Found my own answer. They can not withstand the cold, and must repopulate the area in the spring from the south. Hmmm.... interesting.

Linda,
These are one of the first BFs to appear in my yard each spring, so they must move up fairly early. I am finding some on violets I planted this year, so hope to have something growing for their early arrival next spring. The cats on the violets get picked off really quickly.

Hi all,

I have at least 8 VF cats on my violets right now -- also due, I'm thinking, to the unusually warm fall we've had in Maryland.

As they cannot overwinter, do I just leave them out there and that's the way it goes? Should I bring a few in and go out hunting for violets (I have a few sad, shriveled violets out there -- I can't imagine it's enough for them!)?

The funny thing is, I saw the female laying the eggs, but didn't realize what she was doing. I actually have pictures of her on the rocks where the violets grow -- tricky girl!

Amy

Here's what I found Amy-
various members of the Violaceae family, including violets and pansies.

You could beg neighbors to give you some violets. You could go out in the wild, and try to find some violets. You could buy some pansies, and see if they would take them. They may not choose to eat what you give them. Even if they make it into a chrys., where are you going to release them when they emerge? It's a sad decision that only you can make.

But, to look at the brighter side, you found VF on YOUR violets!!!! You were able to recognize the VF, and that she was near the violets, and then found cats later. Isn't that exciting??? If it were me, I'd be looking for some more violets for your patch so that you will be ready when they come next summer. What Zone are you? They will also eat native passionvine- passiflora incarnata. I do not know if that is hardy in your zone?

Good luck, and keep us posted.

Hi Linda,
Thanks for the info. I was thinking it might be possible to bring them inside, and then if they eclose on a cold day, keep them inside until we maybe get a warm day to release them and they could head south? Yep, I know, crazy idea. But I'm sad that they may not make it.

I found some more violets out front and in my neighbor's yard, so I may move them if they eat everything where they are. Who knows? Maybe it will stay warm long enough for them to make it to adulthood and fly to warmer climes.

I am so excited about finding them. I am new to butterfly gardening. I inherited my garden from my home's previous owner, who I never met. We moved in in the fall of 2005, and the garden was tremendously overgrown as the house had been empty since June of that year. I weeded as best I could and cut everything back as appropriate, and my sister and mom helped me ID some plants. But it wasn't until the next year that I realized it must have been planned and planted as a bfly garden. So many great plants, both host and nectar! I've basically focused on maintenance and adding just a few things (like parsley for BST cats -- and I got some!).

The garden has been a source of joy for me and my daughters. Actually, it was my 4-year-old who found the VF caterpillars. :-) "Mommy, come look, come look, a catahpillah!"

The violets are actually growing in what is supposed to be a dry riverbed, so I'd been pulling them until I gave up a couple months ago. Now I'm smacking myself on the forehead for that! The dry bed is a nice feature but I'd rather have the cats. Now I know!

Oh, I'm in Maryland, outside DC, zone 7 I think. I am scared to plant passionvine -- isn't it a pretty aggressive spreader? I don't have a good place to let something have free run.

Amy

Hi Amy,
What a wonderful surprise to already have a butterfly garden in your backyard! You'll have to share what kinds of host and nectar plants that you've Id. I'm sure that it was like Xmas when something new popped up, or started to bloom.

So glad that you found some extra violets. Usually, where there are some, there are more! Are the cats very big, or still pretty small? Sounds like a good plan to me. You and your daughters can watch them grow, and eventually turn into a chrystalis. They should do better in the warmth of the house. Their growth outside may be slower if the temps are cooler. I don't know when your average freeze date is? If they still have a couple of weeks as caterpillars, and another 10 days in a chrys., it may be pushing it in Nov.? Be sure and be honest with your daughters, particularly the younger one that you are doing the best that you can for the caterpillars, but sometimes things don't work out as we have planned, and that they may not survive as butterflies.

Passionvine can spread, so if you don't have a good place for it, then it may not work out. I do have it coming up in several places, but usually, I'm chopping off cuttings for my numerous Gulf frits, and VF's, or digging up roots to share with friends. So, I haven't minded so much. Ideally, if it has a spot where it can be mowed around, then that may be better.

It's so great for you to be able to share your Bf garden with your children. Hopefully, it will instill a love of nature for them that will remain with them when they get older.

Do you know some of the Bfs that you've seen in your garden?

Let us know how things are going.

Amy,

I'm going to second what Linda said and add that you can grow passionflower in a large pot on the patio. Or you could sink a pot in the ground to keep the plant contained.

I grow it in my garden and just pull out the ones that get away. These I use to feed the cats. I consider it a must have for the Variegated and Gulf Frits that it brings into the yard. I also love the flowers and the fruit.

Keep us informed on the progress of your cats. You are very fortunate to have the ready made BF garden. I have left 2 BF gardens behind with moves. Both were destroyed and returned to grass by the new owners. So I commend you on retaining the garden. You have a treasure, and you appreciate it!

Sandy

Hi Linda and Sandy (and everyone else),

Let's see, what kind of plants do I have? Tons of butterfly bush, lots of bulbs in the spring (daffs, giant and iberian iris, tulips), a few varieties of daisies, lillies, bee balm, hardy geranium, asters, black-eyed susans, sedum, columbine, violets, hostas, and two varieties of clematis. I also have phlox, violets, vinca, some echinacea that is struggling, some white spikey flowers, some purple spikey flowers, and some azalea and rhododendron. I planted some herbs, including lots of parsley, and was rewarded with some BST cats that are overwintering in their chrysalises in my garage.

I think i will try passionvine in a pot. I love the showy flowers and of course love the idea of having all these caterpillar friends in our yard!

Butterflies I have seen: tons of tiger swallowtails (lots of cherry trees in the neighborhood), many BSTs, buckeye, variegated frits, eastern tailed blue, monarchs, and cabbage whites. I would love to attract some mourning cloaks and red-spotted purples -- I think they can live in this area (maryland).

Sandy, that must be heartbreaking to know that people have destroyed your gardens. I consider mine a wonderful gift, and I wish I had some way of contacting the previous owner to let her know how much joy it brings us. She might be slightly horrified by how overgrown it is right now, or by the resurgence of the wild strawberries (had them under control for most of the year, but now they're making a comeback), but I hope it would make her happy to know how much we love it.

Amy