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Check out the BugLady's list of available
butterfly nectar and caterpillar
host plants for SEPTEMBER!

Barber Laboratories
504-739-5715
6444 Jefferson Highway in Harahan
(Social distancing outside in backyard)
Monday thru Friday 9:30-5:00

 

 

Butterfly Nectar Plants

Photo Item Size
Bee Balm - white (Monarda)  4", quart, 1 gallon
Blanket Flower - yellow (Gaillardia)                  4"
Buttonbush  (Cephalanthus occidentalis) 1 gallon 
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)  4" 

Coneflower (Purple)

(Echinacea)

4"
Coneflower (Yellow) (Rudbeckia hirta) 4"
Crabapple tree   (Malus)  3 gallon
Eupitorium odoratum 1 gallon
Gomphrena "Fireworks" 6" round
Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) 5"
          Ironweed            (Vernonia)  4"
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)  3-gallon
Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus 4"
        Mountain Mint       Big Leaf (Pynanthemum muticum)  6" round, 1 gallon
        Penstemon:          White Wand (Penstemon tubaeflorus) 4"
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirins) 1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)            1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolia)         1 gallon

Spotted Bee Balm

(Monarda punctata)

              4"
  Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)        6" &  1 gallon                        3 gallon

 

Caterpillar Host Plants

Photo Item Size
    Camphor Tree    (Cinnamomum             camphora)                       (for Spicebush      Swallowtails)  4"
Cassia - "Candelabra" (Cassia alata) (for Sulphur butterflies) 6"
           Cassia -                 "Partridge Pea"       (Chamaecrista fasciculata) (for Sulphur butterflies)  4"
           Fennel -                  green or bronze   (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Lead Plant      (Amorpha fruticosa)         (for Silver-spotted            Skipper &                Dogface Sulphur) 1 gallon
Lippia "Frogfruit"        (for Buckeye and Phaon Crescent) 4"
Milkweed: Aquatic- white flower (Asclepias perennis)  (for Monarch) 4"

Milkweed: Swamp-           pink flower              (Asclepias incarnata)         ( for Monarch)

1-quart
Parsley - curled or straight leaf (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata)  (for Gulf Fritillary) 1 gallon
              Senna -                  (Senna corymbosa) (for Sulphur butterflies) 4”, 6" round

 

My "Caroline Dormon, Louisiana Pioneer Woman" article is showcased in the Louisiana Native Plant Society's newsletter! 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabulous line-up of books written by or about Caroline..

 

 

 

 

 

Also read Charlotte Seidenberg's interesting article on "Bear's Foot"!

Click here for link: Check out August newsletter!

 

 

Check out the BugLady's list of available
butterfly nectar and caterpillar
host plants for AUGUST!

Barber Laboratories
504-739-5715
6444 Jefferson Highway in Harahan
(Social distancing outside in backyard)
Monday thru Friday 9:30-5:00

 

 

Butterfly Nectar Plants

Photo Item Size
Bee Balm - white (Monarda)  4", quart, 1 gallon
Blanket Flower - yellow (Gaillardia)                  4"
          Blue Lobelia             (Lobelia siphilitica) 5"
Buttonbush  (Cephalanthus occidentalis) 1 gallon & 3 gallon
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)  4" 

Coneflower (Purple)

(Echinacea)

4"
Coneflower (Yellow) (Rudbeckia hirta) 4"
Crabapple tree   (Malus)  3 gallon
Eupitorium odoratum 1 gallon
Gomphrena "Fireworks" 6" round
Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) 5"
        Indian Pink              (Spigelia marilandica)  6" round
          Ironweed            (Vernonia)  4"
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)  3-gallon
Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus 4"
Mountain Mint - Slender  (Pynanthemum tenuifolium) 1 gallon
        Mountain Mint       Big Leaf (Pynanthemum muticum)  6" round, 1 gallon
        Penstemon:          White Wand (Penstemon tubaeflorus) 4"
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirins) 1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)            1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolia)         1 gallon

Spotted Bee Balm

(Monarda punctata)

              4"
  Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)        6" &  1 gallon                        3 gallon

 

