Justicia betonica White Shrimp Plant and Purple Porter Weed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Purple Porter Weed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Justicia betonica, White Shrimp Plant

Here is a photo of the perennial Justicia betonica, White Shrimp Plant in my butterfly garden. The plant likes shade or morning sun. It blooms late summer on into the Spring if there are no freezes. It is easily propagated and makes a stunning filler for the garden area. I produced this one from cuttings. It is 2 years old. It bloomed the second year. I have seen hummingbirds and hawk moths nectaring from it.

The purple bloom next to it is coming from the Purple Porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis. The Purple Porterweed is an exceptional nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. It likes dappled shade and grows tall sometimes 4-6' if your soil is rich and you water well. Keep the blooms deadheaded so that the plant will continually produce more nectar for your visitors. the Stachytarpheta comes in coral, red, white and purple colors. You can easily prune both of these plants in early Spring or late summer to encourage greater bloom cycles and reduce the height.

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The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Passiflora caerulea is a host plant for the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae butterfly. The Gulf Fritillary butterfly is native to Texas and can be found fluttering about in the warm Summer sun feeding on floral nectar in your garden. The Passion flower vine is the specific host plant for the female butterfly, Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae . It can be found at plant nurseries state wide. The Passionflower has a beautiful bloom and it is quite astounding in its intricacies. Many artists have delved into its spectacular characteristics. This specific passionflower is a favorite of the Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Healthy offspring, caterpillars (larva) can be reared on this specific vine. The fertilized female Gulf Fritillary butterfly will light upon the tips of new growth or its tendrils to lay her eggs. The eggs are cylindrical in shape and are colored a soft orange. In just about five days the eggs will hatch and an ...

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Commanders Palace

Cemetery across street from Commanders Palace 2008 Commanders Palace 2008 I spent a few years of my adolescence living on Washington Ave. in New Orleans on the same block as Commanders Palace Restaurant which was across the street from a cemetery. We used to play hide and go seek in the cemetery. I can still feel the horror as my brother would jump out of the empty grave sites and scare the living death out of us. Sometimes, I would travel to the Commanders Palace back patio entering through the open rod iron gates and the waiters busy setting the tables for the evening dinner would allow me to help them with the setting and placing the sugar bowls on the tables. The back patio was lush with tropical plantings and laden with ferns. The black iron dinner tables were covered with white linen tablecloths that cascaded to the brick covered floor. Along the perimeter of the walls the bricks were covered with a soft green moss that would glisten @ sunset. The walls held gas lanterns of bla...

Prairie Winds Farm

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