tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064803234973549156.post7709804249681651239..comments2022-05-24T22:59:04.184-07:00Comments on Gardening with Virginia native plants: Filling in the gapsLeah Chockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05138366647580400470noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064803234973549156.post-66820701227982551042013-10-25T12:36:06.690-07:002013-10-25T12:36:06.690-07:00Ah, got it. We were talking about two different t...Ah, got it. We were talking about two different things. I realize that many larvae are specialized to certain host plants. However, my impression is that pollinators/adult forms are a lot less specific about nectar. Thanks for the book recommendation!Leah Chockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05138366647580400470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064803234973549156.post-10988102180909142612013-10-25T05:54:19.028-07:002013-10-25T05:54:19.028-07:00Forgive me if you already know this Leah - with fe...Forgive me if you already know this Leah - with few exceptions, the insects only eat native plants. The insects evolved with the natives over 1,000s of years. They don't even recognize non natives as food. 3 examples of 1,000s: a Monarch butterfly caterpillar, a Tiger swallowtail caterpillar, or a Polyphemus moth caterpillar WILL starve to death if you put it on something other than its native host plant. Must read: "Bringing Nature Home" by Doug Tallamy. He ties all that together scientifically. I'm looking forward to reading of your progress. Best - Halthe Native Plant Neophytehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964345056110233269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064803234973549156.post-77869739808909890222013-10-24T19:40:21.111-07:002013-10-24T19:40:21.111-07:00Yes, it will be interesting to see if my local wil...Yes, it will be interesting to see if my local wildlife can tell which plants are native. I was thrilled about the hummingbirds attracted to the cardinal flowers, but I don't yet have a sense of what the insects prefer.Leah Chockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05138366647580400470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1064803234973549156.post-27116657815446703062013-10-24T06:19:26.865-07:002013-10-24T06:19:26.865-07:00You are going to love comparing the amount of life...You are going to love comparing the amount of life you see on the native plants versus the non natives. It constantly amazes me to see the natives so chock full of all sorts of insects, which, as a major part of the food web, brings in so much more interesting wildlife . the Native Plant Neophytehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964345056110233269noreply@blogger.com