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:
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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:
