Not much better, Susan. I got 4 bales of old moldy hay yesterday to put around the plants to help conserve moisture. Now I've got to figure out when I'm going to spread the hay. Maybe 4 in the morning--that seems to be the coolest time of the day.

Sandy

Susan,

I had 12 yards of dirt dropped on the end of the drive a while back to fill in holes and level a few spots in the yard.I got all the dirt off the drive but ended up leaving about a half a yard spilled over into the yard that quickly had grass grow in it.

A few days ago I decided to till it up and level that spot. I watered it for about an hour so the tiller would just sit there bouncing all day not doing anything. :-)

It's going to take a while to get done. My old body is not taking to the shoveling and moving the wheelbarrow all over the place. 70% humidity at 6:00 am with temps still in the 80's is a bit much. I'm only doing it about 45 minutes every morning.

randy

Glad, but not really, that you guys are suffering as much as I am from this heat. I tried to water as much as possible this morning, but just couldn't stand being outside in the heat for more than a couple of minutes. I grabbed some BST cats, and some more fennel to feed the ones I have in containers, and felt like that was all I could do for them.

I noticed I have GF eggs on my passion vine, but just left them there (only noticed 2 because I was quickly scanning the vine). I will try to get out earlier tomorrow morning to rescue them. However, my 'Lavendar Lady' passion vine does not do well when I remove foliage to feed them. The P. ceurulea does much better. I don't have as much of it this year as I did last year. That vine grew to about 20' long with lots of side shoots. This year's vine (a new one) has grown but about 6" from the top shoot. Very little new growth. So, I may just leave the GFs to fend for themselves.

Randy, where do you get your dirt? From someone in Norman?

Sandy, I'd love to get some old moldy hay to put around my plants, but I don't think I have enough space around them to do it. I have got to water my Black & Blue Salvia, and just petered out today in the heat. Too hot for an alien from Saturn today! I melt, and feel like I'm gonna pass out in it.

Not so good news from doctors this week - I'm aging quickly - and along with it, I am acquiring new health issues that will prevent me from dealing with this extreme heat. Darn it!

Last year was so wonderful, that I don't suppose we will have another for 20 years like it.

My snaps are dying (or dead), my Pearly Everlasting seems to be dying quickly, altho there is some new growth at the base of the plant - I'm hoping when it gets cooler, it will rebound from that new growth. My Morning Glories and Moon Vine are suffering as well as the False Nettle. I lost my cherry tree and my button bush. The Black Willow (salix nigra; thank you, Randy) and the Tulip tree (liriodendron) seem to be doing okay without continuous watering, altho both like a lot of moisture. I need to plant them out next year in the front. Who cares what the neighbors think?????

The milkweed is doing just fine - especially the Family Jewels (calatropis) - but it likes it dry. The incarnata tried to bloom, but the heat just got to it. Even my datura is looking peaked - leaves are small, not large like usual, and blooms are sparse if any at all.

My deciduous contorted mulberry is losing it's leaves, altho it will come back just fine. It has been thru drought before and emerged just fine.

My ribes odoratum is looking very yellow - don't know if it's the heat, or if it needs some fertilizer. But, I hate to fertilize in the stress of this heat.

Lost both of my A. tomentosas, but so far, the A. macrophyllas are still green. The lantana 'Miss Huff' is doing well. The fennel is starting to lose its foliage, but I just stick it in the containers for the BSTs to eat.

Sandy, my little A. serpentarias and A. fimbriatas are doing well. I keep watering them, but not too much. They don't seem to need a lot of water. I have had another A. fimbriata seedling come up in one pot, and another A. serpentaria in the other (besides the one I told you about earlier. So, I have 3 A. fimbriatas and 2 A. serpentarias now coming up in both pots. Amazing how well they have done in this heat! I will bring both in to winter over in my sunny back room because I'm afraid they are too small to make it outdoors in the winter.

Whoo - I'm just too hot right now - my computer is in the back south facing window, and it gets so hot back here - that I think I'll sign off.

Susan

Susan,

Hear you loud and clear. If it wasn't for my entire property being xeriscaped and plumbed with an automatic drip system that waters three times a day, nothing would survive. I certainly can't take the heat even very early in the morning this time of year when its already in the 90's at sunrise.

