Just the back yard!? Nah, I want the front and side yards landscaped in natives too.



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Looking More Closely

It is rare for me to pick flowers from the natives I'm adding to the property.  So far, I really have so few, and I feel the nectar, pollen, and eventual seeds that they are providing for wildlife is vitally important.  I hate to take away from the little I've provided.  However, the oldest butterflyweeds I have planted are blooming profusely...so I took three small sprigs.  With them, I took a few non-natives that are blooming (I'm trying to rid the property of these anyway), and then I grabbed a few of the daisy fleabane...that is when, as I reached for a second stem, I saw an already large caterpillar chomping away at one of the flowers.  Of course, I let go and went to get the camera.

I have to wonder what else I'd see if I learned to look more closely more often.

I've yet to identify it, but here is what he looks like:


Chomping away!  Just look at those petals fall.
What a messy eater.


I went back for more photos.



...and today, I noticed there were at least two of them!

Oh, and here is the bouquet I came up with:





2 comments:

Rebecca said...

I just grow enough for me and the caterpillars.

David said...

Now why didn't I think of that! ;)

I think, once I have the project I envision, I'll have plenty for both of us. Normally, I only pick flowers if we are having guest over.