tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post5471134514996783122..comments2024-01-28T20:40:57.124-06:00Comments on austin agrodolce: Wish fulfillmentTexasDebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-56393270405609730622015-05-09T07:25:18.966-05:002015-05-09T07:25:18.966-05:00Rebecca: There is nothing wrong with your gardeni...Rebecca: There is nothing wrong with your gardening style (or your gardens!). When I had larger spaces to fill and was trying to figure out what would work where, that is exactly how I proceeded - trying out several different plants - all of which I liked a great deal - and then seeing what worked. The idea was always to bring in more of the ones that did well, only I'd so often get distracted at the nursery by new plants.<br /><br />Now you could say I'm simply attempting a bit more discipline with my choices as my open spaces are few, especially with good sun (and/or away from deer!). TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-32935842970038957242015-05-08T18:33:28.058-05:002015-05-08T18:33:28.058-05:00Beautiful butterflies, especially that Reakirt'...Beautiful butterflies, especially that Reakirt's Blue. I can't say I've ever had one of those. I must admit, I'm still in the camp of "one of everything." It is so hard to narrow down to just a few plant types in the garden when I like so many!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-57230535317644574792015-05-08T07:30:20.734-05:002015-05-08T07:30:20.734-05:00THGMama: Oh you enabler, you! I do need to keep...THGMama: Oh you enabler, you! I do need to keep a tight grip on how many photos I have stored (we are talking thousands even when I feel I'm being really strict) but I'm deeply grateful you like to look. That is what it is all about! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-11742341237190818092015-05-07T21:43:42.279-05:002015-05-07T21:43:42.279-05:00Your pictures are amazing! I love the details and ...Your pictures are amazing! I love the details and textures- beautiful! And computer storage is cheap- so keep taking them :)Toni Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03747347910632489330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-56501048372403310612015-05-03T09:10:29.017-05:002015-05-03T09:10:29.017-05:00Donna: Thank you! Honestly, I'm about over w...Donna: Thank you! Honestly, I'm about over wishing for monarchs. There are probably good reasons I don't see them here - not under their regular flight paths perhaps. I'm actually quite happy with our current inundation of Red Admirals and Question Mark butterflies visiting the loquat trees.<br />. TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-37776122989182276002015-05-03T09:06:33.224-05:002015-05-03T09:06:33.224-05:00Michael: I eventually saw several more of the mil...Michael: I eventually saw several more of the milkweed leaf beetles so I, ahem! "took steps to correct that situation" (aka squished them). They are large, easy to spot and capture and thereby easy to control. And, not like I have tons of milkweed here. That project is kind of a flop, so far.<br /><br />Then there are the four lined leaf bugs, spot makers extraordinaire, despoilers of foliage garden wide, who seem to be getting wise to my presence as unfriendly. They are clever at getting away and I have to watch I don't cause more damage chasing them than they cause sucking sap! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-55440470608504016802015-05-03T09:06:18.218-05:002015-05-03T09:06:18.218-05:00A true testament to your garden are all the visito...A true testament to your garden are all the visitors especially the butterflies...those monarchs will find you! And I love that milkweed beetle...what a cutie pie!Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-80549225452666527182015-05-03T08:54:46.246-05:002015-05-03T08:54:46.246-05:00I had some of those milkweed beetles a couple of y...I had some of those milkweed beetles a couple of years ago. They only attached my Mexican milkweed and they were able to strip it of all its leaves in no time at all. I have not seen them since. I do have lots of milkweed bugs. I think their primary damage is to the seedpods. Of course, I want more seeds for more plants so I squish them when I can.Michael - Plano Prairie Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10288991916201553454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-41517783772009056682015-04-27T10:42:01.628-05:002015-04-27T10:42:01.628-05:00LaurinL: That's great about your holding area...LaurinL: That's great about your holding area - as you say, an all-you-can-feast for the flutter-bys. Good to know the monarchs are managing to dodge storms and wild winds alike as they move through your area and head back north. Their particular combination of beauty and toughness is quite something! