Lobelia siphilitica If you’ve got a wet spot Great Blue Lobelia (also called the Blue Cardinal Flower) is the plant for you. A native of Pennsylvania Great Blue Lobelia attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and is an exceptional plant for bumble bees and other pollinators we count on. It’s happy in sun or part shade, grows 2′ to 3′ tall and provides blue blooms for late Spring. It’s been around a long time. Iroquois used it for a cough medicine. The Meskwaki…
We have Monarch Caterpillars on our milkweed! This is the generation that will fly to Mexico for the winter. More information about the life cycle of the Monarchs can be found at Monarch Watch 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 of the neighborhood. Her hope is that you enjoy her blogs…
I was startled to see this sight on our fence. A friend is known for keeping odd facts in his head and immediately identified the sight as a Cicada Killer Wasp killing a Cicada. Within a few moments the wasp flew off with the cicada! Amazing! Here is a website called “Cicada Mania” if you are interested in learning more Paula Ziegler is a local resident who has a concern for the fate of bees, butterflies and all wildlife…
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…
The best soil is that found in forests. That is because the leaves act as a natural mulch, rich in organic matter which put nutrients back into the soil. The leaves are not raked out of forests and everything decomposes in time. Shredded leaves also make the best mulch for home landscapes. When leaves are shredded, they stay in place and look great, even in my more formal gardens. The natural browns of leaf mulch are much more aesthetically pleasing…