Julie the ok gardener
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juliejam.bsky.social
Julie the ok gardener
@juliejam.bsky.social
2.9K followers 2.5K following 980 posts
Gardener and reader interested in Oklahoma native plants and the bugs that live with them. I live in the northern Cross Timbers ecoregion, USDA zone 7B.
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juliejam.bsky.social
Well, the sun came out today, but it's cold and quiet except for the wind. This is a video I took of the hummingbirds frolicking in late September. They're always extra frisky when they're about to set out on their southern migration. #birds #hummingbirds #gardening 🌱
November 9, 2025 at 3:57 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
This is an interesting study looking at the availability of nectar flowers for migrating Monarchs in the Great Plains flyway. Make sure to download the appendices if you want the plant lists. #butterflies #nativeplants esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
This is a color-coded figure from the study showing a map of the Plains states broken into a grid of ten squares by latitude and longitude. Green squares have more nectar availability than brown squares. South Texas needs more flowers especially, according to this map and the study conclusions.
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Good morning. Today will be our last sunny day before the first hard freeze tomorrow. This Orange Sulphur was in the garden yesterday, along with the last few Gulf Fritillaries. #Saturdayorange #butterflies #gardening 🌱🦋
Morning sunlight shines through a yellow Orange Sulphur butterfly surrounded by orange cosmos flowers. Colias eurytheme. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
November 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Reposted by Julie the ok gardener
garnetstardust.bsky.social
Another $300 was tacked on today due to Banana's oopsie with her graft coming apart and becoming infected.

The total is a smidgen over $9000 so far.

We also have another $2800 coming for chemo.

A $6000 estimate has turned into almost $11k.

Shares are incredibly appreciated ♡
garnetstardust.bsky.social 》 Garnet Stardust《 @garnetstardust.bsky.social · Sep 30
I have to put my ego down.

I need help. The surgery is more than I thought, and I've already spent $1300.

Both surgeries total $7000.

If not to help me, please help my cat. Please share.

