The 2019 Gardening Thread.

I killed some black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars one year, and I've never forgiven myself, so I had to look up those black and yellow ones of MoochNNoodles 's. The most likely one that likes tomatoes turns into a moth, but she would have to check it for sure. And yes, caterpillars can be moved.

Caterpillar Types and Identification Guide

NY cat man said:

Down here, we have Purple loosestrife, and it is very invasive. Apparently, it was brought in for gardens and escaped. Now there are areas with nothing but the loosestrife, as it crowds out everything else, and there is nothing known that eats it, so the stuff just multiplies, creating a biological desert. A high school classmate of mine was a biologist for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, studying ways to control it over 20 years ago, with only limited success.

Click to expand...

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on my yellow guy then.

foxxycat said:

I've got these too but the leaves are dark freen. Flowers look exactly the same. Very pretty.

Click to expand...

Yes, very pretty. Just hoping it's not a thug that will try to take over the entire garden.

DreamerRose said:

Today's caterpillars are tomorrow's butterflies.

Click to expand...

DreamerRose said:

The most likely one that likes tomatoes turns into a moth, but she would have to check it for sure. And yes, caterpillars can be moved.

Click to expand...

I was thinking it was probably a moth caterpillar too.

We have a plethora of moths in the area. I will move some caterpillars around depending on where I find them; but I'm not sacrificing my garden to save a few. Some branches have been eaten BARE. I'd rather not spray something that could hurt the pollinators either or do something like that. So if I find something chowing down on my dinner like that; it's gotta go.

I didn't know that caterpillars can turn into moths instead of butterflies. You learn something new everyday.

Speaking of caterpillars. This little guy was in one of my hanging baskets this morning. He didn't appreciate my watering so he did his leaf impression. (Hopefully you can see him without playing Where's Waldo. It was hard to focus on him.) Neither did the beetles in my rhubarb patch. A bunch went running.


The other day I was watering these baskets and a hummingbird flew up. She sipped from a few flowers and we looked at each other for a bit before she flew off. I did not move the entire time.

MoochNNoodles said:

(Hopefully you can see him without playing Where's Waldo. It was hard to focus on him.)

Click to expand...

Upper center?

This is better. He is doing a very good leaf impression.



I was out early today and brought in a nice bunch of cherry tomatoes and a few big tomatoes that need to ripen a little more. I have been having tomato sandwiches for breakfast.

MoochNNoodles said:

This is better. He is doing a very good leaf impression.

Click to expand...

Oh, he's green! I was looking for a furry yellow guy.

rubysmama said:

Oh, he's green! I was looking for a furry yellow guy.

Click to expand...

I have those every year too. They seem to like to hang out on the water faucet or my kids swingset. I just moved one on a stick a week or so ago. Fortunately the kids know not to touch that kind.

We got some unexpected rain yesterday. I am not complaining with all the heat lately!

The only gardening I've done lately is to empty all the blackened monsoon victims out of their planters and into the compost.



More flowers next month, if the sun comes out.

Oh, how depressing, Norachan .
Hopefully you'll see the sun soon.

That worm looks like one of those green ones that eat tomato plants.

I still have pics to upload..gonna try shortly.

We are getting 3 days of hot dreary weather...the only thing I will be doing is watering plants and reading books. too hot to weed.

These rainbow things are called hot poker flowers. They didnt like the lack of rain last month. Ive been watering them every other day to see how they do. If i give them a ton of water then the flower shoots up 4 feet.

The purple things are blazing glories.

rubysmama , this one is for you. This coneflower is called 'Butterfly Kisses'. The Black-eyed Susan is now in bloom This is our butterfly patch, a mixed variety of annuals and perennials we got at Wallyworld. This is one of the Verbenas we planted to shade the clematis roots.
Like foxxycat , it's too hot and humid to do anything outside, so I'll wait until later to water.

looks like still having internet issues. Waiting for my picture to be emailed to myself so I can upload another way. Not sure what the issue is. Facebook is uploaded in an instant but other sites take 10 minutes or longer.

NY cat man said:

View attachment 292954 rubysmama , this one is for you.View attachment 292955 This coneflower is called 'Butterfly Kisses'. View attachment 292956 The Black-eyed Susan is now in bloomView attachment 292957 This is our butterfly patch, a mixed variety of annuals and perennials we got at Wallyworld.View attachment 292958 This is one of the Verbenas we planted to shade the clematis roots.
Like foxxycat , it's too hot and humid to do anything outside, so I'll wait until later to water.

Click to expand...

That mix of wild flowers-looks like blue ones are bachelor buttons and the pink/orange flowers are Zinnias.

The cone flowers are awesome. I have a few just opened two days ago...it's starting to come together in my yard-soon as these d photos upload.

Love all the pictures!

foxxycat said:

That mix of wild flowers-looks like blue ones are bachelor buttons and the pink/orange flowers are Zinnias.

The cone flowers are awesome. I have a few just opened two days ago...it's starting to come together in my yard-soon as these d photos upload.

Love all the pictures!

Click to expand...

On the package, it says blue cornflowers.There are also supposed to be Shasta daisies.

I think blue cornflowers are the same as bachelor buttons..just different names..looks pretty either way!

Here's another from the butterfly patch This is the 'Cheyenne Spirit' coneflower I'm not sure of the name of this coneflower. This flower is called 'Pyromania'. And finally, this is one of the 'mouse ears' hostas

that piromania isn't that Fire poker too?I think I have same ones-still waiting to upload these D pictures. Internet really ticking me off this week!