25 and counting

A few weeks ago I began a new project garden, inspiration I saw from another garden. That project – identifying plants with garden metal labels.

I have done two different fonts and today completed all 25 labels I received using my cricut machine.

It has been a great project as it has given me the opportunity to take inventory of what I have. The great part, I still have more plants to identify.

I have tried to plant natives in the garden, as they can tolerate whatever weather Southwest Florida throws at them, and they multiple and fill in empty space quite nicely. A good example of this is the blanket flower and coreopsis, otherwise known as tickseed.

Here are a few of the flowers that have been identified so far.

Blue butterfly bush
Purpletop vervain
Goldenrod
Wild lime
Firebush
Starry rosinweed
Penta
Zinnia
Blanket flower
Fire spike
Spiderwort
Plumbago
Lantana
Almond bush and an atala butterfly.

Rain kissed garden

According to the local news, Southwest Florida is experiencing its greatest drought in 8 years!

It was such a welcome sound to hear the rain coming down this morning, kissing the garden. It did not come down long, but it was an awesome downpour. With the overcast sky, the ground hopefully will stay wet for a while, giving the roots time to soak up the much needed moisture.

Here’s just a few of the butterfly nectar plants.

Zinnia
Penta
Starry rosinweed
Fire bush

The orange-barred sulphur caterpillars were also active on my cassia tree. There are tons yet again munching away.

Garden in bloom

The rain has been consistent in kissing my Southwest Florida garden, helping new flowers bloom, and enticing the butterflies to visit.

Pink lantana slowly opening.
Starry rosinweed.
Starry rosinweed.
White penta

Bloomed

About a month ago I planted the starry rosinweed in our butterfly garden, a plant that had many buds. After an afternoon of Florida rain yesterday, two finally opened wide showing its yellow beauty. This wildflower grows in flatwoods, sandhills and disturbed areas with the flowerheads as large as 2 1/2 inches. Some interesting research stated that the rosinweed has been used for medicinal uses in North America and Europe, one of which was to clean their teeth by chewing on the stem. It’s also a great flower for butterflies and native bees.