[TN-Butterflies] Re: Your yard plants to attract butterflies
- From: Bill Haley <insul8rbill@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:21:04 -0800 (PST)
Hey Ken, crab spiders have to eat too!
I actually enjoy seeing both butterflies and butterfly predators in action. It
is one thing that keeps bug-watching interesting. A couple of years ago I was
watching a Cabbage White visit a flower when all of a sudden it gave a couple
of quick jerks, flapped a bit and then went still. An ambush bug, much smaller
than the butterfly, had caught, bitten and subdued it in a mere 15-20 seconds!
I've seen large Petaltail and Dragonhunter dragonflies snatch Eastern Tiger
Swallowtails out of the air in mid-flight. Neat! One funny instance occurred on
my Stevenson, Alabama butterfly count a few years back. David Spicer and I had
just identified our first (and only) Summer Azure of the day when an Eastern
Pondhawk swooped in and grabbed it. At least we identified it while it was
still flapping and could count it!
As a raptor enthusiast, I've never quite understood birdwatchers who curse
hawks when they swoop in and grab a small bird at the feeders. If you set the
table, be prepared for EVERYONE to come to lunch....even the predators.
Bill Haley
Chattanooga, TN
Hamilton Co.
--- On Fri, 2/13/09, kjchilds <kjchilds@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: kjchilds <kjchilds@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [TN-Butterflies] Re: Your yard plants to attract butterflies
To: tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, February 13, 2009, 10:19 AM
Zinnias are great for attracting butterflies but at my place, they also
attracted a lot of crab spiders. The zinnias became butterfly death traps! Each
spider caught and ate at least one skipper everyday.
http://www.finishflagfarms.com/other/kens_pics/bugs/slides/spider-IMG_2498.html
Ken Childs
Henderson, TN
Chester County
http://www.finishflagfarms.com
--- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tanya Jordan <tanya_jordan@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
From: Tanya Jordan <tanya_jordan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [TN-Butterflies] Re: Your yard plants to attract butterflies
To: tn-butterflies@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:03 PM
Other than 200% supporting Steve's suggestion of the butterfly bushes, three
words: ZINNIAS, ZINNIAS, and ZINNIAS!!! You plant them, they will come! In 20
years of planting for butterflies, nothing comes close to those two plants at
attracting butterflies to my yard. Sedum and Butterfly Weed are a close 3rd
and 4th place but have a much shorter bloom time for me where I live in
Ooltewah, TN.
Tanya Jordan
Hamilton/Bradley County
(Still no FOY...)
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael
To: Tennessee Butterflies
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:20 PM
Subject: [TN-Butterflies] Re: Your yard plants to attract butterflies
I found the West Tennessee listing of plants that butterflies used very
interesting (and hope others will contribute on such topics for their part of
the state), mostly native and most not accessible to put in the garden. I ask,
would you share what you suggest for putting in a yard to attract butterflies?
I am not naive about the subject, but would like to know what others have.My
yard is small, 57'x150', with only the front with any major sun. My current
offerings in the summer that receive the majority of butterfly attention
include lantanas, cat mint, sedum, coneflowers, yarrows, blanket flower,
goldenrod, and parsley. I have now eliminated the remaining grass in the front
and have room for additional plantings. Butterfly Weed is coming. I lost my
plant a few years ago. Much thanks.
Michael Lee Bierly, Nashville, Davidson County, N
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