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AFTER FREEZE NECTAR SOURCES
This week much of Georgia suffered through the first freezing temperatures of the season. At our home in Monroe County, the temperature fell to 27º. Realizing that spelled trouble for many pollinators my wife and I brought in two plants (scarlet sage and pineapple sage) that have been hosting cloudless sulphurs for the past few weeks.
When the weather returned to normal, we put them back on our deck. In a matter of minutes, they were once again being visited by cloudless sulphurs, syrphid, and hover flies. While our efforts did not benefit many pollinators, they did provide a few with much-needed food. In addition, we extended the time we can enjoy watching pollinators at work in our yard.
Based on our success I decided to visit our local nursery (Mossy Creek) to see if any of their plants had survived the cold and were hosting pollinators.
I no sooner got out the door of my vehicle when one of the nursery’s staff called me over to look at a stunningly beautiful butterfly. The butterfly turned out to be a zebra longwing; it was the first I have seen this year. The whole time that I was there, the butterfly fed at lavender pincushion blossoms.
While I watched, an American lady joined it. Nearby, an Ocola and fiery skippers, and a couple of American ladies visited marigolds. All of these plants had survived the severely cold weather.
Later, our daughter told us that a hover fly was feeding on a late four-o’clock bloom beside her house. She also saw several pollinators visiting coneflowers at a nursery in Columbia County.
Admittedly, the weather was not kind to our gardens this year consequently; we did not have many sources of nectar available deep into the fall. However, we pledge to do better next year.
If you want to help late pollinators in your yard, the first thing you need to do is find out which pollinator plants can survive cold weather in your neighborhood. One great place to learn find this information is your local nursery. There is no better time do so than after our recent freeze. Armed with this knowledge you will be better able to address the food needs of the pollinators living close by.
When I returned home, I was carrying four pots containing cold-hardy plants that we are going to add to our yard.
DEAD LEAVES ARE IMPORTANT TO MANY MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES
Most of us do not enjoy raking fallen leaves in autumn, however, not raking leaves around butterfly and other host plants is one of the most important ways to ensure you will see your favorite butterflies and moths flying about your yard next year.
A beautiful day-flying moth, the snowberry clearwing, is a great example of a moth that benefits from not raking leaves beneath its host plants.
The snowberry clearwing is a day-flying moth that frequents our flower gardens during the summer. This stunning moth uses a handful of plants as its larval host; one such plant is coral honeysuckle. This native honeysuckle bears long red tubular flowers throughout the spring and summer. After the moth’s bright green caterpillars have grown as big as they are going to get, they literally drop to the ground beneath their hosts and hide among the fallen leaves. They then enter the next stage of their life; forming a cocoon and pupate during the winter. This miraculous process only works if the caterpillars fall into a protective blanket of leaf litter.
Other moths and butterflies also spend the winter in leaf litter. With that in mind, when we refrain from raking the leaves under host plants, we benefit the moths and butterflies wintering among these fallen leaves too.
DO NOT PLANT THIS MILKWEED IN YOUR GARDEN
With each passing year, more Georgia gardeners are planting milkweeds in hopes their efforts will bolster the dwindling monarch butterfly population. The University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Program recommends we do not plant the common milkweed in our gardens (Asclepias syriaca) in the state.
This reason they want us to defer from planting this particular milkweed is it is not native to Georgia. This recommendation is based on the fear that this milkweed could potentially become invasive and usurp habitats currently occupied by Georgia’s native milkweeds and other wild plants.
THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN – A BEAUTIFUL HOST PLANT
If you are searching for a native plant that has stunning blossoms, provides food for pollinators, and is a butterfly host plant, look at the black-eyed Susan.
I doubt there is a Georgia gardener that cannot identify the black-eyed Susan. It provides beauty to the countryside and backyard gardens alike. It also does well in containers; my wife has raised black-eyed Susans in large containers on our deck for the last couple of years. While we enjoy the beauty the plants provide just outside our backdoor, we also like the fact its blooms are favorite dining spots for many pollinators. While we occasionally see butterflies such as pearl crescents on the blooms, small bees seem to visit the blossoms more often than any other insects.
On top of all of these virtues, this tall native plant also serves as a host plant for the silvery checkerspot butterfly.
If you do not have the black-eyed Susan growing in your gardens, give this one a try.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN – A NATIVE PLANT OF VALUE TO WILDLIFE THAT CAN BE GROWN IN CONTAINERS
If you are looking for a native plant that can be grown in containers, is both beautiful, hardy, and benefits wildlife too, the Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) just might fit the bill.
My wife and I have grown Black-eyed Susans in containers on our deck for several years. The tall plants produce a profusion of gorgeous long-lasting blooms. While the blossoms are visited by pollinators, I would not call it a butterfly magnet. This is because, at best, butterflies only sparingly nectar at the large blossoms. The pollinators I see most often on our plants in search of nectar and pollen are small, solitary bees.
In addition, the Black-eyed Susan is a host plant for the Silvery Checkerspot butterfly. Well after the plant’s blossoms have withered and died, a number of songbirds eat plant’s seeds.
