The weather has continued to be hot and humid here in central Oklahoma this week. It is cooling down a bit and it seems that it might rain again this week. We did not visit the farm this week and we are planning to go again on the 30th. I will be doing some more vine maintenance, I suppose. The balcony garden is looking better when the weather is cooler in the evening and early morning. Some mushrooms popped up after a short shower under my basil. I saw a beautiful gulf fritillary on my zinnias this week. The zinnias are continuing to be very attractive to the pollinators. I have photographed the gulf fritillary before at the farm. Their host plant is the passionflower vine but the adults eat the nectar of many flowers. They have the same colors as the monarch. Their range is expanding northward due to climate change. I also saw a rather beat up looking hackberry emperor this week. I have been reading a book called Butterfly Gardening this week. I learned that butterflies can withstand significant wing damage from weather, snags on plants, and predators. However, they can usually still survive even with seriously damaged wings. I also learned that butterflies can fly up to 12 or 13 mph. Pretty impressive for such small creatures. I had wondered how they could handle the Oklahoma winds. Apparently, they can use the wind for a ride to travel long distances, such as during migration. The two vitex are growing a lot since transplanting. The bell pepper has sprouted a second pepper. The first one is almost ripe but a bit small and burned from the sun. The red yucca is looking ok but the hollyhock didn’t make it. I have started a few more seeds for the fall, mostly perennial flowers. So far only black eyed Susan has sprouted in this round. Still early yet though. I acquired two new plants this week to take to the farm. The nursery was having a sale so I got a strawberry sundae hydrangea and a whorled milkweed for 27 dollars. It was half off and I was pleased to get such a nice deal. I haven’t tried the whorled milkweed before but the leaves are thinner than other varieties of milkweed I have seen. I have started two more milkweed from seed again, common and showy, but I have not had much luck starting them in the past. Of course, I want to grow some for the monarchs. Fortunately, we already have some of the wild antelope horn milkweed at the farm. I have been busy this week with work so we have been eating rice and beans all week. Always a cheap and delicious meal. I am thinking of making fideo soup next week as well as some pork chops. I have been working on some more torso studies this week as well as butterfly sketches. I am planning to continue to do more butterfly drawings next week.
Lisa Ledbetter 