Garden Experiments
For the love of gardening and wildlife habitat
In spring, my cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) is covered by tiny, star-shaped, brilliantly red flowers. Although the flowers are tiny, they really stand out against the light green of the leaves and vine. My favorite part about the cypress vine is its dainty, feather-like leaves. The leaves look so fragile and fairy-like that, even when it …
Continue Reading about Cypress Vine: Delicate, But Aggressive
The orange and black colors of monarch butterflies are well-known and we keep an eye out for them each year. It is common knowledge that these butterflies migrate from their nesting grounds in Mexico into the northern United States and back each year. Did you know other butterflies migrate as well? The most prominent display of migratory …
Continue Reading about Are Monarchs the only Butterflies That Migrate (in North America)?
The obedient plant is native to most of the U.S.. It produces lovely pale purple blooms in the fall when most things are shutting down. It's also easy to dig up and divide. Deer-resistant AND it can grow in clay soil - what's not to love about obedient plants? Like all native plants, it is particularly suited for the growing conditions of its …
Continue Reading about Obedient Plant – Physostegia virginiana
With our purple passionflower vine planted on the trellis at the front of our house, we get to see many hungry caterpillars first fill their bellies and then find a comfy place to create their chrysalises. What Does a Gulf Fritillary Chrysalis Look Like? These chrysalises are strange-looking. They are twisty, kind of bumpy, and …
One of the greatest joys I get out of my garden is watching the insects and wildlife that is attracted to the flowers and plants. I know that some of my plants will be consumed by these critters, but I’m willing to share. This week, I stumbled across this little black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) munching in my carrot patch. These …
Continue Reading about How to Attract and Feed Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterflies
Summer is the time of the year that you’ll see the bright yellow flowers of partridge pea blooming along the side of the road or along streams and ditches. They will continue to flower from late summer to early fall. Creates Food for Pollinators & Wildlife This little plant packs a mighty punch when it comes to benefiting …
Continue Reading about Partridge Pea: Butterfly Host Plant & Pollinator Plant
