tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post3889822197892752214..comments2024-01-02T01:30:45.339-06:00Comments on Rebecca's Texas Garden: Wildlife - November 2014Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-45459527812529835002014-11-24T15:31:48.626-06:002014-11-24T15:31:48.626-06:00What a wonderful post! I saw only one Monarch in m...What a wonderful post! I saw only one Monarch in my garden this year, which saddens me. In past years we've had numerous Monarchs, but they're either thinning out or they were slightly off course this year and we missed out on them. Your photos are lovely. Regarding parsley, I plan on sowing as many seeds as possible in the spring in hopes of attracting more butterflies. I was unaware of its allure until reading a few articles about it recently.virtualhorizonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834856085946003316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-44150383643071608592014-11-21T16:44:08.303-06:002014-11-21T16:44:08.303-06:00No, I haven't tried tatuma yet. I've read...No, I haven't tried tatuma yet. I've read a couple other Central Texas gardeners have had success with it, so it is definitely worth a try. I'll put it on my list of things to try next year. Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-71338775552806327942014-11-21T16:41:34.267-06:002014-11-21T16:41:34.267-06:00It is such a frustrating battle with the squash vi...It is such a frustrating battle with the squash vine borers. I LOVE squash, and it is generally so easy to grow and very productive... except for those pesky borers that keep getting in the way of my master plan. I may try growing just a couple plants in some containers and keep them covered up for awhile next year to see if I have any success that way. If not, I may just have to bite the bullet and rely on other to grow my squash.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-70488370123201036292014-11-21T16:37:48.270-06:002014-11-21T16:37:48.270-06:00Thanks for the resources! It can be quite tricky ...Thanks for the resources! It can be quite tricky identifying new creatures in the garden...but a fun process all the same.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-75287984731169350822014-11-21T16:35:44.555-06:002014-11-21T16:35:44.555-06:00Thanks, Tina. The monarchs were so much fun to re...Thanks, Tina. The monarchs were so much fun to rear, release and see hanging around the garden this year. I'm hoping they made it to some warmer places before the cold weather blew into Central Texas.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01215678221173950533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-74071126125855263372014-11-21T14:40:02.171-06:002014-11-21T14:40:02.171-06:00Have you tried growing tatuma (or tatume) squash. ...Have you tried growing tatuma (or tatume) squash. It's the only kind I grow now. As this article states, it's practically immune to the squash vine borer. <br />http://www.texasgardener.com/pastissues/mayjun12/Tatume.html <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-74768691943183330932014-11-10T08:32:14.287-06:002014-11-10T08:32:14.287-06:00I opted out of the squash growing biz because of p...I opted out of the squash growing biz because of persistent borers several seasons ago. I figured if I stopped growing vines they'd move on. Then eventually I just moved on to other veg that don't seem to come with a built in pest problem. I let the farmers grow "my" squash now.<br /><br />Lots of caterpillar action! I love it. There seems to be some issues with tropical milkweed and monarchs according to reports. I've read we are to cut milkweed back here and in other zones where they won't just freeze back. I'm going to give mine until the temperatures drop into the 30's and then off with their heads! Just to be safe. I don't have monarchs visiting so it ought not interrupt anything and hopefully it will assure a better stand of milkweed for next season!TexasDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11214888876514137890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-68310083839831399692014-11-09T20:42:01.520-06:002014-11-09T20:42:01.520-06:00Sorry about the pests, but wow! You're so fort...Sorry about the pests, but wow! You're so fortunate to have so many caterpillars and butterflies in your garden! I miss them! I usually check out these two sites to ID butterflies: <a href="http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/" rel="nofollow">www.butterfliesandmoths.org</a> and <a href="http://wisconsinbutterflies.org" rel="nofollow">www.wisconsinbutterflies.org</a>. I wonder if that one on the Zinnia is a Pearl Crescent?Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442329414502848033.post-85567785893912645612014-11-09T12:25:38.193-06:002014-11-09T12:25:38.193-06:00Wow! You have lots to share--so glad you did. Gi...Wow! You have lots to share--so glad you did. Give yourself a great big pat on the back for your monarch-nannying. I loved the three posts you wrote and am so glad it was a success--for you and them! I'm currently fretting over some monarch larvae on my milkweed--it seems too late for them.<br /><br />Squash borers. Boo!! My squash was done-in last spring by them (I think). When I've been successful, I've gone out, everyday, cut the stalks open and squished the caterpillars. But that takes time, EVERY DAY and who has time for that. And your cutworms--boo on them too. <br /><br />But many kudos for your encouragement for our wild things!!Tinahttp://www.mygardenersays.comnoreply@blogger.com