Mexican or "Old CA" plant list--what am I missing?
hollyzone10a
7 years ago
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hollyzone10a
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Starting a Mexican butterfly garden
Comments (27)We've had so much rain that I haven't been able to do much gardening until Friday and Saturday. Late last week we got a break -- three full days without rain. We've been averaging about an inch a day since we arrived in early July. Even after three days without rain, the ground was still saturated, and we got another half-inch this afternoon. However (and it's a big HOWEVER), we made full use of the sunshine and were grateful for it. I had contacted Sue Sill, the executive director of the La Cruz Habitat Protection Project, and she brought me some trees -- three Oyamel firs, the trees that the Monarchs roost in all winter -- and seven native pines. We got them all in the ground Friday and Saturday. They are tiny, but eventually they will provide some shade and high roosts for butterflies and birds. After planting the last four pines on Saturday morning, we took a hike up the ridge behind the house. I had intended to take only the camera, but Larry suggested taking along some collecting bags and a trowel. It was a great suggestion, because I found four types of flowering plants that I wanted to bring back for the butterfly garden. The only one I could identify was a begonia. All of the flowers were growing in profusion alongside a cow path, so I don't think I committed a crime against the environment by moving them a few hundred meters into my yard and away from danger of being trampled. Even better than the flowers today were the butterflies. Mexican Fritillaries and Texan Crescents danced from flower to flower just beyond the fence; three or four different species of Sulphurs attacked red tube-shaped flowers growing at one end of a mountaintop cornfield; a Gulf Fritillary floated over to investigate; and a Monarch (a big surprise this time of year) went by just above eye level, just passing through. The gigantic Tiger Swallowtails have been a little friendlier lately, but apparently I don't have any flowers yet that interest them. They come into the yard and wander around, but they don't stop. A pretty little hummingbird that has claimed possession of my lantana, but he's way too fast for me to get a picture. Mexican Fritillary Texan Crescent I have not identified the Sulphurs yet. They really like these red flowers. I dug up six. The flower is hard to see. The 2-foot flower spike grows out of a cluster of broad leaves like a tulip or a hyacinth. The flowers are pale yellow and shaped like 6-pointed stars. Only two or three flowers are open at a time. The seedpods and the leaves make me think this is a lily. A few ferns came up with the begonias, and I was happy to have them. The begonias I found are pale pink. About 10 days ago, we planted a pomegrante tree. I've been watching this bloom open. Spiderwort began blooming this week. It blooms in March or April in Alabama and is tall and rather leggy. Here, the plant is much more compact and robust. My prize find -- I noticed seedpods sticking straight up out of the top of what I was sure was a milkweed plant along the highway to Patzcuaro, and for two weeks I worried about how I was going to get my hands on them. In late July I saw the first fluff as we were driving by. Larry didn't hesitate or complain -- he just turned the car around and found a wide place on the shoulder to stop. I ran across the highway and found not one plant but three with mature seeds and I collected them all. The only thing I had to wrap them in was my checklist of stuff to bring to Mexico. I don't know the species of Asclepias, but maybe I can identify it once the seeds some up. geni...See MoreI am convinced!
Comments (12)I love the Tithonias for the butterfly garden too. They are very popular with our Monarchs later in the summer and right now the Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are visiting them. I grow them from seed, too. A few years ago the seed wasn't so easy to find anywhere but now it's even available on the seed racks at the Big Box stores. I wintersow some seed and start more later right in the garden. If you haven't grown them before, be sure to leave plenty of room around them. They can get big (like 6 feet tall by 3 or 4 ft wide) and might topple if you have fierce windstorms. The hummingbirds love them for nectar and the goldfinchs seem to like them too. Happy butterfly gardening!...See MoreSTERILE Mexican Petunia
Comments (6)Don't get me wrong...I'm not MAD that no one believes me (or very few do)...I'm SAD for you guys to be missing out on such a fantastic plant. Treefrog, I'm sorry you are stuck with the old kind. I wish you good luck in controlling them. I know they are a PAIN! Gary, ruellias usually reproduce by seeds AND runners, which is why you will find some still connected to the mother plant, and others halfway across your yard. The sterile, non-invasive ones don't do either. Sterile...no seeds. Non-invasive...no runners. Or at least, not LONG ones. The clump itself will thicken a bit, just like a clump of irises or daylilies, etc, but that's it. And even that is very slow. They are SAFE to plant anywhere. I agree the pink and white ones are less invasive than the OLD purple ones, but they still seed. I have one pink one I inherited when we moved in here, and I find a few babies scattered about the yard every year. Strictly from seed. The Florida Friendly purple ones do not do that. D'Ann, I'm so glad you post now and then to confirm what I say. Sometimes I think folks believe I'm delusional on this topic. (There are MANY topics I AM delusional on, but this ain't one of 'em.) Katkin, please see if your Home Depot carries this variety, as I KNOW you will love it. The reason I recommend HD is that I've never seen the Florida Friendly label anywhere else, but it's a BIG nursery, so there may be other retail outlets that carry the brand. I will have to scan the label and post a piccie, so you guys will know what to look for. If you love rich purple flowers on tall, willowy stems that look great scattered in your rose garden or other places, are draught tolerant, heat tolerant, frost tolerant, low-maintenance, and attract butterflies, the Florida Friendly Brand, Sterile, Non-Invasive Mexican Petunias (ruellia) are JUST the plant for you! Go get 'em!! Marcia...See Morehave: san antonio plant swap 10/18/14 rogier's park 9:00 am ...
Comments (148)Yes, that must have been it, Omar. It was pixies playing tricks on us or else it was me who was somewhat "pixilated' after all the talking and trading ... LOL I have a question: someone brought a jar for the door prize table containing something brown that looked like preserves of some kind, but it had a picture of a cleaning woman on it. I asked the contributor and she told me that if was for cleaning your hands after gardening and contained brown sugar. I'm fascinated, but can't remember what else the cleaning compound contained. Anybody remember who brought it and what else it contained besides brown sugar? The dates for both SAPS next year will be announced by Lorelei soon ... :-)...See MoreJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
7 years agohollyzone10a thanked JXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agohollyzone10a thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
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7 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agohollyzone10a thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)hollyzone10a
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agohollyzone10a
7 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agohollyzone10a thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)hollyzone10a
7 years agostanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
7 years agohollyzone10a thanked stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay areahollyzone10a
7 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
7 years agohollyzone10a thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)hollyzone10a
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