Saturday, April 26, 2014

Creating An Inviting Butterfly Garden: 15 Recommended Plants

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Painted Lady Butterflies with Nectar Flowers
Creating a butterfly garden can be fun and rewarding.  For starters, fragrance and color are the two factors that attract butterflies and basically two types of plants are needed; host plants, those that caterpillars feed on, and nectar plants, those that are a food source for adult butterflies.  For example, the host plants for the of the eastern black swallowtail caterpillar are members of the parsley family; especially dill, fennel and carrots while the Monarch caterpillar thrives on Milkweed.  Nectar plants on the other hand include a variety of plants for your garden that will supply a food source and inviting habitat for once the mature butterflies develop.   I have comprised a list of fifteen recommended nectar plants hardy in zones 3-9 with descriptions to guide you in building your own butterfly habitat!
Echinacea purpurea 'Kim's Knee High'(Purple Coneflower)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9 
Height & Width: 18-24"
Growing Conditions: Full Sun in Moist, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: June-September
Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldstrum' (Black-eyed Susan)
Hardiness: Zones 4-9 
Height & Width: 24" Tall & Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun to Partial Shade, Moist Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: July-September
Buddleia Lo & Behold 'Blue Chip' (Dwarf Butterfly Bush)
 Hardiness: Zones 5-9 
Height & Width: 3' Tall and Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Moist Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: Late Summer - Fall (July-September) 
Gaillardia Goblin (Blanket Flower)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Height & Width: 12-18"
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Medium-Dry Soil
Bloom Time: June-Frost 
 Aster 'Woods Purple' (Michaelmas Daisy)
Hardiness:  Zones 3-8
Height & Width:  12" Tall & Wide
Growing Conditions:  Full Sun & Moist Well-Drained soil 
Bloom Time:  Fall (August -September)
Monarda 'Marshall's Delight' (Bee Balm)
 Hardiness: Zones 4-8 
Height & Width: 1-2' High By Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun-Partial Shade, Medium-Moist Soil 
Bloom Time: July-August
Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop)
Hardiness: Zones 4-10 
Height & Width: 5' Tall and 2' Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Moist Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: Late Summer (August-September)
Phlox paniculata (Tall Garden Phlox)
Hardiness: Zones 4-8 
Height & Width: 4' Tall,1' Wide
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: Mid-Summer (June-July)
Nepeta faassenii 'Walkers Low' (Catmint)
 Hardiness: Zones 4-8 
Height & Width: 2' High by 3' Wide
Growing Conditions: Full Sun-Part Shade, Medium Moist, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: April-September
Coreopsis 'Zagreb'
Hardiness: Zones 3-8 
Height & Width: 18-24 " 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: All Summer (June-September)
Salvia nemorosa 'May Night' (Meadow Sage)
Hardiness: 4-9
Height & Width: 18-24"
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: End of May-July
Achillea 'Moonshine' (Yarrow)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
Height & Width: 2-3' High by Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Medium-Dry Soil 
Bloom Time: June-September
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Hardiness: Zones 5-9 
Height & Width: 3-5' High, 2-4 ' Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Medium-Dry Soil 
Bloom Time: July-October
Liatris spicata (Gay Feather)

Hardiness: Zones 3-8 
Height & Width: 2-4' High, 1-2' Wide
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: July-August
Solidago (Goldenrod)
Hardiness: Zones 3-9 
Height & Width: 3' Tall by 3' Wide 
Growing Conditions: Full Sun, Sand/Loam Well-Drained Soil 
Bloom Time: Late Summer-Fall (August-October)
Monarch Butterfly on Buddleia (Photo: Richard Dressner)
All these plants have proven to be effective in luring butterflies to the garden and once your garden is established you will find that you have the same butterfly visitors on a daily basis. If you are looking to develop a full butterfly, wildflower or cottage style garden I would recommend choosing five to seven plants depending on the size of your space and combine both warm hues (reds, oranges, yellows, pinks) with cool hues (blues, purples, lavenders) as companion plants.  Group each of the same plant in masses for impact.  Another option is to choose a few varieties of nectar plants and place them in different locations throughout the garden.

