PASSION ON THE BACKPORCH

-CLICK ON PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT-

Well maybe the Title is subject to different interpretations. The only thing steamy going on around here is the weather. Summer is fast approaching and the South Florida heat and humidity is fast climbing.

This week has been hotter than a goat's butt in a pepper patch as we say in the South.

Anyway the Passion that I am referring to happens to be the Passion Vine.

I had one growing last year and now they spring up on their own at random points in the yard.

This one sprung up next to the concrete on my back porch. Instead of pulling it up I let er grow up the support of my back porch awning.

After it reached the awning roof I strung out some wire in both directions and the passion vine has been growing sideways along the wire.

It has gotten pretty big and I can sit on my back porch and watch what's happening with the vine. Turns out to be kind of interesting. The passion vine has lots of activity going on.

The Butterflies are attracted to it as a place to lay their eggs. There have been both Gulf Fritillarys and Zebras on the plant every day this week. It's what's known as a host plant for these Butterflies and they have flocked to my back porch to get to this plant.

Once the eggs are laid and hatch the Caterpillars emerge and start eating the Passion vine leaves.

This Caterpillar here shown munching away is from a Zebra Heliconian Butterfly.

Apparently they just hang around eating all day getting fatter and fatter. Kinda like humans in a way seems to me.

This Caterpillar is from a Gulf Fritillary Butterfly.

It too is enjoying the salad bar of the leaves of this Passion vine.

But you have to be tough to be a Caterpillar because as they are busy eating away other insects are eyeing them as a tasty lunch.

The Mockingbirds sure wouldn't pass up one of these plump morsels. But for now they stay away whenever someone is on the porch.

However their are other Caterpillar predators lurking in the Passion Vine .

This little fat cat fell victim to one of the many other insects that like to call the Passion vine home.

For those Caterpillars that survive they stop eating and move on to the next evolution which is forming their chrysalis.

This is one of the Zebra Caterpillars that formed a chrysalis on the Passion vine .

I watched it the other night as it gyrated itself around repeatedly weaving itself into a case.

It will stay this way for around 10 days and emerge as a new Zebra Butterfly.

The Passion Vine is covered in different insects as it gives out a sweet scent that is attractive to them.

I don't mind that the Caterpillars are eating the vine as it is cool just to sit and watch everything that is going on. And to be surrounded by Butterflies throughout the day is kinda neat also.

So now the Title becomes clear as I do have passion on the back porch :-]

--Sanddune--

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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