Larry

I can empathize with all of you trying to deal with so much triple-digit heat and so little rain. We seldom get above the low 90's here in SW VA, but have had real problems with drought up until this year. Also, like several of you, I'm having more and more problems doing hard work in our butterfly sanctuary when it's hot. I'm realing more this year than ever before, that a one-acre garden takes a lot of wor

mike

'Sorry about your plant losses, Susan - you have my sympathy. I hope your health issues aren't too bad!
Down here it's not just the heat, it's the EXTREME humidity that's getting to me. It's like a sauna out there. It's been raining some nearly every day, so I'm not having to water, but I can only stand (and I say that loosely) to do anything outside in the late, late evening, just before dark. I need one of those hats with a light on it!
One pipevine swallowtail, several gulf frits, and a buckeye cat went to the bottom of their cage and died for no apparent reason - this only happens when we're having the saunas.
I'll be mowing my garden this evening. I've had to break up my grass mowing into three segments, and I noticed that the front yard area already needs mowing again before I've done the last segment. The rain is keeping every weed growing at breakneck speed!
Sherry

I'm with all of you! Went by the bank tonight at 8:00 p.m., and the temp still said 102!!! It is definitely too hot to be out, particularly doing manual labor. The bermuda is growing rampunt in the beds, but will have to wait until fall. I had hoped to keep some flowers blooming for the Monarch migration, but time will tell. Still no egglaying Monarchs to be seen. My 2 large sized fennel croaked. Must have gotten too dry. The Black cats may just have to survive on their own. At least the passion vine is happy, and starting to find lots of GFs finally. The lantana and zinnias are taking things in stride.

Susan, be sure to take care of yourself.

Dreaming of cooler weather, and a wonderful slow soaking rain.....

I just heard on the radio that it's going to be 107F degrees in Dallas today - 'made me think of those of you in Oklahoma. How horrible!
Sherry

The temperature here in the Tulsa area is forecast to hit 105 today with high humidity for a heat index of 109+. We are under a heat advisory. I have been watering this morning. Everything is getting crispy. I'm still seeing a few BFs, but they are trying to stay in the shade of the trees and dart out quickly to nectar. I'm ready for a cool front! Supposedly one is coming later in the week and our temps will drop back into the high 90's.

Susan, take care of yourself! I will probably be in OKC on Wednesday to visit Mom, so if you want some Pipevines or need some Passionvine for your frits, let me know.

Linda, are you seeing heat cases in the hospital? When all this heat gets past, I'll be glad to share some BFs. I haven't found anymore Monarch eggs lately, but I'll be releasing about 11 BFs later in the week. My milkweeds are all heavily covered with aphids. I have lots of Ladybugs and larvae, but I don't think they can keep up with the surge in aphids. Garden isn't looking too great right now, but the passionvine just keeps on coming. I need some of those Gulf Frits to cut it down to size!

Sandy

Like Ms. Sherry said, the humidity is horrible in South Mississippi. But we are getting rain and I have not had to water everyday lately. I lost my common milkweed, 2 fennel plants, and my dill of course. Everything else seems to be doing well. The mosquitoes are a terror. I hope that the rest of you get more rain. Drought is a word that I definitely do not like.

Here in New Braunfels, it's 104 today, and we are in a drought. We have water restrictions, can only water between 8p - 10a. I have had to let some of my plants die, and just keep the favorite BF attractors such as BF bush, tithonia, and lantana. It seems all the BF want is the tithonia anyway. All my other plants are being ignored. Anyway, we're praying for rain. Have been all summer...

I've been watering like crazy. Fortunately I can just set the sprinkler and head back to the air conditioning! I'm afraid of my water bill though :)

Yesterday, I saw my very first butterfly this year, a monarch. I was going to water in that place, but I moved so the butterfly could flit around a little longer.

Lisa

This is going to sound silly, but most of my plants are currently in containers (newbie to the hobby) and what I did was put a rubbermaid container under my patio spicket to catch rain water. I have a cover for it (cuz I don't want to raise mosquitos). I have 3/4 water left in this one container and I've used the water for about 3-4 waterings now. I am going to plant native MO plants in the future so that I don't have to water except in maybe extreme cases. (just my 2 cents)

Hi, everyone - it's been 106 here the last two days - 105 for today. Just too hot (and we are getting the humidity, too, MissSherry) to get out. I get out long enough to feed the babies (lots of BSTs and my lonely little GST, which is still very small-don't know it will make it). I didn't find any babies on the plants today, which is the 1st day in a month that I haven't at least found 1 if not 4-5. Also released a big beautiful male this morning. They seem to be eclosing at night or very early morning, because I find them anxious and ready to go when I get out about 8 a.m.

Several are pupating at the moment.

Sandy, I have a few GF eggs on my PV, which is fine. I did bring in a tiny cat this morning. I think the spined soldier bugs are doing their thing, so if I find one, I'll probably try to raise it. The other day, a HUGE GF momma was laying eggs like crazy, but I've only found a couple, so something is getting them.

