Larva" in Gardening for Butterflies, Birds and Bees forum

Sorry a wee bit out of focus. I think it is a Tobacco Horn Worm? as near as I can figure. He has devoured/clear cut 4 Datura * in a pot and late today was ~ 50 % done with a 5th. When he went into a holding pattern. My hunch is that he is getting ready to form a pupa? He is well over 3 " in length and as big around as my index finger.

* No big loss as the stoopid plants were only ~ 13 " high rather than the 3 feet they should be by this time. I have had a terrible time growing from seed this year.

When I find a Horn Worm I always "donate" the plant they are eating. Previously, I had 2 Tomato horn worms and unfortunately, both had been parasitized. First disappeared and I think a bird got him. The second I tried to care for and I kept him alive for over week til he died. Guess next time I will euthanize them and put them out of their misery.

Yep, I think Tobacco Horn Worm too.

Hope this one makes it, David!!