Garden Success Tip of the Week
Gardening for Butterflies: -Get to know your butterflies at www.gardenswithwings.com.
Butterflies love the sun but like to be sheltered from winds. -Add stones and stone walls to rest and enjoy the sun. -Plant evergreens and surrounding vegetation to reduce winds. -Provide a source of water (mud puddles or shallow source of water with stones or sand bars to sit on while drinking). -Grow host plants for butterflies, both for nectar and larvae to feed on. -Hang butterfly feeders/offer sliced fresh fruits. -And by all means, reduce the use of pesticides in your gardens.
Host Plants for Butterfly Nectar: -Butterfly Bush, Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Coneflower, Viola, Black-eyed Susan, Shasta Daisy, Milkweed, Blanket Flower, Butterfly weed, Aster, Coreopsis, Daylily, Hibiscus, Iris, Lavender, Gay Feather, Bee Balm, Catmint, Dianthus, Salvia, Sedum, Veronica, Agastache, Yarrow, Privet, Dogwood, Viburnum, Blackberry, Summersweet, Cherry, Blueberry, Marigold, Zinnia, Cosmos, Dandelion, Sunflower, Verbena, Thistle, Lantana, plus many more!
Host Plants for Butterfly Larvae: -Parsley, Dill, Fennel, Snapdragons, Daisies, Queen Anne’s Lace, Hollyhock, Peas, Sunflower, Hibiscus, Viola, Pentas, Milkweed, Willow, Elm, Hackberry, Black Cherry, Pawpaw, Passion-vine, some Spirea, plus many more!
Gardening for Hummingbirds – Try www.hummingbirds.net to learn more and watch their migration. -Hummers seem to always be looking for food, but they do rest, perch, and build nests. Plant and create a nice environment close by for resting and nesting.
-Use hummingbird feeders. -Garden for hummers when trying to attract and keep them in your yard. No sense of smell, so plant flowers having nectar and great visibility. The red and orange flowers get the most attention. Just like with the butterflies, reduce the use of pesticides in your garden.
Host Plants for Hummingbirds: -Morning Glory, Scarlet Runners, Trumpet vine, Honeysuckle vine, Butterfly bush, Azalea, Bee Balm, Butterfly Weed, Delphinium, Garden Lilies, Hosta, Hibiscus, Salvia, Penstemon, Catmint, Lobelia, Daylily, Coral Bells, Coneflower, Campanula, Columbine, Agastache, Canna, Cardinal Flower, Hollyhock, Foxglove, Pentas, Fuchsia, Impatiens, Petunias, Yucca, Four O’Clocks, Phlox, plus many more!
