I have waited all summer for blooms to happen on my Passion Flower Vine, I kept telling myself that the info says they can bloom anytime between June and November.....so maybe November would be my lucky month. The real reason I planted the vine is for the Gulf Fritillary caterpillars and it was definitely a case of plant it and they will come. I spent the last three months watching three generations of momma Gulf Fritillary butterflies depositing eggs on the vines and then their cats munching and growing. Gulf Fritillary Butterfly and Phlox ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) At one point in early August I counted 22 of these cats in various stages of their lives munching happily away at the vine. Fairly large GF caterpillar ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) I had to keep close watch on them since my yard was also being visited by a caterpillar eating Wasp who had already decimated the dozen or so Swallowtail caterpillars on the Dill plants in June. I don't know how many of the GF cats were able to make it all the way thru their life cycle but since the average life span of the butterfly is one month and there were always at least 3 of them in the yard all summer I would guess that maybe 9 escaped the wasps grasp. Next year I plan on going to war against those wasps!! Last week this bloom appeared on the vine... My first Passion Flower Bloom ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) And then this morning this one is in full bloom. Woohoo, I've got two ( photo / image / picture from toni's Garden ) Next year more Passion Flower Vines and some sort of tenting to protect the cats from the wasps.
Congrats on both the blooms and the butterflies! I've been watching my GF caterpillars on the Passion Flower Vine too... would love to see one change into a butterfly right before my eyes!
Frank I think they did appreciate me taking care of them. They would be flitting all around me when I was outside, one almost landed on my hand but suddenly got shy and took off. Cheryl, I have scoured and scoured the dead leaves hanging from the vine to see if they were the chrysalis but never did find one. I'm just happy the wasp didn't get them all.
Toni, Beautiful passiflora! The next time a butterfly is close to you, lick the back of your hand and stay still. They like saliva for some reason, and are more likely to land on you if they can get a bit. When we had daycare children visit our garden in town, we showed them that trick, and we had some very soppy children!
Ohhh, I didn't know that trick marlingardener. I will definitely try it, I still see the GF's out there once in a while.
Stunning passion flower Toni. What a sumptuous colour. The catterpilla looks like it could stand up for itself in a fight...but against a cat eating wasp....EEK!
I'm so pleased the butterflies arrived and made their home with you, Toni. The passion flower bloom is lovely. Here's hoping you'll get to see the chrysalis too.
Toni... I "caught" this GF fluttering about yesterday. It looked so "fresh" maybe it was from my Passion Flower Vine caterpillar too??? (And I looked and couldn't find any chrysalis either.) Gulf Fritillary on Pride of Barbados ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) Gulf Fritillary on Pride of Barbados#2 ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
Whast an interesting posting abpout the caterpillers and the GREAT passieflora success. I have tried to grow that particular passieflora withougt succcess...I guess that our climate is just not suited, no matter how well I protect them. Anyway, a big congratulations for both your successes. It is so nice to see your exotic-looking butterflies.
