Greetings from the east side of the Florida Panhandle. Early fall means I’m guessing some of these wildflowers are 2-4 weeks early. I’ve not really tracked the past flowering times other than looking thru names in a decade of photo folders.
Not complaining if some are early this year and not extraordinary since some species like Liatris go for a month or 2 with new plants blooming each week.
These pea vines (3 leaflets are to the left of flower) are everywhere and I try not to trip while working this overgrown area outside the armadillo fencing. Mostly I pull the non-native weeds but it is full of very large plants like Melanthera and Smallanthus (below). I’ve seen Zebra Longwings down there going from one plant to the next for hours, the same flowers over and over… As I look out the kitchen window prepping food, washing dishes, the same things over and over...
Another plant that migrates around the yard is Spotted Bee Balm (Monarda). It’s spread to the point where I am considering pulling some of it up. Well maybe, it doesn’t flower for long so more plants extend the time flowers are available for pollinators. Last winter failed to freeze them to the ground so there are double this year.
This plant is one of the Euphorbias known for its milky latex. I’ve never touched the sap and assume it is a skin irritant. There are several species from this family around the yard -- some are weeds, a couple invasive, this is the prettier native E. heterophylla. The website said the flowers produce a lot of nectar. It’s growing up the hill in the front meadow, weedy but not big enough to care about and nothing compared to the 1,000 Goldenrod standing guard by the road.
Liatris Gholsonii, endangered, endemic and locally prolific in its 30 mile native range along the Apalachicola. Seeded easily in my yard with few dozen spread around a 100’ area in small groups.
Here’s another view of the Liatris spicata on the cover. The one plant from 2 years ago has 3 stems this year and several plants around it. Success!
It’s coming back to me, what I learned on FB from a local botany pro last season — one key to knowing L. spicata is the rosy red phyllaries around each flower head.
Oddities:
Above my porch and walkways is a Sweetgum and on the Sweetgum is a very large caterpillar judging by the size of the frass. Doubt I ever see the caterpillar unless it happens to fall but I was just outside and a bit of leaf fell on me — which is better than fresh frass.
and finally, something that flowered last February, a Red Buckeye. Counted 7 buckeyes, a few doubles, so it must love where I planted it by the Flame Azalea. And I will make a serious effort to plant all the buckeyes in pots. Our local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society has been encouraging members to start more native plants that can be given away or sold cheap (actually, free for donations works quite well) to those in counties to the west suffering from barren yards and woods post-hurricane.
Oops, out of photos; well not really but these are all I had prepped. Later that day….
Look what dropped onto or crawled up to my porch railing. Colors and spikes say Gulf Fritillary, possibly last instar, but those huge antennae, oh my. I tried to blow it off to a safer place but little suction feet held it tight. Hope you enjoyed this bucket , and don’t be a loner like this prickly guy, please join us in the comments with your backyard news.….
… update on these caterpillars — this one with big antennae is an Oakworm moth and the frass is likely the Luna moth that uses Sweetgum as a host. This website has a ton of descriptions and photos and comparisons of popular butterflies and moths, especially the confusing Swallowtails.