Fall in Our Gardens & Beyond

by Carol Kagan, Master Gardener

Here's a sampling of plants and more found in MG gardens at home and in the demonstration gardens. Also check out photos from our Fall into Gardening Day.

A Red Spotted Purple on Impatiens (N.Miller)

 Hermit Sphinx Moth: Caterpillars feed on bee balm (Monarda), mints (Mentha), sage (Salvia) and bugleweed (Lycopis). The caterpillars go underground to pupate.

When they emerge as moths, they have a wing span of about 2 1/2 x 3 inches. The moths like deep-throated flowers such as honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), petunia (Petunia spp.) and catalpa (Catalpa spp.). After dark, moths, as well as bats, take over the pollinating night shift.

Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed (J.Kauffman)

Monarch Chrysalis (J.Kauffman)

Monarch at Memorial Park (N.Miller)

Sunflower (B.Petrucci)

Lots of Sunflowers (B.Petrucci)

Fields and fields of sunflowers off Springview Road in Chambersburg.

Sunflowers at Sunset (M.Bowman)

Black Swallowtail Caterpillars (C.Kagan)

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Wooly Bear Caterpillar

Here's a wooly bear caterpillar.  I am often asked what kind of butterfly they become. These caterpillars become a moth – Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella).

Isabella Tiger Moth (S.Bayard)

Legend cites these caterpillars as forecasters of winter weather. The wider the stripe the milder the winter, so goes the folklore. Several years ago local Master Gardeners photographed their caterpillars. Visit the Franklin County Master Gardener blog to see what happened. Has this been proven by scientific fact? See Check out the Michigan State University  page to find out.

Caterpillar (C.Kagan)/ Moth (B.Moul)

What's in your yard or garden?