gofund.me/26074824b

#gofundme #cat #helpsky #fundraiser
November 3, 2025 at 3:21 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Weird. I just noticed my Redbud tree has a few flowers and new leaves. I can't remember seeing it flower in fall before. #gardening #nativeplants 🌱
Bare branches of a redbud tree with one small spray of pinkish purple flowers that usually come out in early spring. In the background is a blue autumn sky and a tree that is turning yellow. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a, November 3, 2025.
November 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
I haven't seen any Common Buckeyes for several weeks but this one showed up today. We had frost overnight, but it should be warm for a few more weeks. #butterflies #lepidoptera 🦋 🌱 #gardening
A brown Common Buckeye Butterfly is perched on an orange cosmos flower. It is a dark velvety brown with an assortment of decorations. The top wings have two red bars on each shoulder, and big swirls of ivory near each edge with large eyespots in the middle. The bottom wings each have one large and one medium-sized eyespot with a scalloped band of bright orange underneath. Junonia coenia. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
November 2, 2025 at 10:27 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Here's another annual native that comes up late summer and overwinters, but can be a problem because they get huge and leafy, shading other plants. This fall, I'll be pulling the big ones, and wait for more to come up later. Annual Winecups, Callirhoe leiocarpa. #nativeplants #gardening 🌱
A small Annual Winecups, Callirhoe leiocarpa plant growing in Bermuda grass now. It has lots of rounded palmate leaves on slender stems growing from a central point. They can grow to 3 feet wide if you leave them growing all winter. The Annual Winecups in May. The flowers are deep magenta cup-shaped flowers with white centers. The palmate foliage on the flowering stems is narrow, but abundant. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
November 2, 2025 at 5:54 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
I wasn't sure when you're supposed to plant seeds for these annual Western Daisies, so I saved some and scattered some of them when I collected them this summer. It looks like that was a good time, but I wish I'd spread them out a little more. Astranthium ciliatum. #nativeplants #gardening 🌱
Seedlings of Astranthium ciliatum, Western Daisy. Small rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves, looking a little frosty this morning. AKA Comanche Western Daisy. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a. A clump of Western Daisies in my garden in May. Small white daisies with yellow centers and pale lavender-tipped petals.I got these seeds from the lawn at the dog park, which is why I had no instructions for growing them. I started these in soda bottles outside last winter.
November 2, 2025 at 4:14 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Six on Saturday is the motley crew of native perennials and tropical annuals that are still attracting pollinators to my garden. I try to deadhead them (except the asters) to keep them blooming long enough for the fall Monarch migration. #gardening #insects 🌱
Three rows of six plants, left to right: Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii), Orange Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) and hoverfly, Climbing Petunia (Petunia multiflora) and Cloudless Sulphur butterfly, Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) and furrow bee, Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea), Perfumeballs (Gaillardia suavis) and Yellow-collared Scape Moth. October 31, 2025, Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers, zone 7B.
November 1, 2025 at 2:10 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Have a fun Halloween tonight! The butterflies were back today after a week of cold and rain. #butterflies #lepidoptera 🦋 #butterflyFriday
A small golden brown Huron Sachem skipper butterfly sips on a white aster flower. Atalopedes huron. An Orange Gulf Fritillary butterfly with wings spread in the sunshine on a yellowing passion vine leaf. A large yellow Cloudless Sulphur butterfly with wings folded has its head inside in a velvety magenta petunia.
October 31, 2025 at 9:50 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
The sounds of summer, I'm going to miss them. Two Common Meadow Katydids sitting on a flower stem, from earlier this month. #insectthursday 🌱🦗
October 30, 2025 at 3:08 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Yellow-collared Scape Moth in seasonal attire for #MothMonday on Panicled Aster. They are day-flying moths that range across North America. Cisseps fulvicollis. #moths #nativeplants #lepidoptera
A small black moth feeds on a white aster flower. It has a bright orange "collar" between the head and thorax, and a thin line of orange along the top edge of the wings, but is otherwise black. The wings are a soft brown-black, while the body and head are shiny blue-black. The antennae are long and feathery and constantly moving in every direction. On Panicled Aster, Symphyotrichum lanceolatum. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
I've already posted one with bees and wasps, so here's another #SixonSaturday with butterflies on American Asters. It's cool and rainy today and the forecast is getting colder this week. I hope I don't have to wait until Spring to see them again. #nativeplants #gardening #butterflies 🌱 🦋
Six butterflies on American Asters, Hairy Oldfield Aster and Panicled Aster, Symphyotrichum pilosum and S. lanceolatum. Clockwise from top left: Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia), American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Common Checkered-Skipper (Burnsius communis). Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Some female Sulphur butterflies have an 'Alba' gene that causes them to be white. They also have faster reproductive development than colored females and higher fat stores, which may give them an advantage in colder weather. #butterflies #lepidoptera #insectthursday 🦋
An Alba Sulphur butterfly in profile on an orange cosmos flower. It is a medium-sized yellow butterfly with a small black circle on the top wing and a pink circle on the bottom wing, both filled in with white, and delicate pink edges around both wings. The top wing is white in the center instead of the normal apricot orange. It is difficult to tell by looking at white females, but this is likely an Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme, or possibly a Clouded Sulphur. Extreme closeup of the back of the wings, which are blue-white with a white-spotted charcoal border. The body has pale blue hair on the head shading to pale yellow on the abdomen, and the center of the wings have a flush of yellow. There is a light orange round spot on each lower wing and a black spot on each upper wing. An alba Sulphur female (right) sits next to a typical Orange Sulphur butterfly in the sunlight. They are feeding on orange cosmos and white aster flowers. The Alba Sulphur fluttering her wings on an orange cosmos. It's almost impossible to catch a sulphur with its wings outspread, so you usually have to catch them mid-flutter to see the back of the wings. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
The first Queen Butterfly to visit my garden. Unfortunately, the residents were very rude and kept trying to steal his Perfumeballs. Danaus gilippus and Gaillardia suavis. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants 🦋 🌱
A Queen butterfly seen in profile with wings folded feeding on a round red Perfumeballs flower. It is a large orange butterfly with orange wings with black veins and a black border spotted with white dots, similar to a Monarch. However, the top wing is not veined like a Monarch's, and the veins on the lower wing are outlined in white. The Queen with wings outspread. They are a rich solid chestnut color with a dark brown border that reminds me of charred decoration on wood. The upper wings are lightly spangled with white dots, while the veins on the lower wings resemble frosty branches. There are two large dark scent patches on the lower wings that indicate it is male. Danaus gilippus, Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a. The Queen Butterfly feeds on the Perfumeballs flower with a cheeky little Pearl Crescent butterfly perched on his shoulder. The Queen and a Gulf Fritillary butterfly flutter menacingly at each other from either side of a perfumeballs flower. Luckily I still have two flowers blooming so they were able to reach a truce.
