I’ve been in the garden nonstop since last week pulling weeds, trimming plants, laying a new pathway and of course planting new plants before laying mulch down.
Today I targeted a new section of the garden, a path going into the newer portion.
Its always rewarding to get your hands dirty and making your vision come alive, a vision that often times is a fluid approach when it the garden.
This morning after I planted a white zinnia in a pot my daughter painted, a gulf fritillary found the nectar and had quite a feast. The best part, I was not too far away and the butterfly was not bothered by me at all.
I’ve been working pretty much nonstop on the garden for three days. I have to admit, I am in love with what has transpired so far.
I think of my garden in two phases, the first which is closer to my front door and the second which expands the length of my house to the right of my front door.
The first phase looks completely different from what it did when I first planted everything, as I worked from a clean slate. It was only yard at one point.
The only thing that remains is the wishing well my husband built, which now has bromeliads – the only plants that have survived in the space. Believe me, I tried multiple different butterfly plants.
The space around it now has a complete pathway that you can enter from three different points. I have three trees in the space- a bahama cassia and two giant milkweed that are much taller than I. They are pretty impressive. I have sprinkled in many other host plants and nectar plants in this section of the garden. I dug up and replanted many other plants to new spaces, or in pots my daughter has painted over the years.
Although I have experimented with many plants, native is definitely the way to go. And, well, not all plants do well in the direct sunlight.
The second phase is underway this week. I will be trimming plants, replanting, and hopefully add new plants to the space. Also, a new pathway, this one rocks, different from the bricks in the first phase, so we can stroll through this section of the garden.
My favorite part is adding the mulch, as it cleans up the space and definitely adds the finishing touches.
Here’s a zinnia, an all time favorite. A great addition this Earth Day, a butterfly attractor.
A while ago I purchased zinnia seeds from the Dollar Tree and was pleasantly surprised on how easy they were to grow and how many butterflies the flower attracted. After reading up on the zinnia, I found out that there are certain types you should plant in your butterfly garden. That type has yellow disk florets in the center, as the butterfly can sip nectar from this area.
I found a great website, Joyful Butterfly, that sells both plants and seeds. This is where I purchased my last batch of zinnias, zinnia elegans seeds, and they continue to reseed themselves quite a few times, and not in the same spot. They are now volunteering in other areas of the garden. It is definitely a plant that keeps giving.
It’s best if they grow in full sun, and really in any type of soil, as long as it is well drained. I have some in pots, and some in the ground. The one’s in the ground do much better.
One of the things I enjoy about gardening is the trial-and-error aspect of it all. Plant something here, plant something there. Plant this variety, or that. Some thrive, some shrivel up and die. Some give off lots of seeds, while others spread voluntarily. A garden becomes a work of art, as you continue to fill in the spaces and make it a butterfly wonderland.
Recently the plant of success has been the zinnia. This plant is incredibly easy to grow from seed and does not take too long to mature. It’s one that keeps giving, as well. The best part is it is doing well without our daily Florida rain, in the heat, nonetheless. I have found that they do best in the ground, though, and not so well in pots.
By far the best addition to the garden, the ever stunning, visited often, zinnia.
