I've grown seeds from that very same packet "Bring Home the Butterflies" (from Botanical Interests), and I live in San Francisco too. It's a great mix packet! Comes with so many different types, and lots of them too. I still have a bunch. Since those seeds come from all different climate zones, you don't need to worry about planting them too early or too late. In San Francisco, you can plant them pretty much any time of the year. I would recommend though, if you want to only plant a few types from that mix, that you look up information on those plants so you can give them the most suitable environment, because they are all different. (For instance, some plants might need darkness to germinate, some might need light, etc, some might need part shade, etc.) I know the packet is designed for the gardener to just toss a bunch of seeds on the ground and let nature do the rest, but I've planted mine separately just because I wanted to have individual plants, not a big crowded pot. Two years ago I first planted my butterfly seeds in the middle of summer and I had flowers all the way up until Christmas time. There will always be late-season bugs happy to find a home in your plants.

Beautiful Minrose! Especially that first one. I've only visited the butterfly house in St. Louis. I loved seeing the tropical butterflies and plants. My kids were little and still remember it. I think having the butterflies land on them makes a big impression.

Thanks for the info, Ill. I'll be looking for some cowpea seeds and that red thingie that I've already forgotten the name of. And I'll definitely have a donkey's ears for you. Your July was rainy, eh? I don't think we got one single drop the entire month of July. I could see it raining to the northwest (probably at YOUR house) but nothing hit here until the first week in August. And then very little. I think it only rained maybe 4 times in August! We had one fairly heavy shower about a week ago that lasted about an hour, and that's the most rain I've seen in my yard since last spring! Arrrgggghhh. Marcia

I was able to contact someone at the butterfly house and they identified this species as Nessaea aglaura (Commom Olivewing), a kind of brushfoot butterfly. The other one is Eryphanis polyxena, or Purple Mort Blue, and the last one is Doleschalia bisaltide, Autumn Leaf butterfly. Very confusing.