The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest butterfly occurring in the United States, with a wingspan that can reach 6″. The larvae are sometimes called ‘Orange Dogs’ due to their host plants being members of the Citrus (Rutaceae) family. … Continue reading
Category Archives: Butterfly and Hummingbird Gardening
If you are only passingly familiar with cycads, you’re missing out on one of the most ancient and interesting representatives of the plant kingdom. The first cycads arose somewhere around 280 million years ago, but came into their own in the Jurassic Period, the same time dinosaurs began … Continue reading
This is an interesting article from the University of Florida about the relationship between the Atala butterfly and its host plant, Florida Coontie http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg347. At the nursery we have a population of the Atala Butterflies, and the adults can be … Continue reading
Today is Saturday July 7, 2012. We had a light rain sprinkle for a minute or two this morning, which was enough to wet down the dust. Not enough to provide a good drink for the plants and trees. I … Continue reading