Caterpillar Host Plants

Photo Item Size
    Camphor Tree    (Cinnamomum             camphora)                       (for Spicebush      Swallowtails)  4", 6", 1 gallon
Cassia - "Candelabra" (Cassia alata) (for Sulphur butterflies) 6"
           Cassia -                 "Partridge Pea"       (Chamaecrista fasciculata) (for Sulphur butterflies)  4"
           Fennel -                  green or bronze   (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Lead Plant      (Amorpha fruticosa)         (for Silver-spotted            Skipper &                Dogface Sulphur) 1 gallon
Lippia "Frogfruit"        (for Buckeye and Phaon Crescent) 4"
Milkweed: Aquatic- white flower (Asclepias perennis)  (for Monarch) 4"

Milkweed: Swamp-           pink flower              (Asclepias incarnata)         ( for Monarch)

1-gallon
Parsley - curled or straight leaf (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata)  (for Gulf Fritillary) 1 gallon
              Senna -                  (Senna corymbosa) (for Sulphur butterflies) 4”, 6" round

 

During the recent Louisiana Master Naturalists meeting, I gave my first ZOOM presentation about Caroline Dormon, Louisiana Pioneer Woman! She was a fascinating and inspiring person whose many talents rose her to worldwide fame. Enjoy!

Thank you, LA Master Naturalists, for giving me the opportunity to spread the word about Caroline and her phenomenal accomplishments!                                   For more information about Caroline Dormon, check out the the Briarwood Nature Preserve website:

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Laine Farber, "Nature Nerd"!

My first "social distance interview"

Laine is Host and Producer of an audio exploration of flora and fauna.  Each month Laine and her team of Nature Cadets explore a new plant or animal.    In September you can catch a listen of our interview podcast via three ways:

https://anchor.fm/nature-nerds 

https://m.soundcloud.com/laine-farber

www.naturenerdswithlaine.com

 

GEAUX GROW NATIVES!                                                                                                  These caterpillar host plants will attract more butterflies!

Monarch Aquatic Milkweed
Buckeye Agalinis
Cloudless Sulphur Partridge Pea
Gulf Fritillary (Does NOT sting!) Passion Flower Vine
Giant Swallowtail Hop Tree (Wafer Ash)

 

 

Check out the BugLady's list of available
butterfly nectar and caterpillar
host plants for July!

Plants available July 2020
Barber Laboratories
504-739-5715
6444 Jefferson Highway in Harahan
(Social distancing outside in backyard)
Monday thru Friday 9:30-5:00

 

 

Butterfly Nectar Plants

Photo Item Size
Bee Balm - white (Monarda)  4", quart, 1 gallon
          Blue Lobelia             (Lobelia siphilitica)          6"
Buttonbush  (Cephalanthus occidentalis) 1 gallon & 3 gallon
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)  6 inch
Crabapple tree   (Malus)  3 gallon
Eupitorium odoratum 1 gallon
      Garden Phlox               (Phlox panicullata) Robert Poore 1 gallon
Gomphrena "Fireworks" 6" round
Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) 4"
        Indian Pink              (Spigelia marilandica)  6" round
          Ironweed            (Vernonia)  4"
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)  4"
Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus 4"
Mountain Mint - Slender  (Pynanthemum tenuifolium) Quart, 1 gallon
        Mountain Mint       Big Leaf (Pynanthemum muticum)  6" round, 1 gallon
        Penstemon:          White Wand (Penstemon tubaeflorus) 4"
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirins) 4"
September Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) 4”, 6" & 1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolia) 4 “, 6" & 1 gallon
Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) 4"
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)  6" &  1 gallon & 3 gallon

 

Caterpillar Host Plants

Photo Item Size
    Camphor Tree    (Cinnamomum             camphora)                       (for Spicebush      Swallowtails)  4", 6", 1 gallon
Cassia - "Candelabra" (Cassia alata) (for Sulphur butterflies) 6"
           Cassia -                 "Partridge Pea"       (Chamaecrista fasciculata) (for Sulphur butterflies)  4"
           Fennel -                  green or bronze   (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Lead Plant      (Amorpha fruticosa)         (for Silver-spotted            Skipper &                Dogface Sulphur) 4"
Lippia "Frogfruit"        (for Buckeye and Phaon Crescent) 4"
Milkweed: Aquatic- white flower (Asclepias perennis)  (for Monarch) 4"

Milkweed: Swamp-           pink flower              (Asclepias incarnata)         ( for Monarch)

1-gallon
Parsley - curled or straight leaf (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata)  (for Gulf Fritillary) 1 gallon
              Senna -                  (Senna corymbosa) (for Sulphur butterflies) 4”, 6" round

 

 

Check out the BugLady's list of available
butterfly nectar and caterpillar
host plants for June!

