Gardening, Home and Nature Thread, May 2

From NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker

These were here when we moved here, 30 years ago. They’ve never thrived but they produce a few flowers every year.

Gorgeous. And it's amazing that it has survived that long. I think that's a bearded iris, but you live in Pacific Coast Iris territory. Here are two photos said to be of 'Chief Sequoia', an iris of this type. The first is from Garden.org, the second from Pcn. You can decide for your self if one of them might be mis-identified.

There are also hybrids between Pacific Coast irises and bearded irises that are easier to grow outside their territory.

And here is a link to the Pacific Coast Iris page from Heritage Irises, based in New Zealand, with links to other iris blogs from around the world. You will note that some Pacific Coast Irises have tan or brown tones.

Edible Gardening/Putting Things By

Kindltot:

I did my first canning for the season. The rhubarb is just getting ready to harvest.

I also bought lids for quite a while, because they were on sale. Fillmore Container has the lids on sale, if you buy regular mouth Superb canning lids, they are $.08 each, if you buy the case.

Great deal! Happy Canning!

Ah, Nature

Plants can sense the sound of rain, a new study finds
Experiments by MIT engineers show rice seeds sprout faster to the sound of rain.

Cheers,
TRex

The next time you find yourself lulled by the patter of rain outside your window, think how that same sprinkle might sound if you were a tiny seed planted directly below a free-falling droplet. Would you still be similarly soothed?

In fact, MIT engineers have found the opposite to be the case: Some seeds may come alive to the sound of rain. In experiments with rice seeds, the team found that the sound of falling droplets effectively shook the seeds out of a dormant state, stimulating them to germinate at a faster rate compared with seeds that were not exposed to the same sound vibrations.

Thanks for passing this along, TRex! Fascinating. Rain sounds at the link.

Puttering

Last week's Hobby Thread featured honey bees, which sort of overlap with the Gardening thread.

But what if, instead of culturing hives of bees, you wanted to start a butterfly house, or volunteer at one, or visit one? Maybe you could hatch some Glasswing Butterflies!

one of the most elegant tricks in nature

the Glasswing butterfly doesn’t just have “clear wings,” it has engineered invisibility at the nanoscale.

Here’s what’s really going on beneath that idea 1/🧵

📹 letmebugyou pic.twitter.com/EL2bauDclp

— Science girl (@sciencegirl) May 1, 2026

This is distinctive - 15 Butterfly Species to Spot on (Almost) Every Continent

7. Glasswing (Greta oto):

The breeding season begins when male butterflies form leks and attempt to attract mates. Males consuming Asteraceae flowers extract pyrrolizidine alkaloids, compounds that enhance their scent to attract females.

This behavior is common among male ithomiine butterflies, including glasswings.

The butterfly species mates polygynously. Males compete fiercely in communal areas, using scent signals derived from pyrrolizidine alkaloids obtained from their diet of toxic plants. These signals are vital for reproductive success and allow males to stand out.

Some male butterflies of other species, like swallowtails, may gather at mud puddles or stream banks for moisture and minerals.

The butterfly species mates polygynously. Males compete fiercely in communal areas, using scent signals derived from pyrrolizidine alkaloids obtained from their diet of toxic plants. These signals are vital for reproductive success and allow males to stand out.

What Do Adult Butterflies Eat?
The adult butterfly feeds on nectar from perennial flowering plants, including various members of the Asteraceae family. Their diet supports high energy demands for long-distance flight, and the secondary chemicals they ingest help reinforce their toxic defense strategy.

Butterflies obtain these chemicals by drinking from toxic plants or even decaying organic matter, depending on availability. While their appearance may suggest fragility, their physiology and diet are well-adapted to the rigors of tropical life.

Where Do Glasswings Live?
Glasswing butterflies are found throughout Costa Rica and other South American countries like Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Their habitat includes humid forests and rainforest edges, often at elevations where other tropical lepidoptera thrive.

Population density differences can occur based on habitat, food availability, and environmental conditions.

Glasswings are arboreal and spend much of their life in the canopy, away from the forest floor. Their preferred host plants include species in the Solanaceae family, where eggs are typically laid.

So it sounds like they get toxic chemicals from two families of plants! And they look so delicate!

Gardens of The Horde

From NorCal Sierra Foothills Lurker

These are some of the wildflowers on our property before Honey weedeats everything.

Just wanted to show you the pond lillies. They’re opening today.

Respectfully,
CrotchetyOldJarhead

Those are wonderful!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend.

If you would like to send photos, stories, links, etc. for the Saturday Gardening Thread, the address is:

ktinthegarden at g mail dot com

Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.

Week in Review

What has changed since last week's thread? Gardening, Home and Nature Thread Apr 25

I closed the comments on that post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.