A GOOD DAY FOR RESEARCH

Today is a good day to stay inside and do some research. Tropical Storm Ida is out in the Gulf of Mexico and its low pressure is sucking air across South Florida to fuel it. Winds out of the ESE at 22mph gusting to 32 outside now. Just enough to blow my Avocado cannonballs out of the tree. Don't care to take a shot from a two pounder, Thank you.
I was able to find out what the white butterfly is that is so determined to avoid being photographed. It is a White Peacock or Anartia Jatrophae. It hangs out in The southern half of Florida and Texas as well as in Mexico.

This one is a Gulf Fritillary that is on the Mexican Sunflower bloom. I have never seen the Mexican Sunflower listed as attracting butterfly's but in my garden it attracts the most. It is one of my favorite plants to grow in the full sun. Try it in your garden and I think you will be pleased with the results.

I found out that the White Peacock butterfly uses this Ruellia or Purple Showers plant as its host to lay eggs. I was given this plant in the picture but didn't know it was a host plant for the white butterfly. I just liked the plant. It blooms daily with new purple flowers that fall off each afternoon. The next day it will be covered with a new crop of flowers.

This vine is a Passflora Suberosa or Passion Vine. It is the host plant of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly also pictured above. They lay their eggs on the plant and the caterpillars hatched then munch out on the plant leaves before becoming butterflies. This vine in the picture has sprouted up by my back patio of its own volition. Now that I know what it is I figure to leave it there to grow up the metal support poles for my awning. There are several of the Passion Vines at different places in the backyard. They never seem to flower though the caterpillars chomp them to pieces first.

Another question of mine was answered also. I never knew the name of this bush that is now covered in yellow blooms.

I put an inquire question and picture of the bush on the GardenWeb Florida Forum. It didn't take long till some fellow astute gardeners clued me in. This bush is a Christmas Cassia or Cassia Bicapsularis if you are so inclined. It Flowers in the fall and is tropical growing in the south United States. It is supposed to be the host plant for the Yellow Sulphur butterfly here. I have seen a few of the yellow butterfly's on it but my plant is hosting two foot long green Iguana's now. I think that they are eating the flowers and leaves from the bush. Yes, other areas have problems with deer eating their plants but here you deal with Iguana's. Only in South Florida,go figure huh. One last thing to add . I found a fantastic website that is helping me to identify some of the critters, butterflies and birds found in my neck of the woods. It will tell you a lot about butterflies and the right plants to host and attract them. Probably more than you want to know. Check it out if you are so inclined. I am definitely saving this one as a reference to {get some edication} as we say in the south. The site is : http://butterflies.heuristron.net/index.php .

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