Butterfly gardens - Gulf Fritillary, Skipper, Monarch, and Cassius Blue

There are now 5 butterfly gardens in Pineneedle. A butterfly garden holds plants that pollinators visit. It's also a garden that birds and beneficial insects visit working harmonically together. These gardens can be whimsical and wild looking or ordered such as the butterfly gardens at Selby Gardens or on the Ringling Museum grounds. Both organizations offer classes to learn more about how to plant butterfly gardens. 

Here are 4 butterflies and flowers they visit in one of the Pineneedle butterfly gardens.

An adult male Fiery Skipper butterfly on purple Mealycup Sage, a salvia.

Monarch Butterly on a Golden Dewdrop Bush.

Milkweed Plant is the Monarch caterpillar's host plant. Find Florida varieties at Sweetbay Nursery or Florida Native Plants Nursery. Image from FNPN.

A Cassius Blue butterfly on a Scorpion Tail plant. Though I purchase Scorpion Tail at Sweetbay Nursery, Native Plants of Florida Nursery carries them, too. A host plant for the Cassius Blue caterpillar is Plumbago. 

Gulf Fritillary on a Passionflower. A posted note shares information with neighbors and reduces unnecessary pesticide. 

Geralee's Staghorn Fern is shared and orchids blooming

Newly installed Staghorn Fern, Live Oak at the entrance to Pineneedle Village

When Dave, a Woodlawn Village neighbor, offered sections of a magnificent Staghorn Fern that adorns a glorious Live Oak next to their unit, Betsy and I went right over. 

(This was three or four weeks ago.) 

While there, brothers Dave and Steve told us the story about their mom Geralee who was a gardener and wildlife advocate who first lived in their unit with their dad: thirty years ago she placed a small Staghorn on a board and hung it on a Live Oak. I also learned that Betty D. in our neighborhood was a good friend of Geralee. Small world.

So, Dave and Steve wanted to share this memory of their mom.

Dave is a resource for information and awareness about nature and Wildewood's habitat. He cut off 4 basal fronds or "pups" and we placed them in a bag.

Then the Grounds Committee brainstormed where to place them. 

Using a tall ladder, Betsy and Jim and Walter and Lois attached them in four different places in our neighborhood. A photograph of one is above along with an invitation that on your next walk, in Where's Waldo? fashion, you look for the others! Have fun. And a huge thank you to Dave and Steve for this generous idea. 

In a similar way three years ago, the Grounds Committee began an Adopt-an-Orchid program. In celebration, honor, or memory of others, orchids are attached to trees as inspired by Selby Gardens. 

Selby Gardens, Photo credit

I just paused to count the orchids (in my memory) in WW2A - 27. 

UPDATE: Betsy and Jim walked around and counted them. There are 34! 

This is a time when many bloom (end of March, early April), though they bloom at various times throughout the year. Here are a few photographs from this week. And, here are links for information about the orchid program HERE and spectacular past blooms HERE.

(Some people ask how to get on a list for Wildewood Wonders. It's easy - sign up in the sidebar, right column when using the website view.)

Adopt an Orchid Program

The WWSIIA Adopt-an-Orchid Program was established by the Grounds Committee in 2017. Residents and others donate in honor or memory of others. Orchids are mounted mostly on oak trees on the WWSIIA property. The first donation was made by Lois and Walter Goodrich in honor of Lois' mother who celebrated her 103rd birthday in October (2017). 

Donor forms are available from the Grounds Committee.

DONOR - Lois and Walter Goodrich
Mary James Risk, 102 years old
Mother of Lois Goodrich
In honor of a loving, caring person and in celebration of aging
On Laurel Oak behind Unit 177.

DONOR - Michaelene Laliberte
David Laliberte
In loving memory of a wonderful and loving Husband, Father and Papa. 
"When someone you love becomes a memory...that memory becomes a treasure."
On Carrotwood Tree behind Unit 165

DONOR - Joe and Theresa Capozzoli
Anne Marie Falcone
"In honor of Anne, and all who have special needs, you are a precious flower among many"
On American Holly tree adjacent to Unit 150

DONOR - Jim and Carol Nelson
The Grounds Committee
In appreciation of the work of the Grounds Committee
(We are so grateful for your gift, Jim and Carol.)
At ground level of Laurel Oak on Pineneedle Drive near road curve.

DONOR - Diane Kirkham
In appreciation of Bob Coomer's Board service
Behind Unit 145 on Sarasota Golden Tree

DONOR - Jim and Betsy Smith

In remembrance of John L. Ricketts and Elizabeth C. Ricketts

Southern Live Oak Tree behind Units 173, 174, 175

DONOR - Bob and Deb Coomer

Jessica Heaton

In memory of our niece Jessica Heaton

Behind Unit 188 on Laurel Oak tree (has not bloomed since Hurricane Irma)

Deb and Bob installed another orchid on the Jatropha tree in the front of Unit 188.

DONOR - Kathy and Fred Stewart

Beloved Family

Installed on Japtropha Tree in front of Unit 168.

DONOR - Walter Goodrich

Clara Goodrich

In memory of Clara Goodrich

On Laurel Oak behind Unit 177, 178, 179. Another, different Dendrobium orchid, yellow bloom, was installed in 2018.

Other Installed Orchids:

White bloom, Dendrobium, in the Berm on a Southern Live Oak. Given by the Board of Directors to Kathy Stewart in honor of her Board service 2010 - 2018.

Four different Dendrobium orchids, a variety of bloom colors - Southern Live Oak on the corner of Pineneedle Drive and Oak Drive.

Dendrobium on Sabal Palm behind Unit 175, 177. (Installed by Smith's, S. Barrett)

Dendrobium, purple bloom, on Umbrella Schefflera Tree in front of Unit 179. (Installed by Smith's.)

Dendrobium on Umbrella Schefflera Tree in front of Unit 180 (installed by Smith's)

Several Dendrobiums, one oncidium - Carrotwood Tree trunk in Pump/Filter Butterfly Garden. Installed as an experiment before the Orchid Program was initiated.

Epidendrum, dendrobium - Carrotwoods opposite Units 180/181 (installed by Smith's, Sandy Chrzanowski).

Orchids donated, yet not installed to date (1/26/19):

By Betty Davis in honor of Betty Davis' husband.

By Susan Michael Barrett in honor of Lori Rullo's generosity.

Thanks to Don Price, orchids are flying high in the trees

Don Price and his partner Beth—bird photographer extraordinaire of Wildewood Springs—enjoy Wildewood Springs with the rest of us. When Terry and I had dinner with them recently, we learned that Don has experience mounting orchids in oak trees. So, dear neighbors, he is the person we thank for climbing the tall ladder to place the orchids you donated.

In between helping Don, Beth found a bluejay feather. In her generous way, she turned to me and said, "Would you like this?" Why yes! I think finding feathers is like receiving a mysterious message. Being given one from a favorite friend is special. Lucky me!