• About
  • Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Disclosure

Garden Experiments

Gardening tips, experiments, product reviews, and stories from my backyard.

  • Plants
    • Vegetables
    • Flowers & Plants
  • Projects & Ideas
  • Wildlife
  • Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Gardens & Butterfly Houses
    • Directory of Butterfly Houses by State
    • Garden Tours
You are here: Home / Archives for Wildlife / Butterflies

Updated on December 22, 2015

December Garden Visitors

Southern Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)

Our December weather has been unusual this year. It took a long time before our first freeze and then we've had a couple of days here and there that were in the 70's. But, as always, after warm winter weather, a bad storm follows. Because of the bouts of warmer temperatures, I've had some fun visitors to my garden that we wouldn't normally see in late fall and early winter. This guy greeted me at my door last night. I left the light above … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Wildlife / butterflies, fall, wildlife, winter

Updated on August 24, 2017

Making a Home for Gulf Fritillary Butterflies in My Garden

These orange, black, and silver-spotted beauties have been in my garden a lot this summer. I've seen Gulf fritillary butterflies (Agraulis vanillae) feeding at the black and blue salvia, the pineapple sage, and some of the other flowers in my garden. Caterpillar Host Plants The hatching of their eggs was announced by the complete de-leafing of my two purple passionflower vines. Now I love the unique flowers purple passionflower vine, but … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies, wildlife

Updated on October 23, 2015

Butterflies from my garden

Gulf Fritillary recently hatched

Many of the flowering plants I grow in my yard attract butterflies by providing food for them or their larvae. It always makes me smile to see a butterfly flitting by or resting on a bloom. My neighbors probably think I'm crazy when they hear me say "hello, beautiful" to the butterflies, but they always seem like fancy ladies visiting my garden. I enjoy seeing them and I hope to attract more each year. These are photos of some of the … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Wildlife / backyard habitat, butterflies

Updated on April 13, 2016

Red Buckeye Flowers For Butterflies, Bees, and Hummingbirds

Red Buckeye Flowers

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) The bright red flowers of this native shrub are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies in early spring. In the southeast, it blooms in late March and early April and you can hear the hummingbirds buzzing around the blooms. The red buckeye always catches my eye when it is blooming. These tall shrubs are usually covered in red blooms. This weekend there was a good hatching of eastern black swallowtails in my … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Shrubs, Trees, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, butterflies, flowers, hummingbirds, native plants, part shade, spring, spring flowers, wildlife

Updated on March 29, 2017

Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies with Bee Balm (Monarda spp)

Purple bee balm

If you’re looking for a native, perennial plant to add to your garden that will be easy to care for, add great color to your garden, and also attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, bee balm (Monarda sp.) is a good choice. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees feed on the nectar of this flower. According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Monarda has a special value to native bees. Bee balm is in the mint family; its leaves are … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, bees, butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds, native plants, part shade, propagation, rooting, Summer, wildflowers

Updated on November 1, 2017

Food Plants for Butterflies and Caterpillars

If you like butterflies, than planting both plants that host the larvae and feed the butterflies are important. These are some of the flowering herbaceous plants (and one vine) suitable for planting in the southeast for the butterflies that we have here. Flowering plants that are host to larvae of the butterfly Flowering plants that provide nectar for butterflies This gulf fritillary butterfly emerged from a cocoon in my yard in 2015. I … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, butterflies, flowers, native plants

Updated on May 30, 2017

The Many Faces of Salvia: Beautiful butterfly and hummingbird attracting flowers

Mexican Salvia – Salvia leucantha

Salvia is definitely one of my favorite garden plant genera. There are just so many choices and they are hardy and the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love them. Here are some of my favorites from my garden. All mentioned are perennial. Mexican salvia - Salvia leucantha These purple and white flowers are fuzzy! Who could ask for more? They get about 3-4 feet tall and are bush-like. Perennial. Tolerant of a variety of soils but does not like … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds

Updated on October 31, 2017

Mexican Salvia – Fall Blooming, Deer & Drought Resistant

Also known as Mexican bush sage, this salvia produces great fall color (purple and white) that attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It looks great mixed in with other flowers for interesting color combinations, or planted in a bunch to create a nice edge or border. Where to Plant Mexican Sage This plant thrives in full sun, but will tolerate some afternoon shade. It gets to be about 3-4 feet tall and just about as wide, so give it … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants / bees, butterflies, fall, full sun, hummingbirds, part shade, plant identification, propagation

Updated on October 23, 2015

Butterfly Bush – Buddleia spp. (Buddleja)

If you're looking for a shrub that will attract hummingbirds and butterflies and also produce very sweet-smelling, attractive flowers, look no further. Butterfly bush really lives up to its name. When it is blooming, I see butterflies on it frequently. Hummingbirds seem to enjoy the nectar as well. Where to Plant a Butterfly Bush Butterfly bushes are hardy in zones 5-10 and need full sun. Once established, they don't require much water (as the … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, plant identification, propagation

Updated on March 29, 2017

Butterfly Weed – Asclepias tuberosa

Butterfly weed

Butterfly weed grows throughout most of the United States and parts of Canada. Like its name suggests, it attracts butterflies and it especially beneficial for monarchs whose larvae feed on the leaves of the plant. It also provides a nice splash of bright orange color for your garden. Butterfly weed is drought tolerant and deer resistant. It can grow in dry soils with little trouble and prefers full sun. Although most native butterfly weed is … [Read more...]

Article by Garden Experiments / Butterflies, Flowers & Plants / backyard habitat, butterflies, flowers, native plants, wildflowers

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Mississippi Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With over 25 years of gardening, I am far from an expert, but I learn from all my experiments. This blog talks about the plants, backyard critters, and more that have made my garden special. Read More

Gardener's Supply Company

Popular Posts

Tags

backyard habitat bees berries bird feeders birds bulbs butterflies compost container garden deer resistant DIY projects fall flowers full sun garden pest gardens herbs how-to hummingbirds indoor plants insects moist soil mulch native plants part shade plant identification projects and ideas propagation propagation. wildflowers raised beds recipes reviews rooting shade shrubs spring spring flowers succulents Summer trees vegetables vines wildflowers wildlife winter

Categories

Plow & Hearth

© Copyright 2021 Garden Experiments · All Rights Reserved ·