October 20, 2025 at 10:52 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
So I was taking pictures in the garden a few days ago and I accidentally took this, which I think is sunlight coming through my fingers. I like how the little motes look like bubbles and hearts, and there seems to be something peering from the darkness. #magentamonday
A photo of wine-red rays of light slanting down across a black background. There are motes in the light that look magenta bubbles and pink hearts. Deep in the dark center of the photo are two pinpricks of light that look like the reflections from tiny eyes.
October 20, 2025 at 1:29 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Some of the butterflies in the cosmos this afternoon. Gulf Fritillary, Monarchs, and Pipevine Swallowtail. #butterflies #gardening 🦋 🌱 #lepidoptera
A Gulf Fritillary butterfly sits on a bright orange cosmos flower that is mostly hidden by its outspread velvety rust-orange wings, against a deep blue cloudless sky. Agraulis vanillae. Two orange and black Monarch butterflies flutter on tall orange cosmos flowers, pale green and brown roofs and blue sky in the background. There were three in the garden today, but they wouldn't cram together for a photo. Danaus plexippus. A large Pipevine swallowtail butterfly with black satin wings edged in white dots and fine white scallops on an orange cosmos flower. Battus philenor, female.
October 19, 2025 at 10:00 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Goid morning! It rained a lot yesterday and today is cool and sunny. The butterflies are all sleeping in except for this American Lady. #butterflies #gardening 🦋 🌱
An American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) on an orange cosmos, wings held outspread to catch the sun. The butterfly's wings are mostly orange and the body is a satiny tan. The top wings have a pattern of orange tumbling blocks on a black background next to the body with black wing tips dashed and dotted with white, and the lower wings have a row of four blurry small blue eyespots, all bordered by narrow scalloped bands around the edges. The antennae are tipped in white like tiny straight pins. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a. Note: the orange rectangle with a white dot inside near the middle of the top wing distinguishes the American Lady from a Painted Lady.
October 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Lots of Gulf Fritillaries in the garden, enjoying the summery weather. #insectThursday #butterflies #gardening 🌱🦋
October 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
I'm still seeing Monarchs in the garden every day. They usually choose the cosmos but this one preferred the asters today for #tinyflowertuesday. #butterflies #lepidoptera #gardening 🦋🌱
A Monarch butterfly iin the middle of many tiny daisy-like white aster flowers and green foliage. Her wings are partly open, deep orange on top and pale orange below, divided by black veins like stained glass. The body and wing borders are black dotted with white. Danaus plexippus. The Monarch butterfly sits on top of white asters facing the camera, wings upraised in a "V". In the background are long wavy tan strands of white vervain seeds. A Monarch butterfly with wings ouspread, it's body partly hidden by white asters. I think these are Willow Asters, Symphyotrichum praeltum. They were already in the yard in a previously mowed area. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a, October 14, 2025.
October 15, 2025 at 1:56 AM
juliejam.bsky.social
Common Checkered-Skippers on the Frost Aster today. Their caterpillars eat plants in the mallow (Malvaceae) family, probably Swamp Rose Mallow in my garden, where they aren't that common. Burnsius communis. #butterflies #lepidoptera #nativeplants #gardening 🌱🦋
A small butterfly with a white and brownish-blacķ checkered pattern fringed in white sits with wings outspread on a white aster flower. The body of the butterfly is covered in soft, feathery blue fur that extends onto the inner part of the wings. A Common checkered-skipper sits facing the camera with wings out, tongue extended into an aster. The underside of the wings is paler than the top, mostly white with soft charcoal checkering. The face and underside of the body are white with pale blue hair. The eyes are black. Another Common Checkered-Skipper facing down with wings outspread, showing the long feathery blue hair on the back. The Frost Aster is Symphyotrichum pilosum. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 12, 2025 at 9:57 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
A Great Golden Digger Wasp on Frost Aster. Female Sphex wasps paralyze insects like katydids, grasshoppers and grubs, then drag their living prey into underground nests for their larvae. Males don't hunt or sting. Sphex ichneumoneus. #wasps #insectthursday #invertebrates 🌱
A Great Golden Digger Wasp sits on white aster flowers, seen in profile. It is a thread-waisted wasp with tomato-red legs and abdomen, the abdomen tipped in black. The thorax is black covered in a layer of golden hair, which extends to the head. The wings are shiny smoked bronze. The wasp sits facing the camera from atop an aster flower, we see only the face and legs, wrapped around the flower. The face is gray, framed by half-circle black eyes, with drooping antennae coming from a rounded depression on the forehead that is also full of hair. One aster flower is directly above its head. I think its pretty cute for a wasp picture. The wasp and a honeybee feed on a flower cluster while a blurry black jumping spider looks on from a dead leaf in the background. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Good morning! Here are some streetside sunflowers for Sunday Yellow. Helianthus maximiliani is a perennial sunflower of the central plains states. #Sundayyellow #gardening #nativeplants 🌱
A long dense stand of Maximilian Sunflowers growing along a street by some empty lots. In the background are a few rangy trees, power lines and a deep cloudless blue sky. This plant form dense expanding stands that can crowd out other plant species and it can be invasive when introduced outside of its normal range. A closer picture (taken from the window of my car) of the Maximilian Sunflowers. The flowers look like yellow daisies with darker yellow centers arranged densely up and down the stems with slender pointed foliage. Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 5, 2025 at 1:45 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Six pollinators on Frost Aster for Six on Saturday. Also called Hairy Oldfield Aster (I know!), Symphyotrichum pilosum is native to the eastern US. These are just a few pollinators from yesterday. It also attracts lots of skippers and small butterflies. #nativeplants #bees #wasps #sixonsaturday 🌱
Six pollinators on the small white daisy flowers of Frost Aster. Clockwise from top left: Great Golden Digger Wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus), Cellophane Bee (Colletes), Great Black Digger Wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus), Longhorn Bee (Melissodes), Leafcutter Bee (Megachile), Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). Pictures taken October 3, 2025, Oklahoma Northern Crosstimbers ecoregion 29a.
October 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM
juliejam.bsky.social
Native plant sale at Mohawk Park in Tulsa, Saturday Oct. 4: #nativeplants #tulsa #gardening 🌱 www.onpn.org/events-1/onp...
ONPN Plant Sale at Oxley Nature Center — Oklahoma Native Plant Network
Tulsa, are you ready for the first official ONPN native plant sale? Come out to the beautiful Mary K. Oxley Nature Center on October 4th from 10am-2pm for a day of plants and community under the sha...
www.onpn.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM