Kaseys Korner

September ebbs away

There is no denying the change in seasons now.

Sunny days are warm but as soon as the sun goes down, 

it cools off very quickly.

I'm still watching my Monarch chrysalis' for any signs of change but so far, no butterflies.

While waiting, I thought we should take a look-see around the garden.

The Arabella table revamped for Fall.

Then tweaked.

 

Japanese Anemone 'Honorine Jobert' beginning to bloom,

 

with 'Rhumba' Chrysanthemums in tow.

Love that the bees love these too.

 

A lone bloom on Clematis 'Jackmanii' ~ infinitely more exciting now than during the peak of its bloom period.

The change in seasons means it's also time to take stock of what will be saved from frost and what will be given up.

Above:  Caryopteris 'Blue Mist'

Below:  Supertunia 'Pretty Much Picasso'

I dread dragging everything into the garage or basement but next Spring (like every Spring), I'll be glad I did.

So full steam ahead with the fall chores, starting with digging the Amaryllis bulbs.....

Plus a little more "playing" with the pumpkins.

What are you up to in the garden???

 

Monarch caterpillar metamorphosis

Yesterday I was witness to a spectacular miracle in nature.

One I'd never had the opportunity to see before ~ the actual transformation of caterpillar to pupa!

If you've been following my blog since I discovered the cats on the milkweed, you know in the last post I had one cat hanging in a "J."  From all I'd been reading about the metamorphosis process, once in a "J," they stay in that position for approx 24 hours before completing the transformation to pupa.  I desperately wanted to see that part of the transformation but I figured it would happen overnight.

I checked on him last thing before bed then even got up at 3:30 AM to see if anything was happening!  To my great relief, in the morning, the caterpillar was still hanging in "J" formation!  I knew then I had a chance!!!  

I found every job possible to do in my backyard so I could be nearby to keep an eye on him.  I peeked at him every five minutes or so.  I'm telling you, it was just short of exhausting but in the end, oh so worth it!!!

It took until 4:40 PM until something began to happen that I could see (although I know there were many things occurring internally that whole time.)  

The first indicator was the straight part of the "J" sort of "scrunching" itself together.

Then the caterpillar dropped out of the "J" position & began to straighten as seen in the photos above & below.

At that point his "skin" split at the bottom (near his head) and the new, bright, jade-green pupae can be seen emerging:

Things progressed rapidly once the transformation started.  It was all over in less than 5 minutes.

The old "skin" split all the way up the length of his body.  When it reached the silk button, it popped off and all that remained was the new green pupa.

I think those are the wings already developing??

As you can see, at first it looks nothing like the Monarch pupa we are familiar with seeing.  

It takes a great bit of twisting & turning to get maneuvered into that shape.

See how the bulk of the newly emerged pupae is at the bottom at first?

Now notice how the undulating begins to change the shape.

The pupa is soft, wet & very vulnerable in this state.  It takes another 24 hours for it to completely harden.

Below:  Finally finished.

Truly, truly a fascinating experience, made better shared with two of my neighbors.  

The only way possible to improve it is if the caterpillar hadn't waited to make the transformation until he was in full sun ~ then I could have gotten better photos!!!  

All kidding aside, it was absolutely remarkable to witness. An experience I will remember forever and a reinforcement that Nature has the ability to create wonder and marvel beyond anything man could ever hope to do. What a blessed day.

Stay tuned for the final stage of metamorphosis ~ that of pupa to butterfly!!!!  You know I will be all over that!

p.s.  There are now (3) Pupa's in my garden & I'm still betting the fourth is out there, I just haven't found it yet... 

 

 

 

Monarch Caterpillar update

As you remember, I ended the last post wondering whether I should bring the caterpillars inside or leave them out on the milkweed.  Well, right or wrong, I decided to leave them where they were.

The next day, I could only find two.  

Today, Sept 17th, there is only one caterpillar left munching on milkweed.  

HOWEVER; after a quick search inside the tuteur (that the milkweed surrounds) I found the second caterpillar hanging in a "J" beginning the pupating process.  If you look closely (and I realize it's a poor photo) you can see the silk thread being generated that the chrysalis will hang by.

He picked an excellent spot.  Had I not been on the ground, looking up, I would never have seen him.  Also, if he'd already made the transformation into a chrysalis, I may have missed him too.  It was the striping that caught my eye.

Once he has finished the transformation, I will try to cut one or two of the Cobaea leaves (around the area he's hanging from) so I can photograph the process better.  I do not want to disturb him in any way tho.  Also, in a few days, when I know his pupa has hardened, I will conduct a (careful) but more thorough search for the other caterpillar chrysalis'.  I am betting they are hanging in there as well.

btw, I am still seeing Monarchs in the garden.

They are really attracted to the Buddleia 'Honeycomb' which is blooming the best it ever has this year.

