Peter's Purple

Monarda aka Bee Balm. This root-hardy perennial (USDA Zone 6a - 9b) will reach at least 5 feet tall and bloom all summer long. Said to be the most mildew resistant variety for all our heat and humidity here in Central Texas. Rich lavender purple flowers for the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and aromatic leaves for you to make tea.

Butterflies are arriving

Snout butterflies arrived by the thousands on Thursday just before this last cool front. They are not very photogenic. Get a better look at the Texas A&M website. Plant is Fragrant Mist Flower (Eupatorium havanense) which blooms here in the fall just in time for the Monarch's arrival.

Snouts as well as other butterflies in this photo. Hopefully you can see them better when you click on the photo.

This guy was enjoying the Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana). Another look at him below.


Monarchs are beginning to appear also. Enjoying the Mexican Orchid Bush (Bauhinia mexicana) which is usually covered with Swallowtail butterflies.

Today they seem to be enjoying the Buddleia.


Hundreds of butterflies on the Gregg's Blue Mist (Eupatorium greggii).

The Swallowtail caterpillars are free

Enough said?

Butterfly report

Our Echinacea (Purple coneflower) is about 3 feet tall and full of blooms. All the butterflies are loving it.

Movies?

This video is for Tim. He is my best critic and the leader of the "The Antique Rose Emporium Blogspot Fan Club".

Tim was disappointed with my blog of the White Mistflower taken from my cell phone. I am pleased to hear someone is actually viewing these various ramblings I enter here. But when Tim said he was disappointed with the quality of the video.... I vow to do better!

So I tried the video function of my original Olympus camera and found a subject.... I will tell you this is video competes with ice melting (with ice melting as the winner). The quality is much improved, though!

Thank you. Tim!