It’s that time of year when the only good time to work in the garden is very early in the morning, or about an hour before the sun goes down.
There was a male monarch butterfly that followed me around the garden feasting on the nectar of many different colored zinnias. It loved the white and the orange flowers.
The zinnia is a wonderful flower to add to a butterfly garden. Butterflies of every species loves the nectar. The best part is it is among the easiest plants to grow. The best part is it constantly produces more seeds to continue a steady new growth in the garden.
It was rewarding to spend time in the garden, as we both co-existence almost side by side.
With anything that I do, I research until my heart’s content and I find the answers I am seeking. A few years ago, I stumbled upon the North American Butterfly Association, sparking a curiosity and desire to become involved.
I decided to continue to add to my butterfly garden space – more nectar plants, more host plants to attract new species of butterflies, before becoming certified.
My host plants now include – corkystem passionvine, maypop passionvine, Giant milkweed, butterfly milkweed, wild lime, birthwort, Dutchman pipe, bahama cassia, purpletop vervain, coontie, candlestick cassia, dill, frogfruit, Mexican petunia, plumbago, and Virginia pepperweed.
The nectar plants, also continue to grow in assortment. Some of my favorites include blanket flowers, zinnia, sweet almond bush, Mexican sunflower, and firebush.
With a these plants, my garden now extends across the front of my house, from my front door and beyond. There are many plants that have resseded themselves filling in more space around the walkway. The great part – I am still finding spaces to fill in with more new plants.
I am excited to share that my garden sign arrived, as well as my certificate. I now need to make a stake so I can put it in the garden.
I now have a certified butterfly garden. My passion continues to grow, even now, after more than five years of diving into this new passion and continuing to grow my knowledge of how to create the best space for butterflies.
Mexican sunflower Polydamas swallowtail hanging onto a blanket flower. Maypop passionvine, host plant for gulf fritillary. Monarch on a firebush.
Seriosuly, does it get better than this? A monarch caterpillar conversing with a monarch butterfly on a giant milkweed. Nature is the best, butterfly gardens even better.
This morning, we had two monarch butterflies emerge and released into the front garden. Both of them were female, and both fluttered to a different destination among the plants to rest a little longer. One a few times.
We had our first of 2023 monarch butterfly emerge yesterday in our butterfly house. This beautiful male was eager to fly away, making it No. 350 that we have successfully reached since we began this journey.
The great thing is the garden is very active, as well as the butterfly house with many chrysalis and caterpillars.
It is incredibly rewarding to witness the life cycle of the butterfly. The nest part is sharing that passion with not only my daughter, but iur fsmily and friends too.
I am excited to share that 2023 is bringing a new vision for me, one that includes growing many host and nectar plants from seed. I am having huge success with zinnia and dill so far.