When I was photographing the above Monarch, I noticed one of his wings was badly tattered.  I feel these are the Monarchs that will be trying to make the journey to Mexico.  I hope he can make it in this shape. 

There is also still an occasional hummingbird in the garden although I have not been patient enough to get one decent photo this year.

Stay tuned for further updates!!!

Meanwhile, I'm beginning to decorate for fall/Halloween even tho it still feels very much like summer.  

I *think* I'm done with the porch:

I decided to give my pumpkin topiary a rest this year!  More to come....

 

Edited 9/18/15:

As of this morning, I've now found 3 out of the 4 caterpillars.  The one that was hanging in a "J" yesterday, has made the transformation to a chrysalis:

Another is spinning the silk right now to hang from and a 3rd one I found totally by accident.  I had searched all around the tuteur looking for more cats/chrysalis' and found nothing.  Finally, discouraged, I sat in one of my little garden chairs & look what was right in front of me!

I hadn't even thought of them crawling up into the iron urn!  This one is hanging (at eye level) from a 'Queen Red Lime' Zinnia leaf planted in the urn!!!  What is that saying??  If it was a snake it would have bit me!

It feels like a gift, being able to watch one so unobstructed & closely.  

I don't know how safe a place it is for him, the others are much more camouflaged,

but it's wonderful for me.

and for YOU because I will be able to document the transformation all the better!!

How much more exciting can it get??!!!!








 

Monarch Caterpillars

In my last post I made mention of the area around the vintage iron urn as looking "weedy."

Guess what?  I no longer care how it appears because look what I found in the milkweed there today:

YES!!!!!  

Monarch Caterpillars!!!!!  

I am beside myself with excitement right now!

I "think* these are 5th instars (but possibly 4th)??  They are approx 1 1/2" long & the white dots on their "feet" are pretty defined.

This is totally WHY I garden.  

Sometimes I start questioning my "messy" English style of gardening & wonder if I should have a more "tidy, controlled-looking" American garden.  But then a discovery and moment like this reaffirms my choice.

I love a beautiful flower but a plant that has a purpose is the absolute ultimate.

Go milkweed! 

Thank you for this reminder that I am on track.

 

Now I'm in a quandary ~ to "harvest" them so they safely pupate or leave them be where they are happily munching away....

 

Angelica gigas

Every time I try a new plant in the garden, that I end up loving, I wonder what took me so long...

Angelica gigas is one such plant.

I love the architectural structure it adds to the back garden.

Beautiful, bold foliage.

Gorgeous, multi-branching, sphere-shaped blooms.

Interesting buds.

Bee magnet.

So many reasons to love this plant.  

It's sold as a biennial which is how it grew in my garden.  Planted last year, blooming this summer. Needless to say, I am letting it seed itself around....

Meanwhile, I'm struggling a bit with the placement of my vintage iron urn.

I had wanted it as a focal point in the same bed as the tuteur, so that it was framed when looking thru the arbor down the garden pathway.  However, surrounded by tall growing milkweed and vines on the tuteur behind it, the contents of the urn (and the urn itself) are somewhat lost and blend too much (for my liking) with their surroundings.

See what I mean??

Some thought will have to go into moving it (or possibly the tuteur?) this winter.  If not moving it, then perhaps the plants around it??  Right now it all looks a "weedy" mess....(but maybe that could be because I haven't spent a lot of time out there this summer)

The contents of the urn are as follows:

(4) 'Queen Red Lime' Zinnias, (1) 'Electric Star' Cordyline, (1) Talinum 'Limon', (1) Crazytunia Mandeville, (1) Phygelius 'Passionate Pink' and (1) Helichrysum petiolare 'Lemon Licorice.'

Photos above & below taken earlier in the season.

Being lucky enough to own an old urn as incredible as this one, I really want it to be showcased.  

I am open to any & all suggestions if you care to share them....

 

 

a warm September evening

= the perfect time to sit outside,

bring out a refreshment tray,

with our current favorite summer dinner ~ tomato, corn tart.  Recipe here, fabulous, fabulous cooking website!!!

serve up a Limoncello Creme

sit back, relax and simply "be" while the action of the garden whirls all around.

Because, as many of you know, where there's a garden, there's definitely action!

The vintage wheelbarrow literally hums with activity.

Sources:  hummingbirds,

 

wasps (eek!)

spiders

Bees,

bees

more bees

and even bunnies...

Sitting amidst the cadence of nature, lulls the soul to peace.  

The perfect way to end a stressful day.

I even finally caught a Moonflower opening!

Beautiful!  

I wish my allergies weren't fully kicked in so that I could actually smell it.  

I'm hoping for many more evenings like this before the season is over.  It's the reason I created the garden, for the "magical" way it brings life to our doorstep....