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9016 Robyn Rd
St Louis MO 63126
Phone: 314-849-6114
Copyright © 2006
The Tom Terrific Company LLC
Don't Be Such a Neatnick
Butterflies Prefer Messy.
Remember Felix and Oscar of the "Odd Couple" movie and TV show? Felix Unger was the neatnick and Oscar was the slob. Which way do most gardeners prefer; neat and tidy or sloppy and messy? Neat and tidy of course. It makes us feel good to see everything all cleaned up, no leaf litter on the ground and no stray twigs lying about. At the Botanical Garden they even strip off the bad looking leaves. The problem is that butterflies use this litter, twigs and leaves to hide in and form their chrysalises. So every time you start tidying up the garden, remember you may be throwing out the butterflies with the trash. If you do start cleaning up, keep a keen eye out for caterpillars and chrysalises.
One way I mitigate my butterfly loss due to cleanup during the spring is to collect my late summer larva and raise them myself. As they turn into chrysalises, I over-winter them in the garage and watch them emerge next spring. Currently I have fifteen Black Swallowtails and two Cloudless Sulphur chrysalises.
Butterflies can even over-winter on the firewood you have piled up outside. So before you throw that log into the fire, you might give it a once over looking for butterflies and chrysalis. I'd even consider creating a brush pile in some corner of the garden where butterflies can overwinter.
Can you see the two hidden chrysalises below?
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