Plants available June 2020
Barber Laboratories
504-739-5715
6444 Jefferson Highway in Harahan
(Social distancing outside in backyard)
Monday thru Friday 9:30-5:00

 

Butterfly Nectar Plants

Item Size
Bee Balm - white (Monarda)  4", quart, 1 gallon
Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) 6"
Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) 1 gallon & 3 gallon
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)  Quart
Clasping coneflower (Dracopis amplexicaulis)  4" pot & 6" round
Crabapple tree (Malus)  3 gallon
Eupitorium odoratum 1 gallon
Garden Phlox (Phlox panicullata) Robert Poore 1 gallon
Gomphrena "Fireworks" 6" round
Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis) 4"
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica)  6" round
Ironweed (Vernonia)  4"
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)  4"
Lemon Bee Balm  (Monarda citriodora)        4"
Mexican Flame Vine (Senecio confusus)  4"
Mistflower  (Conoclinium coelestinum) 4"
Mountain mint: Slender (Pynanthemum tenuifolium) Quart
Mountain Mint - Slender (Pynanthemum tenuifolium) 1 gallon
Mountain Mint - Big Leaf (Pynanthemum muticum)  6" round, 1 gallon
Penstemon: White Wand (Penstemon tubaeflorus) 4"
Seaside Goldenrod (Solidago sempervirins) 4"
September Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) 4”, 6" & 1 gallon
September Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolia) 4 “, 6" & 1 gallon
Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora) 4"
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica)  6" &  1 gallon & 3 gallon

Caterpillar Host Plants

Item Size
Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora) (for Spicebush Swallowtails) 4", 6", 1 gallon
Cassia - "Candelabra" (Cassia alata) (for Sulphur butterflies) 6"
Cassia - "Partridge Pea" (Cassia fasciculata) (for Sulphur butterflies)  4"
Dill (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Fennel - green or bronze (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Lead Plant (Amorpha fruticosa)(for Silver Spotted Skipper & Dogface Sulphur) 4"
Milkweed: Aquatic- white flower (Asclepias perennis) (for Monarch) 4"
Parsley - curled or straight leaf (for Black Swallowtail) 4"
Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata) (for Gulf Fritillary) 1 gallon
Senna - (Senna corymbosa) (for Sulphur butterflies) 4”, 6" round

 

On Sunday, April 19, I visited the Tulane River and Coastal Center garden where the Native Plant Initiative met back in June of 2019. I wanted to see this oasis nestled next to Mardi Gras World and the Mississippi River to see how the plants were liking their home in the downtown concrete jungle.

This native plant smorgasbord garden was sponsored by Tulane Bywater Institute and was planted by Tulane folks assisted by Susan Norris-Davis. She told me, "My connection here is that Mark Davis, my husband, is the current director of the Bywater Institute and he asked me to help install the garden." Here’s a link: bywater.tulane.edu 

Once a week Susan has been volunteering her time to tend this garden and her tender loving care has created a spot for nature's creatures to thrive. Seeing green plants and flowers in an area totally surrounded by buildings and paved streets not only provides sustenance for butterflies and pollinators but also brings smiles to human faces!

This garden is another perfect example of the saying, "Plant it and they will come!" During her weekly visits, Susan has enjoyed seeing Long-tailed Skippers collecting nectar from flowers plus she found a clutch of eggs on the Wisteria vine and a fat Black Swallowtail caterpillar!

During my visit, even though the weather was cloudy and windy, I saw a trio of insects: Lady Long-Tailed Skipper Black Swallowtail Monarch bugs, Groundsel Bugs, and some Honey Bees. However, what really caught my attention was the sea of native Aquatic milkweed sticks with twenty-two fat Monarchs chewing every last leaf.

Long-Tailed Skipper Black Swallowtail Monarch

Insects have found this oasis and are benefiting from its bounty! When adding native plants to your garden, you will be successful growing them if you can replicate the growing conditions these plants use in nature's varying habitats. Seeing these plants in action displayed in public locations also helps gardeners to determine which ones they would like to add to their own gardens as an invitation to enhance their butterfly and pollinator activity.

To see the entire article that I wrote, click here.