Too hot to type.....

Susan

Whewwww. It is hot!!! Still 102. Glad that you are getting some GFs, Susan. They've been slow getting here. I've been finding lots of Black cats and eggs, also. I've lost 2 of my largest fennel plants. Hard to keep everything watered. :( So, I tried some bunches of parsley from Wally World last night, after I rinsed them very well. No sick cats. So, for about 50 cents a bunch, which is more food than a small pot of parsley, I'm in business, again!

Susan, have you found any more Monarch eggs? That is what I am lacking- Monarch and Queen cats. :(

Sandy, yes, we are seeing some heat exhaustion pts. in the E.R. What is surprising, is that we are full to the gills- no room at the Inn. Alot of elderly with Pneumonia and CHF, which goes with weather, but usually not as many. Pts. are waiting for beds to empty, before they can be admitted.

I would have loved to have gotten together with you both tomorrow, if I hadn't been scheduled to work. Sandy, I would love to share some GF babies with you, sometime when you're in OKC. I would really love some Monarch eggs or cats. Your kids should be coming home soon.

Lisa, congrats upon seeing your 1st Monarch this year! Do you have some MW planted? I had alot of seedlings come up volunteer this year. I've seen a few male Monarchs, and male Queens, but no egg layers!! Unless they came, and the predators had gotten them. I'm sure that it's been a struggle for you keeping your beautiful flowers watered.

Khakitag, hope this hurricaine brings you some much needed rain.

Liljagster, native plants ARE wonderful. They do much better with a lil rain once in a while, also. If we don't get a nice soaking soon, there will not be much for the Monarchs to nectar on, and milkweed for them to lay their eggs on in their premigration stage.

Come on rain and lower temps!!!

Linda,

I have 12 Monarch chrysalides from cats I found on the Milkweed. Hopefully, one will be a female. I have a male hanging around guarding the garden. The tropical milkweed is actually in pretty bad shape right now. The seed pods are drying out quickly and seeds are flying everywhere, not like last year when I could harvest the pods before they popped open.

If I get more eggs, I'll call you and we can figure out a day to meet somewhere to make a trade. I haven't seen any GFs yet, and the passionvine has literally taken over the garden. It's growing up a couple of Deodara cedars. I need to prune it waaaaaay back. And I'd love to put some GFs to work cutting it down to size!

On Friday, I am going "hunting" for Dianas at Ray Harral. One of the BF people here is going with me. He is friends with Jim Brock and got some information on the habits of Dianas. You may know the person that I'm going with, it's Jim Thayer. He's a long time retired teacher and does a lot of the counts. He is also a Master Gardener in Tulsa. He had a male Diana in his yard recently. Brock feels that there must be more around this area, especially since I saw the female at Ray Harral. So we are going to investigate based on the info he sent Jim.

We are also going to try to find an Alder tree with woolly aphids in search of Harvesters. There have been several sightings around Tulsa recently. We will check out the area around where I photographed the Harvester last spring.

If and when you make it to Tulsa, I'll take you there so you can see where I hunt BFs. It's only a 40 acre park, but there is a good diversity of habitat.

Sandy

To die for, Sandy!!! What a wonderful opportunity! I believe that I met Jim on the one and only BF count that I did at Oxley years ago. Do take pics, hope that you see some Dianas, and give us a full progress report. At least it will be "hopefully" cooler on Fri. Ray Harrel is the name of the park??? Haven't been there.

All of my MW looks pretty bad right now. They have been soooo full of aphids, lady bugs, and larvae, I hated to drown the lady bugs. But, I've been trimming some back, and surprisingly, am noticing some new growth.

Can't wait to hear your report! :)

Susan et al.,
You might consider drip irrigation of your gardens to conserve water. You should be able to get drip hose without too much trouble. It certainly cuts down on wasted water from runoff and from evaporation. And you do not have to stand out in the heat spraying water around.

Thanks for the tip on watering. I've been thinking about doing that, but don't know if I can wrap my pea brain around setting it up or not.

Yes, Linda, the BSTs are so numerous this year, I can't keep up with them. My huge green fennel is just about gone, and the 4 bronze fennels are about to just from feeding the numbers of BSTs I've had on my plants. I do have some Rue in the backyard, though, that they will probably eat. I have 2 big BST cats in with the little GST, but my goodness, he (the GST) is taking its sweet time getting big. The BSTs were just hatchlings when the "showed up" in the container, and the GST was about 1/2" long. The BSTs are now in their final instar, but the GST is still just about 1" long now.

The Monarch eggs I collected did not hatch - guess they were "blanks". The Monarchs I have seen (other that that female) have mostly been male, too.

