TM Overwintered, other pics

12 years ago

I was taking a quick walk through the yard to see how things are growing, especially watching the purple milkweed and butterfly weed shoots emerge, and something caught my eye...sure enough, two tropical milkweed shoots were coming up right where I had two plants last year! I couldn't believe it (I live in zone 6a). They are growing on the east side of my house, protected by it and my neighbors house...but even with our mild winter, I did not expect them to come back in my zone. But hey, I'm not complaining. :-)

Here's a crane fly that was resting on my winterberries. The internet tells me it's a Tiger Crane Fly (Nephrotoma wulpiana). I'll be watching those winterberries for Harris' Three-spot cats this year.

I'm glad to hear everyone's having a good butterfly season. Things should be blooming here real soon!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

MissSherry
12 years ago
Congrats on the returning tropical milkweed! The monarchs will be glad to see it and the purple milkweed, too!

Sherry
christie_sw_mo
12 years ago
Well now I wish I had left mine in the ground. : ( I dug them up and tried to overwinter them in my basement but it didn't work. Who knew we were going to have such a mild winter though. It most likely won't be that warm again but you could try putting a thick layer of straw over them next winter. Since they're more established now, maybe they'll overwinter again.
Related Professionals
Danbury Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Mitchellville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Quincy Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Hilo Landscape Contractors · Ocoee Landscape Contractors · Plainview Landscape Contractors · Pomona Landscape Contractors · Saint Paul Landscape Contractors · Teaneck Landscape Contractors · Winchester Landscape Contractors · Fort Lauderdale Fence Contractors · West Bend Fence Contractors · Boise Window Contractors · San Antonio Window Contractors · Crestwood Window Contractors
Tony G
12 years ago
I saw one of those crane flies laying eggs in the garden a week ago...adorable! I thought it was trying to hide from me initially but it kept reinserting it's little bug behind into the ground. I'd never thought I could think an overgrown mosquito was cute, but you really must see them laying eggs!

I left 3 tropical MW plants in the ground in Minnesota, and mulched them heavily. Call me crazy, but I have high hopes they survived. It gets warm again next week and we've finally been getting good rain. I'll be sure to post if a Minnesota miracle happens! Congrats on your tropical survivors, Tony