Butterfly Habitat

  Monarch Butterfly Release

Hesitant at First

This is part two from blog post 9/25/2013

 There was a part of me that didn't want to let her go. She had everything she needed in my yard, 40 or more different native plant species and numerous clusters of New England Asters all in full bloom. Her choice: deep purple, rose or burgundy, tall or short, sun or slightly shady. In the spring she would have a selection of seven different milkweed species. We have water and lots of mud puddles. I am sure I could arrange to have a male visit once or twice in June.

Butterfly Gardens

Surprise Monarch Visit

 

Now Where Did it GO???

  Lawn cut check... compost turned check... small  Hugelkultur hole dug check. Bring everything to a screeching halt and spend an hour watching/chasing a Monarch butterfly of course!

  I was on a mission today, it is a family trait, when we get something in our head nothing short of an emergency slows us down. I didn't say it was a healthy trait only one passed from one generation to the next. 

   

  My last task was to check and see if the milkweed seeds were ready to be harvested. As I bent down to inspect them something landed on me; thank goodness I didn't shoo it away, as it was a Monarch Butterfly!

Hummingbird Haven

Dancing To a Hummer's Tune  by Ken & Paula Korber

Hummingbird Perched in Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans)

Much of our gardening efforts today revolve around the anticipated arrival of our favorite summertime visitor, the ruby-throated hummingbird. Anyone who notices one of these amazing birds in their yards can't help wanting him to stay the entire summer, and hopefully, return the following year.