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You are here: Home / Archives for Wildlife / Butterflies

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...]

/ Butterflies, Wildlife / butterflies, fall, wildlife, winter

October 23, 2015

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...]

/ Butterflies / backyard habitat, butterflies, wildlife

September 8, 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...]

/ Butterflies, Wildlife / backyard habitat, butterflies

April 9, 2015

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...]

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

June 16, 2014

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...]

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

March 14, 2014

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...]

/ Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / backyard habitat, butterflies, flowers, native plants

February 6, 2014

Salvia Flowers Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds

Mexican Salvia – Salvia leucantha

Salvia is definitely one of my favorite garden plant genera. There are just so many colors and shapes to choose from when picking a salvia plant. These plants are hardy and the butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds love them. It's a great pollinator plant. Here are some of my favorites from my garden. All salvias mentioned below are perennial in my zone 7b. Mexican salvia - Salvia leucantha These purple and white flowers are fuzzy! Who could ask … [Read more...]

/ Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / butterflies, flowers, full sun, hummingbirds

September 30, 2013

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...]

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

September 10, 2013

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...]

/ Butterflies, Flowers & Plants, Wildlife / birds, butterflies, hummingbirds, plant identification, propagation

August 9, 2013

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...]

/ Butterflies, Flowers & Plants / backyard habitat, butterflies, flowers, native plants, wildflowers

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About Me

Welcome! My name is Kathy and I live in Georgia Zone 7B. Gardening has always relaxed and rooted me (literally!). It's my happy place. With more than 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

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