Turk’s cap is a perennial, deciduous, shrub-like plant native to the Southeastern United States. It produces small (2-3 inch) red flowers that resemble a closed-up hibiscus. In the Malvaceae family, it is also commonly known as wax mallow, Texas mallow, manzanilla, and sleeping hibiscus, among other common names. This plant flowers in the summer and fall (from May to November) and the flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other … [Read more...]
Bird Feeder Pole – Stops Squirrels From Reaching Seed
Part of the joy of having a garden is watching the wildlife that comes to call. Bird feeders are a great way to attract birds to a specific spot and supplement the native foods and habitat in your yard. For those of us that have plenty of squirrels in the yard, it can be frustrating to see them empty the feeders just about as quickly as you can fill them. Some bird feeders have built-in features to prevent squirrels from reaching the … [Read more...]
Best Hummingbird Feeder: Review of Four Types of Feeders
Watching hummingbirds is one of my favorite past times. Not only do we have a lot of plants that the birds can feed from, but we also hang up several feeders. There are many different types of hummingbird feeders available. The best ones are easy to clean, easy to fill, and are sturdy enough to last several years. I have reviewed four popular feeders, providing the pros and cons of each. I have owned and used each of these feeders for four … [Read more...]
How To Attract Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are so much fun to watch. Their mid-air acrobatics and daredevil combat flying can be very entertaining. We have planted the front yard to include many flowering plants that hummingbirds and butterflies can feed from. We also put up several feeders in the yard and have a bird bath as a water source. Hummingbirds spend many months in the Southeast. In Mississippi, we can expect them in early to mid-March and some may … [Read more...]
A Visit to the Butterfly Conservatory
I recently visited the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy. It is the best butterfly garden I have visited – and I’ve been to quite a few. The butterfly house was stocked full of flowering plants, a large variety of butterfly species (around 50 or 60), and even some really cool tropical birds. [one-half-first] Blue Morpho Butterflies Tiger Longwing Butterfly [/one-half-first] [one-half] Zebra Longwing … [Read more...]