"The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world.”  ― Michael Pollan

July is filled with fireworks, fragrant flowers and flip flops on the beach.  

American Lady

In recognition of July 4, it’s fitting that our Butterfly of the Month is the American Lady. This beautiful, medium-sized butterfly flies year-round in Florida, favoring open habitats such as meadows, sand dunes, and garden edges. In Florida, there are at least three generations per year with some of our Florida butterflies migrating north in the spring. During warmer months, American Ladies can be found in every state in the continental United States.

When American Ladies perch with closed wings, two large eyespots are clearly visible on the bottom wing. (See #1.) Thought to help protect the butterfly from predators, the size and number of these eyespots help distinguish the butterfly from its cousin, the Painted Lady: American Ladies have two large eyespots while Painted Ladies have four small eyespots.  Another characteristic that helps distinguish the American Lady from the Painted Lady can be seen when the butterfly’s wings are open: the American Lady has a small white dot in the large orange field below the dark brown patch that’s at the top outer edge of the butterfly’s wing. (See #2.) Painted Ladies don’t have this dot.

American Ladies lay small, pale green eggs singly on the top of its host plants’ leaves. In our area, host plants include spoonleaf purple everlasting (aka cudweed) (Gamochaeta purpurea) (see #3) and rabbit-tobacco (Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium).

Caterpillars have dark tufts that emerge from the base of thick bands of black with two white dots. These thick bands alternate with bands of thin yellow and black stripes. (See #4.) Caterpillars form nests of leaves, chaff and silk at the tips of flower stalks. They live and feed in these nests.

While we occasionally see them here in downtown Tampa, American Ladies are usually abundant at Goethe State Forest in Dunnellon. There they frequent nectar-rich flowers that include asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), ironweeds (Vernonia spp.), and rattlesnakemaster (Eryngium aquaticum).

Beach morning glory (Ipomeoea imperati) is a 10-20 foot long creeping evergreen vine with showy white flowers that is rarely is more than 6 inches tall. Native to coastal dunes, this plant is a great ground cover for sandy sites with full sun and room to sprawl. The plant tolerates drought and withstands both salty wind and salt spray, making it particularly useful for dune restoration efforts or properties close to salt water.

In our area, beach morning glory has been known to flower from spring to fall, although its peak flowering season is typically mid-summer to fall. With ephemeral, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in the morning and then wilt or close by the afternoon, this lovely plant attracts butterflies, other pollinators, hummingbirds and songbirds. It’s a great addition to beds along walkways or other areas where it can be seen in the morning. Pair it with salt and pepper (Melanthera nivea) and buttonsage lantana (Lantana involucrata) for year-round interest.

Please note: the seeds of beach morning glory have low severity poison characteristics that can cause vomiting and hallucinations if ingested. As a result, it’s a good idea to keep children and pets away from them.

 $10.00 / 1 Gallon

UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

Weekly Summer Day Camps: Ends August 6
Adult and High School-aged volunteers are needed to assist with our nature summer day camp program for children ages 6-10.  This is a great opportunity for high school students to earn community service hours for Bright Future scholarships!  To volunteer, sign up here:  https://volunteersignup.org/4FJKR

Encore! Technology Park:  July 8, 9 am  - 11 am
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation-sponsored butterfly garden at Encore Park! located at 1210 E. Harrison St. (Corner of Harrison Street and Hank Ballard St.)  
To volunteer, sign up here:https://volunteersignup.org/DT34H

TBBF Hell Strip Habitat Maintenance: July 11, 9 am  - 11 am
Volunteers are needed to perform regular maintenance on Butterfly Alley (4110 W. Estrella St.) to help keep this area looking beautiful as the habitat establishes itself.  
To volunteer, sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/PETBB

Encore! Technology Park:  July 27, 9 am  - 11 am
Volunteers are needed to help maintain the Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation-sponsored butterfly garden at Encore Park! located at 1210 E. Harrison St. (Corner of Harrison Street and Hank Ballard St.)  
To volunteer, sign up here:  https://volunteersignup.org/KH9B9

TBBF Hell Strip Habitat Maintenance and planting: July 31, 9 am  - 11 am
Volunteers are needed to perform Hell Strip Habitat maintenance and additional planting to extend the habitat (4110 W. Estrella St.).  To volunteer, sign up here: https://volunteersignup.org/EDT74

ABOUT THE TAMPA BAY BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION:

With a focus on Florida butterfly species and native plants, environmental education and local awareness in the Tampa Bay area, Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation was established to support the conservation of butterflies and pollinators and the restoration of their natural wildlife habitats. By working globally with university research partners, providing educational and research opportunities and community outreach programs, and through multi-faceted fundraising efforts, the Foundation aims to elevate public awareness of the importance of butterflies.

The Tampa Bay Butterfly Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), is an affiliate of the Butterfly Conservatory of Tampa Bay.

July 3: International Plastic Bag-Free Day
July 4: Independence Day
July 6: World Fire Fly Day
July 7: National Koi Fish Day
July 14: Shark Awareness Day, World Orca Day
July 16: World Snake Day - Visit our reptiles on display.

July 24:  National Cousins' Day
July 28: World Nature Conservation Day