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Florida Gardening

hummingbird sighted & butterflies missing

13 years ago

I saw my first hummingbird of the year in my garden yesterday evening and then again this morning! I love watching them dart from plant to plant.

On the down side I haven't seen all that many butterflies this year. All I've had are some gulf fritterlies and a couple monarchs. And while I've had some GF cats on the passion flower vine I haven't had a single monarch cat and I have a lot of butterfly weed in the garden.

Ussually by this time I have swarms of sulfurs, swallowtails, and skippers as well as some monarchs. Is anyone else seeing smaller numbers of butterflies this year? Could the increased number of dragonflies due to the new pond be what's keeping them away?

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Comments (6)

bears48
13 years ago
I also have lots of dragonflys, no pond though, but still lots of butterflys. Thanks Pam
coffeemom
13 years ago
They must all be here in the south. I was worried after this cold winter but now the yard is full of butterflies. Maybe they need time to work their way north.
I still haven't seen the polydamas and the calico vine is taking over the fence. It's usually being chomped by now.
I also have lots of dragonflies...hopefully eating mosquitoes.
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Mehitabel, Yes, I think they were different ones, the first one was several weeks ago, but I had a return visit this morning about 8:30, I am sure it was the one from last night. Silly me, I never realized I had put the feeder behind the tree, and could not get a good picture this morning. I was just about to change the nectar when I saw it, it stayed a long time, so when it left, I changed the nectar and move the feeder to the other side of the tree. I will be waiting with the camera ready this evening. It is going to be 99 degrees today, and several days this week, so I think flowers should start popping, or just faint.... My Columbine are doing great despite the wind and heat. I can't decide where to put my red ones that should be here this week. If they multiply that well, I may put them in three different beds. Do you have cardinal climber planted this year? I have so many I may try a few in a part shade garden and see how they do. I also see some buds on my tiny 2' Major Wheeler that I planted a few weeks ago. My Mom feed hummers for years in New Mexico, we enjoyed them so much, it are those memories that made me what to attract some here. This is my Southwest Corner garden, it gets morning sun, but will get more as the summer begins. I think I will put some Cardinal Climber along the fence here. Debra Debra
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Jeanie, my RT hummers were still here in OKC as of yesterday. So you may at least see the migrating birds yet. Their little chittering is a welcome sound, isn't it? Sometimes I know they're there before I see them. I have never seen the spring migrators. I put out feeders for them, but they bypass me until around July when I start seeing the juveniles that leave the nest, so you're lucky to see them in spring. Susan
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kgardens
13 years ago
I am still looking for hummingbirds. There have been lots of butterflies though. Palamedes and Tiger Swallowtails, Gulf Frits, American Lady, and a few Sulphurs. We have had an increase in dragonflies as well. What I haven't seen are any Zebra Longwings. Come to think about it, no Skippers either.

Enjoy watching your hummer karalynn.

Kay
writersblock (9b/10a)
13 years ago
Lots and lots of frits here, skippers, and the parsley is full of swallowtail cats right now.

Very few Florida Whites, though. Usually this time of year they're like like snow flurries.

And yeah, more skeeters than I've ever seen here before (I think the county is to broke to spray), so dragonflies everywhere
tropicalfreak
13 years ago
I am seeing lots of Zebra Longwing's... and Monarchs..they seem to like the Spiral Ginger alot...and a wild little yellow flower that is climbing the fence.

Tropcialfreak
mboston_gw
13 years ago
Not seeing Zebra Longwings or Eastern Blacks. But I have tons of Gulf Frits, Suphur cats and some Monarchs. Also lots of Spicebush Swallowtails. No Skippers though.

My hummers left in March. I did see one in June last year so I have been waiting to see if one appears this year. A friend saw one Memorial Day weekend in her yard.

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