NOW IS THE TIME TO PLAN
Spring is now officially here. April is the first full month of spring. Our temperature is warming. As of this writing our soil temperature is warming up as well. As we get farther into April and we warm more consistently then our butterflies will become more noticeable and more active.
NATIVE PLANTS
We pride ourselves with our plant selection. Every year more and more people are asking for and shopping for native plants. So many of these native plants support an assortment of beneficial insects—including our beloved butterflies.
You may be asking yourself “what do butterflies do for our gardens?” Butterflies are not only pleasing to the eyes, but they also make great pollinators for our gardens. Like bees, butterflies also seek nectar from flowers.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO BRINGING BUTTERFLIES TO YOUR GARDENS
- Butterflies are attracted to sunny gardens that get six or more hours of sun.
- Somewhere within these sunny garden you want to provide a source of water. Here is what I do. I use a shallow glazed saucer and place it in my front garden. I fill it up with water. And, most importantly, I have a few rocks in the water. These rocks allow our pollinators to land on something solid within the bowl of water.
- In your pollinator-friendly garden have a few larger shrubs nearby. The pollinators will use these shrubs for protection from wind and rainfall.
- And, please, do not use any pesticides or chemicals.
HERE ARE A FEW RECOMMENDATIONS OF NATIVE FLOWERS TO PLANT
- Asclepias, Milkweed
- Butterfly Weed
- Pycnanthemum Muticum “Blunt Mountain Mint”
- Rudbeckia “Black-eyed Susan”
- Monarda “Bee Balm”
- Echinaecea “Purple Cone Flower”
Enjoy all these beauties and all the wonders of nature.
Happy Spring and remember “PLANT A LITTLE HAPPINESS” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!