Plan for a 10x12 feet butterfly garden from Better homes and Gardens, www.bhg.com
PLANT LIST
Star flower (Pentas lanceolata): Zones 9–10; annual elsewhere
Creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens ‘Sunbini’): Annual
Mealycup sage (Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’): Zones 7–11 ; annual elsewhere
Sulfur flower (Cosmos sulfureus ‘Little Ladybird’): Annual
Spider flower (Cleome hasslerana ‘Rose Queen’): Annual
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’): Annual
Zinnia elegans ‘Cut and Come Again’: Annual
Zinnia Profusion Series: Annual
French marigold (Tagetes patula ‘Yellow Boy’): Annual
A bee in prepares to sip nectar in my garden.
A zebra swallowtail butterfly feasts on phlox in a sunny border.
The Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation have me in their thrall. Not only have a signed up to make my garden a wildlife habitat, I may take the steps recommended to improve conditions for butterflies and bees. I already participate in the Save the Boxies project, designed to stop the deforestation of the eastern Box Turtle habitat in my neighborhood. Our latest victory was to persuade the mayor to change the town crew's schedule so that no mowing will be done when the boxies are most likely to be on the path of lawn mowers. Next we might try to have the speed limit lowered in our couple of blocks and if we want to be become the most hated people in the corporation we will petition to have all car traffic banned at the local park.
| This, from the Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org Did you know that one out of every third bite of food comes to us thanks to pollinators? From beautiful butterflies to busy bees, it’s clear that pollinators are essential to life on our planet. But, declines in pollinators in North America and around the world pose what could be a significant threat to biodiversity, global food webs and human health. Help pollinators in your neighborhood during National Pollinator Week (June 22-28) by taking one or more of these five simple actions:
Barbara Damrosch included a plan for a butterfly garden in her delightful book, Theme Gardens. Her instructions are useful to experienced gardens and a must for novices. I intend to discuss her garden plans in detail in future posts. |
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