toni Mistress of Garden Junque

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Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Location: North Texas (Map) Posts: 7496 PlantStew: 13581 |
| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:16 am Post subject: And there goes the Milkweed |
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Found this when I went out to water early today. I have two Milkweed plants on each side of the front yard, two of them have cats on them so far.
I wonder if the plants will recoop after the cat becomes the butterfly
And there goes the Milkweed now. ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden )
_________________ Mortals must do what they are here to creatively do or they will become cranky.
If you can't stand the heat, don't tickle the Dragon
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glendann Official Garden Angel
 Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: Texas (Map) Posts: 8778 PlantStew: 289 |
| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:10 am Post subject: |
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They sure are hungry little fellows.I haven't seen my cats on my Passion Flower vines.I sure hope they show up.
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but by the moments that take our breath away.'
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Droopy Slug Slaughterer

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Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Location: Western Norway (Map) Posts: 7084 PlantStew: 10066 |
| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:10 am Post subject: |
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I hope your plant will recover from the onslaught, Toni. What a gorgeus caterpillar. And I hope the butterfly will stick around and add more beauty to your yard.
_________________ The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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Netty Chaotic Gardener

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Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Location: Southern Ontario zone 5a (Map) Posts: 6996 PlantStew: 10292 |
| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:52 am Post subject: |
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I've been checking my Milkweed and haven't found any caterpillars yet. Milkweed grows up wild all over my yard and I can't keep it ALL so I make sure to check it first. It seems to recover just fine after the caterpillars are done
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eileen Moderator & Resident Taxonomist

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Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Location: Scotland (Map) Posts: 14113
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| Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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You have such colourful caterpillars in your garden. All I have at the moment is the dreaded Red Lily Beetles.
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Papa2mykids On The Way Up

Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Location: Kentwood, Michigan Posts: 123
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| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Monarchs are just arriving here in Michigan.
Amazing, the day the butterfly weed started to bloom and i saw my first one.
Yes, the weed will recoup just fine.
They have to for the next batch.
Ron
_________________ www.gardening-for-wildlife.com
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cherylad Showing Great Promise

 Joined: 05 May 2009 Location: Houston Area - Texas (Map) Posts: 256 PlantStew: 487 |
| Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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No caterpillars on my Milkweed yet either.
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Sherry8 I Love Birds!
 Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Location: Wisconsin...zone 4 (Map) Posts: 1571
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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Nothing yet here in Wisconsin...
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SusanLouise On The Way Up

 Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 53
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Wow...Lucky you! Our milkweed plants are nearly 5' tall. We've only had a few Monarchs visit so far...and saw our 1st mated pair yesterday. Unfortunately, as they were clung together in mid-air after being able to take a pic of them on a branch, they didn't stick around long enough for the female to lay eggs...
( photo / image / picture from SusanLouise's Garden )
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Babaloo Just Arrived

Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:30 am Post subject: |
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Yes your plant will recover, it will help to keep it wet. I've several pots of milkweed I'm keeping in quarantine from a part of the yard that is infected w/spearmint. I've been using them as caterpillar feed and they have stripped each plant & since within a month each plant has completely regrown their leaves:)
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Sjoerd Enlightened One

 Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Location: West - Friesland (Map) Posts: 4101 PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Nice fotos, Toni.
I know that all that eating looks pretty scary, but I suspect that the plant will survive.
BTW, when the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, will it stay there all winter in that stage, or will it develop and fly off to Mexico before the snow comes?
_________________ Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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toni Mistress of Garden Junque

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| Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Sjoerd wrote: |
BTW, when the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, will it stay there all winter in that stage, or will it develop and fly off to Mexico before the snow comes? |
We are on the migratory path for the Monarchs so they don't stay around here very long, that one probably headed north as soon as it could fly.
It only takes a Monarch 30-40 days to complete it's life cycle. It is amazing when you think about it...the Monarchs that will be flying down to Mexico in a few weeks are grandchildren of the ones that flew north last spring.
I had to transplant that Milkweed a few weeks ago, I misjudged the shade pattern where it was. It is doing much better now and starting to bloom...just in time for the Monarchs to enjoy on their trip south.
_________________ Mortals must do what they are here to creatively do or they will become cranky.
If you can't stand the heat, don't tickle the Dragon
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Sjoerd Enlightened One

 Joined: 11 Apr 2006 Location: West - Friesland (Map) Posts: 4101 PlantStew: 93 |
| Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:56 am Post subject: |
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I see....Boy, how lucky is that!--being on the flight traject for the migration.
It sounds like your transplanting was successful. I did not know that one could transplant that plant with success. Well done.
It would appear that the caterpillar has really had a few full meals on the milkweed.
_________________ Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html
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