The GFs are definitely here now. I have eggs on my passion vine.

Ones I have not seen are: PVS, QM, Cloudless Sulphur, Sleepy Orange, Buckeyes, Variegated Frits, Texas Crescent (seen early spring, so must have overwintered as chrysalids), and Bordered Patch.

Susan

Lisa, congrats upon seeing your 1st Monarch this year! Do you have some MW planted? I had alot of seedlings come up volunteer this year. I've seen a few male Monarchs, and male Queens, but no egg layers!! Unless they came, and the predators had gotten them. I'm sure that it's been a struggle for you keeping your beautiful flowers watered.

Linda, I don't have near as much MW this year as I did last. I thought my original stand would come back, or at least reseed, but neither happened. I did start a few, I planted them up front, but they either didn't survive or they are not growing. I finally bought a plant, but it's barely hanging on.

I do still have my wild cottage flower patch. That's where I spotted the monarch. I have a few fennel back there, but they are looking pretty ratty...and not from being munched on :)

Lisa

Wow - Lisa - if you want some Black Swallowtails I have several I can bring you. They are showing up in record numbers in my garden this year. I'm more than happy to share some babies with you. Send me an e-mail and I can bring you some this evening if you want!

I have spotted very, very few Monarchs this year. I did spot one mamma laying eggs and I found 4 of them. None of them hatched. I am hoping to have better luck in fall. Do you grow passion vine? I gave Sandy 4 babies yesterday. I am hoping to get more soon. It's just that my PV is good for eating, but not for cutting and holding up for any length of time (wilts so fast it's not worth cutting), that I have to leave the cats on the vine. I was hoping my P. ceurulea would grow back this year but I accidentally cut down the new growth. I planted another one, but this one is not growing at all like the one last year did.

I have tons of milkweed for the Monarchs, though. All of it I winter sowed two years ago, one I bought, which is the A. incarnata 'Ice Ballet', and another I purchased from Marilyn - the "family jewels'. The FJ is trying to make seed - gotta be vigilant with those darned milkweed beetles, though. If I get some seed I'll share. I have tons of seed of the A. curassavica from last year if you want any. It may grow some this year so you can feed a few lil Monarchs. If you grow it in pots and overwinter inside, you'd have some ready to go in spring, too.

We are just not seeing the numbers (except for BSTs) of butterflies we saw last year. I still remember your photo of the Red Spotted Purple which I have NEVER seen in my yard. I saw a lot of Red Admirals earlier in the summer, but haven't seen but one or two here lately. The Cabbage Whites are here, the SSS is here, a few skippers, and that's about it for Susan's garden.

Susan

Susan,

Thanks for the little caterpillars. I transferred them to some Lady Margaret leaves that they love. The smallest one is really going after it. We are definitely going to get P incarnata started in your yard next spring. If it becomes a monster, though, I'm not responsible! ; )

Have a great day. This little reprieve from the heat is going to be nice. I've already been out deadheading.

Sandy

Oh, good - I knew you'd be a good momma. I'm afraid something is eating them and they are safe and sound with you, so I'm truly thankful! I checked again today and all I saw were a few of those awful black, oily spots which means the babies are getting zapped - probably by one of those nasty spined soiler bugs.

One of the contraindications of having a wildlife yard, is that you get all the nasties along with the goodies.

Susan

Ain't that the truth! : )

Susan, I would love to have some. Unfortunately I'm not headed home right away tonight, unless it rains! (we're headed to a friend's pool!) I could probably stop by your house tomorrow after work though. I work fairly close to you.

What do I need to support them? I do have some fennel. I also have ( I think) a little bitty bit of milkweed. I'll have to look again. This time of year stuff is disappearing on me! How did you get your MW to overwinter for you?

I don't have any passion vine.

Last year was a great year....as was the fall before. I was hoping for a little more action this year.

Lisa

The milkweed that overwintered was A. curassavica reseedlings; A. incarnata, A. incarnata 'Ice Ballet', and A. syriaca (common milkweed). The last 3 types are all perennial milkweeds. I also purchased a plant from Marilyn at Wild Things in early spring, which is A. physocarpa or 'Family Jewels'. You can winter sow some perennial milkweed. I wintersowed all of mine, except 'Ice Ballet'.

If you come by, I warn you, my yard is a mess. I just haven't been able to get out and take care of it this year as much. Been too hot!

The BSTs will eat fennel - in fact, it is their favorite food in the yard. They will also eat Rue, but it's not their choice diet. Do you think you have enough fennel? I can give you just a few of them so you don't have to worry about them having enough food, okay?

Susan