Sounds like at least a couple of us would be looking for cardinal-whatever seeds next season.

Will definitely have some of that lil red/orange MG in the mix of seeds.

that tiny wild one?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/...
I saw it once at a park near here. I found it in my garden couple weeks ago which was a total surprise.
Another surprise- yellow morning glory?! never heard of it
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/...

Got seeds for this hibiscus. Optimistic? Heck yeah.

sallyg said:that tiny wild one?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/...
I saw it once at a park near here. I found it in my garden couple weeks ago which was a total surprise.
Another surprise- yellow morning glory?! never heard of it
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/...

Yes...It's growing ALL over my back yard...HOA loves it. I let it do it's thing since it's obviously an annual and will die back.

So, my BST cats have been forming their chrysalises en masse but some did so on the floor of the habitat . I'd like to get some glue so I can place their chrysalises at the top with the others. Any suggestions for type of glue? eg, does plain old Elmers or superglue work?

I googled that question, but forget exactly....

thanks, Sally--am finally catching up on things after a blur of a week. If only we had another 3-day weekend tomorrow!!

okay, I found this very helpful website about reattaching chrysalises:
http://www.butterflyfunfacts.c...

it talks about hot glue and hot glue guns. So off to the craft store for this noncrafty person!

Catmint20906 said:okay, I found this very helpful website about reattaching chrysalises:
http://www.butterflyfunfacts.c...

it talks about hot glue and hot glue guns. So off to the craft store for this noncrafty person!

Get the small one for this and and do a couple dry run tests with something like a chrysalis til you get the hang of it. I messed up quite a bit! Hard to juggle all of the moving parts. Found it easier to attach chrys to something else and then attach that to top of habitat with pins or thread and not hot glue ie. I am better at attaching a 'stick' with a chrys rather than just the chrys. If you do use glue gun inside your habitat put something over those chrys that may get dripped on as you work.

Super glue has worked for me (glue gun impaired) on Monarch chrys. The trick is keeping the cremaster in the runny glue til the glue hardens.
Will share my 'technique' if there is need. Also can share how to remove super glue from fingers

Good luck.

thanks, Mariposa! I was thinking maybe to glue the chrysalises to a paper towel and then pin the paper towel to the top of the habitat.
thanks for the tip about getting a little one--I'll have to stop at the crafts store this afternoon!
only a few BSTs still left to pupate!

Yes, paper towels are my favorite caterpillar raising tool!

Here there is one Monarch ready for release and one newly arrived migrator nectaring like crazy. Also 28 chryssalides, 4 'Js', and three still munching milkweed. Looks like I'll be releasing almost to Halloween! That is unless there is a Road Trip!

Road Trip? Do tell!

Think like a butterfly and follow the migration routes
down the coast or along the mountains South and west eventually to TX ETA Mexico, Day of the Dead.

THat would be really fun, Judy!

I saw an orange butterfly today but so briefly.. didn't seem like a monarch. Another later looked more like a buckeye...

I was pleased to see some Buckeyes this year! First time I've had them in my garden. Not sure it if was the addition of Ruellia or the climate...

I'm pretty sure I've seen Buckeyes, nectaring on Sedum, noticed them a few years ago. Is Ruellia a larval food? I have Ruellia, but I haven't noticed any kind of eating of the leaves.

From a place that raises BST's and other butterflies, I read to NOT use either super glue or Elmer's... seems they are toxic to the pupae. They use low temp hot glue.

thanks, Critter! I got a small glue gun this afternoon. Once they've all pupated, I'll use it to make sure they're all attached properly!

Ruellia is reportedly a larval food for Buckeyes--and Plantago is as well--and I've also let that grow this year instead of weeding out! So, maybe that helped!