Gardeners! Share your garden photos and garden chatter here.

[jeffashman]

Wonderful!

 

[terri]

Terri found this post that seems could be helpful to our situations.

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It's so funny that you posted this, and are literally doing what I've decided to do - just leave them where they are safe under the netting and stake it a lot better. I should have no problem finding some sticks or twigs around here. Just brought home a fat new parsley plant and am adding it, since I know there are a few younger ones coming after these others.

I'm irritated with the gardening center I got the parsley plant from. I had a large store credit there because of the several dead/dying plants I had to return (and elected to find elsewhere rather than swap out after the 2nd time). The store credit is the only reason I went in there today so I could get something and not have to pay. So - the ONLY herb section they have atm is coupled with a big marketing push for black swallowtails! And they slapped a $14.95 sticker price on a parsley that I could have picked up anywhere for less than half that amount.

Really? I sense a price increase next year with this idiocy. They even show a picture of the cat! They had fennel there, too - same marketing, same price.

 

[SquarePeg]

It's so funny that you posted this, and are literally doing what I've decided to do - just leave them where they are safe under the netting and stake it a lot better. I should have no problem finding some sticks or twigs around here. Just brought home a fat new parsley plant and am adding it, since I know there are a few younger ones coming after these others.

I'm irritated with the gardening center I got the parsley plant from. I had a large store credit there because of the several dead/dying plants I had to return (and elected to find elsewhere rather than swap out after the 2nd time). The store credit is the only reason I went in there today so I could get something and not have to pay. So - the ONLY herb section they have atm is coupled with a big marketing push for black swallowtails! And they slapped a $14.95 sticker price on a parsley that I could have picked up anywhere for less than half that amount.

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Really? I sense a price increase next year with this idiocy. They even show a picture of the cat! They had fennel there, too - same marketing, same price.

Yikes! On the plus side, I’d like to think that there’s a better chance of that parsley being free of insecticides if they’re marketing it this way.

If you’re ok with ordering online, joyful butterfly is a great option and safe for the butterflies. The milkweed I got from them arrived in great shape. Also got the fennel seeds from that site. What I ended up doing when it looked like I might not have enough fennel for that last round of cats is asking in my local gardening Facebook group and I got more offers of dill and fennel than I had room for.

 

[terri]

Aw, that was nice! These gardening centers are moving out summertime stock already. Crazy!

I've heard of joyful butterfly - I think they were sold out of Joe Pye Weed earlier in the season and I went with another online group that had it, as well as the swamp milkweed and a buttonbush. All doing great.

We finally unboxed our growlight kit, which had been stacked helter skelter in the garage, so we'll be able to get seeds next year. Yay! I spent silly money getting my garden going this year!

 

[Jeff15]

 

[SquarePeg]

It’s official, I’m in love! With these Pinky Winky panicle hydrangeas that I planted this spring. I was unsure about them as I’ve never had luck with the traditional blue mop head hydrangeas in the full sun in front of my house and I’m sort of meh when it comes to white flowers - you all know I like the pinks and purples! Well these are just so beautiful and delicate but with strong branches (no flopping!). They were pricey but worth it! They flower on new growth so no more worries about the harsh winters here killing all of next year’s buds. They come in as white and are now changing to a pretty pink. In fall they’re expected to turn red. I’m already looking around trying to figure out where I can plant another one. Or maybe a line of them between my lawn and my neighbor’s. I’ll have to start propagating asap!

 

[jeffashman]

It’s official, I’m in love! With these Pinky Winky panicle hydrangeas that I planted this spring. I was unsure about them as I’ve never had luck with the traditional blue mop head hydrangeas in the full sun in front of my house and I’m sort of meh when it comes to white flowers - you all know I like the pinks and purples! Well these are just so beautiful and delicate but with strong branches (no flopping!). They were pricey but worth it! They flower on new growth so no more worries about the harsh winters here killing all of next year’s buds. They come in as white and are now changing to a pretty pink. In fall they’re expected to turn red. I’m already looking around trying to figure out where I can plant another one. Or maybe a line of them between my lawn and my neighbor’s. I’ll have to start propagating asap!


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Beautiful plant! Did some research, and now I'm trying to decide if I have enough light out front (East facing, but partially shaded by trees). I found some 1 qt plants for $22, which should work if the light is enough.

 

[terri]

The hydrangeas I inherited with this house face the north, and only get about 4-5 hours of actual sunshine. They're typical bushes, though - not like this varietal other than they also start white then turn pink.

Yours look so healthy - I'll be curious to see if they turn red in the fall. Happy that it's turned out so well in your garden!

Me, I'm not a fan of hydrangeas, but they unquestionably are a hit with the bees and hummingbirds.

The prior homeowner planted an entire line of different kinds in front of the house, as well as in front of the garage and also in the side yard. Some of these will get a stay of execution now that I've seen them in season, but my yard is too small to keep this much of something I don't really like.

There's so much else to choose from!

 

[Jeff15]

 

[terri]

This wasn't here when I checked last night! I've been watching this one for about 3 days now. He crawled up the post and seemed to be flailing about, searching. Then he moved off the post and has sat there for the last day or two.

I looked closely at him last night but he was still a caterpillar.

Now he's this:

I looked around the little tent to check on the others. They've about gone through the $15 parsley but I did buy several more at a nursery further away, for $4 each.

I'll stick a couple in there. I think several of these larger ones are right behind this one, so that's going to save parsley for these smaller ones:

The smaller one in front here is only about an inch long, and there are a few more his size.

I've counted between 8-9 overall. I expect the number of chrysalises to grow, but really wanted to share this first one.

Huzzah!

 

[terri]

Totally overlooked this one! This chrysalis is smaller than the one up top, so the caterpillar didn't even catch my eye. It actually looks firmer than this one that sprang up overnight, so it's likely the first one.

 

[SquarePeg]

Totally overlooked this one! This chrysalis is smaller than the one up top, so the caterpillar didn't even catch my eye. It actually looks firmer than this one that sprang up overnight, so it's likely the first one.

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Our timing is similar. I have two in chrysalis and one who is doing his head butt against a branch that I stuck in the pot.

 

[terri]

I have a couple that are doing the head butt thing. Something I think you linked to from here mentions the "J- shape" that the heads take when they're done eating and pick a spot to cling to. It's been very educational so far!

 

[SquarePeg]

I have a couple that are doing the head butt thing. Something I think you linked to from here mentions the "J- shape" that the heads take when they're done eating and pick a spot to cling to. It's been very educational so far!

I know that monarch cats make a j but didn’t realize they use the same term for swallowtail cats. My mom and I have been calling it the head butt - we just made that up lol. We’ve also been calling the wandering they do before head butting their “walkabout”.

Monarch J-ing. The people who raise monarchs and call that little circle they attach themselves with their button.

 

[jeffashman]

I love Lantana, it just thrives in this heat. Got a lucky shot today, with a Fiery Skipper on one of the plants. I had to do a lot of work to manage the saturation of the colors in the image, but I think I got it.

aug12022301 by Jeff Ashman, on Flickr