October 18 , 2018
Top Tip to Attract Butterflies + Tree Foliage Loss
Although I ’m highly allergic to nativeWedelia texana , formerlyZexmenia hispida , I ’m thrilled when it seeds itself with abandon in my waterwise wildlife habitat . I simply don big - tariff elbow - duration gloves when I work around them . From spring to frost , crowd of bees , butterflies , and other pollinator dash around its penny - sized gilded blossom . It benefits from a Christ Within pruning in late summer to crusade out a fall loaded of flowers . In pin , it pairs beautifully with gloaming aster . I do n’t tailor their winter - browned foliage to the terra firma until late February since small fowl dart for seeds on both works . Wedelia texana ’s also a larval host plant for Sierran Metalmark , Lacinia Patch , and Bordered Patch butterfly . I ’ve never photographed the Bordered Patch caterpillar , but here ’s a nectaring grownup . You’ll find pictures of it in all its stage — along with many other gorgeous caterpillars and butterflies — inLynne and Jim Weber’slatest in - the - know book ( with Roland H. Wauer),Native Host Plants for Texas Butterflies . Lynne and Jim areTexas Master Naturalists , authors , and phenomenal photographer who reveal discoveries and facts in their intriguing blog , Nature Watch Austin . Their first book of the same name is a must - have guide to what you ’ll see every month in ATX — wildlife , industrial plant , and atmospheric condition — and how they interact . Nature Watch Big Bendtakes you on the same giving , passionate journey in far West Texas . Gardeners often enquire me : “ How can I pull butterflies ? ” Food is necessary , of class , but that think of more than blossom . To keep them around , you must include host plant and sacrifice a few leave to get the next generation . This calendar week , Lynne and Jimidentify a few of the plants inNative emcee Plants for Texas Butterfliesthat meet a butterfly stroke ’s plant - specific choice to run its larva . Their bewitching stories take us through a butterfly ’s life cycle from ball to cat to grownup . You may have figure Crimson Patch on your aboriginal flame acanthus ( Anisacanthus quadrifidusvar.wrightii ) , but have you seen its caterpillar stage?I know that I ’m going to use this book a great deal to identify butterflies and caterpillars , as well as plants I run into in the wild . At a glimpse , I can scan about a industrial plant ’s instinctive range and how to grow it . Colorful thumbnail maps illustrate where you ’ll find each works and butterfly .
Watch now !
We rely on our Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree just as do our valued wildlife . Drought has taken such a toll on them that I ’m getting fortune of motion about troubled trees . To get an expert ’s result , CTG collaborated withCity of Austin Urban Forest Health Coordinatorcertified arborist April Rose . Our nidus this week is why Tree cut down leaves betimes this twelvemonth or dramatically lost foliage . Photo impart by Ron in Blanco . Watch nowfor April ’s answer about Jesse ’s pine tree , Julia ’s cerise oak , and Ron ’s pecan tree .
get across onAustin Nature in the Cityfor all thing trees : planting & care , ordinances , events , and more .
Thanks for hold back by ! See you next week , Linda
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