The fact the plant is deer resistant make a favorite among gardeners plagued by hungry deer.
THE COMMON BLUE VIOLET – A GREAT CONTAINER PLANT
If you are looking for a native plant that does well in containers, consider the common blue violet Viola sororia).
This Georgia native grows throughout the state; it has attractive heart-shaped leaves and gorgeous blooms. Typically, the plant’s flowers are blue-violet; however, they are sometimes pink, purple, white and yellow.
One of the neat things about this violet is it is also a super wildlife plant. It is a host plant for 29 species of moths and butterflies including the giant leopard moth and variegated fritillary butterfly.
It also produces nectar used by sweat and mason bees, and even ruby-throated hummingbirds.
The common blue violet’s seeds are eaten by juncos and sparrows.
In my neck of the woods (middle Georgia), it blooms from as early as February into August.
To top it all off, even gardeners that do not have a green thumb can grow this plant.
If you try it, I am sure you will like it.
COMMON RUE – THE UNCOMMON HOST PLANT
There is a good chance you have never seen common rue (Ruta graveolens) even though it is a host plant for both black and giant swallowtail butterflies. However, if you have ever played a game of cards, you are familiar with the silhouette of its leaves (they are the inspiration for the club suit).
Rue is native to the Balkan Peninsula. However, it currently grows throughout much of the world. Although is does well in Georgia gardens, I have found it difficult to find at nurseries.
Rue is an herb that grows only two to three feet tall. Its blue-green foliage and clusters of yellow flowers that attract a variety of pollinators make it an attractive addition to a variety of garden settings. In many areas, it retains its foliage throughout the winter. Rue will grow well is partial shade, in a wide range of soil types, and is both drought and deer resistant.
On the downside, rue is poisonous. While some folks can handle rue within impunity, others break out is a rash and/or blisters when they touch the plant. With that in mind, I recommend that you wear long sleeves and gloves when handling the plant. NEVER eat it or use it for medicinal purposes. If you do, you may rue the day you did.
My wife and I set out rue for the first time this year in hopes of attracting more giant swallowtails. They join two other giant swallowtail caterpillar host plants (wafer ash and trifoliate orange) that have been growing in our yard for a number of years.
If you are looking for an odd host plant to try in your landscape, consider common rue. However, if you do, be careful how you handle it.
ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS ARE NOW FLYING
The zebra swallowtail (Eurytudes Marcellus) inhabits all of Georgia’s 159 counties. It typically flies from late March into August; however, in my neck of the woods (middle Georgia), I see tiger swallowtails more often in early spring than at that at any other time of the year.
The zebra swallowtail is easy to identify as it has a black and white stripes and long tails. This handsome butterfly has a 2½-4” wingspan. No other butterfly in Georgia looks anything like it.
While this species prefers woodlands and shrubby areas, it will venture into backyards. This is particularly true if you live in suburban or rural areas. Zebra swallowtails are less often seen in urban backyards. Most often, you will see a zebra swallowtail flying by close to the ground. Much to our chagrin it will pass by without giving us a chance to enjoy its beauty. However, there are ways in which you can enhance your chances of seeing one up close.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to set out its host plant. This butterfly’s caterpillar host is a small tree known as the pawpaw.
You can also plant nectar plants. Zebra swallowtails prefer to feed at flowers that do not have long tubular throats. They also seem to nectar most often at white flowers.
The best way to lure male zebra swallowtails into your yard is to create a spot where they can stage a puddle party. This special habitat feature is a location where sand, soil, or gravel is wet. Sometimes several males can be seen “puddling” at the same time. They gather at such locations in search of salts and amino acids that are beneficial to their reproduction.
COMMON BLUE VIOLET — A GREAT CONTAINER PLANT FOR WILDLIFE AND BEAUTY
Container gardening for wildlife is gaining popularity across the Peach State. It offers gardeners the opportunity to bring wildlife onto their decks and patios while at the same time enhancing the beauty of their home landscape. One plant that does well in such settings is the Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia).
This Georgia native grows throughout the state. This small beauty grows only 5-7 inches tall. It produces stunning asymmetrical flowers from late winter into summer that range from dark blue, pink and white. In addition, its heart-shaped leaves remain attractive well after it ceases blooming.
Unfortunately, it is a little-known fact that the plant is a source of pollen and nectar for many pollinators. In addition, it provides these insects with food in late winter and spring with it is scarce. The insect pollinators that visit the plant range in size from petite syrphid flies (they are especially fond to the violet’s pollen) to butterflies.
Violets also serve as host plants for both the Diana and variegated fritillaries. In fact, throughout its range at least 27 other species of moths and butterflies also use this violet as a host.
After the flowers shrivel and die, several species of birds eat the violet’s seeds.
I think that if you find a place for the common blue violet in your container garden, you will enjoy it beauty and be amazed at how much wildlife you will attract and enjoy just a few feet outside your backdoor.
If you would like more information about the Container Gardening For Wildlife for initiative sponsored by the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, The Garden Club of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN), contact Melissa Hayes at melissahayes@dnr.ga.gov