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Butterfly Garden

I have had it!

15 years ago

This morning I have been getting everything set up for the Master Gardeners that are coming over to view the BY. This week I found a little Red Admiral nest on the False Nettle. I've kept the cat in the house, but took it out and set it on the patio table so the group could see it. I just noticed my little cat was gone! And in the pot was a fat little green tree frog licking his chops. I love little wide-mouthed tree frogs, but NOT when they eat my one and only RA cat for this year. (Something ate the earlier cats while I was out of the country.) I am seeing RED. Add frogs and toads to the predator list.

Sandy

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Comments (8)

MissSherry
15 years ago
'Sorry about your red admiral, Sandy!
It's interesting that you're noticing toads eating cats for the first time now. My pipevine swallowtail Mamas had been laying eggs on the Va. snakeroot I had growing in pots in my garden. I'd see the hatchlings, then they'd disappear. There's a big toad that's been living in there, and it finally occurred to me that he/she's eating them. So lately I've been planting the Va. snakeroots out in the new raised beds next to my new picket fence.
This may also explain why the giant swallowtails wouldn't lay eggs on the ptelea I've got growing in pots while the pots were on the ground, but immediately started laying eggs on them as soon as I put them on the top shelves of some baker's racks - up there, they're out of reach of toads.
So I have to agree - toads are predators, 'don't know about green frogs. Green frogs are all over my porch and don't bother the cats, but then they can't reach the cats in their cages.
Sherry
susanlynne48
15 years ago
Butterflies sometimes have an innate sense of where to lay eggs, huh, MissSherry!

Sorry about your RA, Sandy! I think the predators are getting most of mine this year.

Susan
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MissSherry
15 years ago
I think some of them do, Susan, like giant swallowtails.
Sherry
tdr4
15 years ago
I have had the same problem with frogs. Lizards are just as bad. My husband built a cage for me after the frogs and lizards kept coming in my garage after cats. I still find the lizards climbing on the cage and the frog with his front legs on the screen looking in.lol
rjj1
15 years ago
Sandy,

I guess it makes it worse when the culprit that does the munching is one you can't help but like.

I love tree frogs.

randy
butterflymomok
Original Author
15 years ago
Randy,

You're right! Those tree frogs are too cute.

Sandy
jmcat
15 years ago
Yes, so cute! Speaking of which, I want to get one sometime...
butterflymomok
Original Author
15 years ago
Jmcat, if it was legal to send one to you, I'd put it in a box and mail it! I'm not for sure it would make the trip very well, but I could add some flies to the box and maybe some spare caterpillars. LOL

Sandy

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