Our native plants are attracting many butterflies! The Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’ is by far the favorite plant in our yard of Monarchs, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtails. This past Saturday I made a puddle station where these insects can cool down and get a drink. We followed the easy instructions as shown in the video below. Pick a shady area for your finished puddle. There are many online videos that show how to make a butterfly puddle area. We…
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common Name: Buttonbush This is a shrub that prefers moist soil and can tolerate wet soil. Our Buttonbush is planted in average soil near a birdbath. I empty the birdbath water at the base of the Buttonbush often enough. So far it is doing well. This is a very interesting shrub! The flowers turn into white spheres which attract insects, including butterflies. If you have a wet area to plant in, a grouping of Buttonbush would be attractive…
Asclepias tuberosa Common Name: Butterfly Weed Do you want to add a vibrant orange to your garden? This is another form of milkweed and is beneficial to butterflies. Drought tolerant, this plant is a great addition to the home landscape. Butterfly Weed details here Paula Ziegler is a local resident who has a concern for the fate of bees, butterflies and all wildlife which inspires her to find solutions to creating wildlife habitat gardens that fit into the look…
Asclepias syriaca Common Name: Milkweed Found alongside roads, milkweed was once abundant in fields. This is the plant that monarch caterpillars eat—the only plant that they eat in fact! With the disappearance of fields among other problems, comes the disappearance of monarch butterflies. Can I convince you to add a place for milkweed in your garden? Collect local seeds, move a stray milkweed into your garden or order the seeds online. They really are beautiful plants and yes, we have…