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Blooms, Cats, and Caterpillars

6 years ago

Saw this lovely today. Only one. Survival rate cannot be good with the number of birds I have flying around my garden!! Wishing him well ! That's the caterpillar of this post.

Garden kitty guarding the path. That's the cat in this post.

Facepaint with facecat-same cat so he's still the cat in the post!!

Barbara Mandrell-blooms after the rain so sorta splotchy but nice color

Michael Miller-another near white I like

This group was so pretty today-that is Octoberfest spread all over everything!

Blue Lake-accurate color today in late afternoon. Large bloom.

Mississippi Blues-undecided about this lily. Love the pattern but has not multiplied well and low, very low bud count for me. Just look at those puny fans after several years!

Lake Champagne-pale but held up well in heat the day this was taken.

Enough for now. Cooler temps have made for wonderful garden weather. After a beat down rain and then the cool temps, some blooms seem hesitant to show their faces. Wishing you good gardening!!!

Kate

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Comments (7)

Nancy 6b
6 years ago
I love that garden shot, nice kitty too. My cats have really been busy with moles & shrews this year. Mississippi Blues has been the same here, lovely blooms but not a lot, & I don't think it has increased since I've gotten it. Barbara Mandrell is calling my name!
shive
6 years ago
My favorite photo is Facepaint with the kitty peeking into the frame. Is the cat yours, or a visitor? If yours, what is his name? I love the garden shot, the Barbara Mandrell duo, and Lake Champagne.

Debra
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Hi Elizabeth, The little pipevine cats are piggies, for certain! Yes, this is the same little wild A variegata plant I found on that construction acreage while searching for milkweed to feed my first ever Monarch cats. I was so new to butterfly gardening, I didn't even know what I'd come across, wasn't absolutely certain it was even milkweed. It was you guys, here on the butterfly forum, who ID'ed the little plant and told me how special the plant was to the community; that I should attempt to save it before the construction equipment killed it. Still waiting on a seed pod but always have the pleasure of enjoying the lovely blooms each spring. I have one Aristolochia macrophylla vine and it is finally beginning to climb. For me, it's been a really slow grower but it might be the planting site. I have it near a large Oak. I've seen photos of it growing in what looks like at least half day sun. Maybe the dappled light it gets here isn't enough. Mary
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Yeah the GST does not have those little nubs sticking out at this stage, nor does it have such "spotty" markings. Funny runmede that you mention that BSTs can use citrus. I read somewhere that "sometimes they use citrus" - somewhere besides the above post, I mean. And the other day I'd been out and picked up a few teeny BST cats on a couple tiny sprigs of dill, and three or so GST eggs, attached to small pieces of citrus leaves. All I had was one water bottle so put the whole lot in there. Well later on when I realized "hey I need to get those cats out of the water bottle!" - I could've sworn the orange leaves that had been in there had been much bigger. And there were no GST cats, just eggs in there. But I KNOW BSTs don't eat citrus. Well anyway I'm not sure but I could swear there was much more to the citrus leaves with the GST eggs attached. Was I crazy or did the BSTs eat it? Maybe something to try again another time and see what happens, this time actually paying attention to the leaves and cats. Always something! kelly
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Congratulations! You got a great plant! Glad it rebloomed for you! I also have had a really large Burana for 7 or 8 years now - it was a rescue plant that has turned out to be a vigorous grower and a profuse bloomer. Mine is pretty sturdy and undemanding. It is taken out onto the balcony as soon as temps at night stay above 5C and stays there as long as they don't drop below same mark, that is, roughly till mid November. Then I take it in, allow it to bloom - often its second time - and then either move it to the winter quarters where it rests till early spring or keep it on a warmer window sill and allow it to grow new p.bulbs - depending on the weather and the frame of mind it's in. I'm not claiming to provide best growing conditions for mine, just showing it can be pretty tough. I have a lot of Epiphyllums, Selenicereus, and tons of other plants that need lower temps over the winter, so my Burana doesn't have much choice but to live by the universal rules. Lena
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Another great orchid! That is provided you are not space challenged. As per Cattleya Bactia tough and easy to grow. Evicted from my cold glass-house due to lack of room, it has survived winter without a problem. The latest version of the name. Cattleychea Mae Bly 'Ching Hua Splash' Evicted because it got large and roots grew everywhere.
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sherrygirl zone5 N il
6 years ago
Barbara Mandrel looks lovely today, such nice color! Love your garden shots, kitty and all!

Sherry
Julia WV (6b)
6 years ago
Nice group and the pics of your garden too. Isn't it always our feline friends who enjoy photobombing :) Amazing to see the "worm" and wondering what species of butterfly it will be.
avedon_gw
6 years ago
Very nice pictures, kitty and worm included. Really like the looks of Blue Lake. Barbara Mandrell is very showy.
organic_kitten
6 years ago
Julia, it is a yellow swallowtail butterfly caterpillar, I think. The garden shot is lovely, and your Blue Lake is polyed today. How neat, I love polys. Love the shoots with the kitty, and Barbara Mandrell is my faorite today.

kay
tarheelgirl_7b
6 years ago
Very cute cat! I really like Facepaint and the group shot.

Lori

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