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-25263947190391985972015-04-27T10:38:22.598-05:002015-04-27T10:38:22.598-05:00RockRose/Jenny: If you knew how much time I spend...RockRose/Jenny: If you knew how much time I spend trying to figure out some of these identifications you'd laugh, knowing I've spent way too much time out in the noonday sun. I hope to develop a working knowledge of all the most familiar visitors, even the pests. Maybe especially the pests...they can be so relentless! Thanks for dropping by! TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-42012959986554349012015-04-27T10:28:00.914-05:002015-04-27T10:28:00.914-05:00Such great photos. I love the lady bugs : ) We hav...Such great photos. I love the lady bugs : ) We have had monarchs here for a month or so they like the ever changing plants in my holding area. Kind of a movable feast. www.ravenscourtgardens. comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352192526462955088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-66515444526742481602015-04-27T08:43:30.348-05:002015-04-27T08:43:30.348-05:00You really know your butterflies and I am impresse...You really know your butterflies and I am impressed with the capture of them on the flowers. I always have difficulty sticking around until they decide to stick around. They usually see me coming and fly away. As to that bug-great id. I don't have milkweed in the garden but if one wanders in here I'll know how to treat him.Rock rose https://www.blogger.com/profile/00348711150803587369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-88193187827365109392015-04-27T07:47:02.449-05:002015-04-27T07:47:02.449-05:00Tina: At the moment I think the Monarchs are acti...Tina: At the moment I think the Monarchs are acting a little bit more like the Mean Bees. That's OK I didn't want to sit at their stupid lunch table anyway. It's sticky...TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-20551204251919447462015-04-27T07:45:23.427-05:002015-04-27T07:45:23.427-05:00Kris: That mimicry is something scientific types ...Kris: That mimicry is something scientific types are guessing is to fool potential predators into thinking these bugs are toxic and therefore should be avoided rather than eaten. I know it worked for me - I had absolutely zero inclination to pop the ones I saw into my mouth! : )TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-40907359364148457422015-04-26T13:28:02.636-05:002015-04-26T13:28:02.636-05:00Haha. So are Monarchs like the Queen Bees and the ...Haha. So are Monarchs like the Queen Bees and the Wanna Bees? :)<br />Tinahttp://www.mygardenersays.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-38200301324848075842015-04-26T13:25:16.363-05:002015-04-26T13:25:16.363-05:00Your butterfly photos are a wonderful reward for y...Your butterfly photos are a wonderful reward for your investment in your garden and its visitors. The beetle is indeed a good-looking fellow - it's interesting that he goes undercover with a lady bug costume.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-51730406500157238312015-04-26T10:39:56.301-05:002015-04-26T10:39:56.301-05:00Tina: Harrumph indeed, right? The lamentable Gre...Tina: Harrumph indeed, right? The lamentable Great Monarch Snub of 2014 seems destined to repeat this year, and just like in Jr. High I think I'm developing a bit of an outsider complex about it all. I saw two Monarchs in somebody else's garden talking and they got quiet when I came near and I'm pretty sure they were making fun of me. Stupid monarchs! <br /><br />Thank you very much about the photos. My family can attest it is not an exaggeration, I take a bazillion photos and typically a few of them turn out. Law of averages...TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3859291696897577217.post-13513151081595906102015-04-26T09:10:36.324-05:002015-04-26T09:10:36.324-05:00Like you, I've had plenty of pollinators, thou...Like you, I've had plenty of pollinators, though not a single monarch. No queens, either, though I typically see them later in the year. Harrumph.<br /><br />Gosh, your photos are just magnificent. You're able to capture color and texture of your little insect visitors so beautifully. I think I've had the same beetle in my gardens. I tend to ignore critters, which also means that I don't know their names. I agree that he's quite lovely. Tinahttp://www.mygardenersays.comnoreply@blogger.com