Personally I have a combination of each.  In one section of the property I have several butterfly friendly plants in a cottage style perennial garden.  In other sections I have single focal point and mass groupings of dwarf butterfly bushes along with coreopsis, nepeta and salvia.  Depending on your location you may enjoy many species of beautiful butterfly visitors to your garden such as Swallowtail, Monarch and Painted Lady among others.   Your butterfly habitat can fit into any garden style you choose.  Simply select your favorite combination of host and nectar plants and the butterflies will be sure to come!

Links:  

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day & Foliage Follow-Up April 2014: Color in the Garden!

Spring at last...spring at last!!!  The temperatures are finally moving up into the 50's and even the lower 60's after a long and snowy winter and the bulbs are making their appearance, popping their lovely blooms up from the earth awakening from their dormant sleep. For a while I didn't think they would ever appear, especially after an April Fool's storm (well the day before) that graced us with five inches of snow.   Thankfully the snow melted by the next day and all was right with the garden once again.  It is Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and a good one it is with some color to show in the garden.  Join me for the tour while we take notice of what the month of April has to offer!
Purple Crocus
I must say that spring is my favorite time of year when there is so much anticipation and I await the garden to display its outstanding beauty.  The winter was rough but the cold does indeed help the perennials to be bigger and brighter than ever so I am hoping it will be a good season.
White Crocus
The blooms of crocus are one of the first signs of spring and am glad that I added more bulbs last fall.  I can view them in the perennial garden that can be seen right from my window. I adore the simplicity of the flower and deep purple and pure white blooms.
Purple & White Striped Crocus
The striped variety are enjoyable too!  The flowers close at night and open during day as much to greet the warmer summer rays that are upon them.
Purple Crocus 'Remembrance'
Here is one of the newer clumps I planted out by the pool last year...so purple!
Pink Hyacinth
The pink and purple Hyacinths are emerging as well.  Within the past two weeks winter is becoming a distant memory as tightly bundled buds are unraveling into full blooms.
Purple Hyacinth Bud
Spring has arrived and Mother Nature is catching up on her artwork at last.
Purple Hyacinth Bloom
It is wonderful to be able to walk out into the garden in the morning once again and take note of what is blooming day by day.  Each stroll seems as if seeing the garden all over again for the first time as blooms appear almost over the coarse of a few hours.
Viola 'Johnny Jump Ups"

Besides the blooms in the garden I bought these Violas at the local nursery on opening day.  I think I was one of the first gardeners in the parking lot. With great enthusiasm I stood before rows of brightly colored Violas, Pansies and Daffodils just waiting to be purchased for the back stoop. Upon arrival at home it was evident that the gardening season had begun!
Viola- "Johnny Jump Ups"
  Here we are up close and personal with this "Johnny Jump Up" to admire its beautiful and delicate structure. 
Salix caprea 'Pendula' 
 Salix caprea 'Pendula (Weeping Pussy Willow) is blooming away by the back patio. It seems to be having a banner year and is loaded with catkins just bursting open.
Weeping Pussy Willow
Each day the catkins open a little more to expose the pollen grains.
Pussy Willow Catkin April 
Here is a view taken with my macro lens to show nature's artwork up close. I read somewhere that up to two million pollen grains can be produced on each individual catkin. Now that's a lot of pollen!
Sedum 'Brilliant' April
Along with blooms there is much going on with foliage as well.  Here is my Sedum 'Brilliant' showing its perfectly shaped clusters of pale green rosettes as it emerges in the garden. Even when Sedum isn't flowering its unusual succulent-like foliage is interesting to look at.
Even the elongated foliage of Hyacinth displaying slightly pinkish tips is interesting at this time of year.   Oh how I love spring!
April Blooms:  Daffodils and Johnny Jump Ups
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Buds
 And just in time for April Bloom Day are the pure white blooms of the Star Magnolia...
Magnolia 'Royal Star' Blooms
with the fragrance of sweet perfume that I have so grown to love.

 There is a such a thrill with each passing day as more blooms emerge with an abundance of color and fragrance. I hope you enjoyed your stroll in my April garden. Please visit our hostesses Carol at May Dreams Gardens for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and Pam at Digging for Foliage Follow-Up.  Thank you for the visit and if you leave a note I will know you dropped by to say hello and I will be sure to visit you as well!  Last but not least...may all your gardens bring you everything you wish for!


As Always...Happy Gardening!


Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Landscape Perennials Reference Chart

25 Popular Perennials
When designing an outdoor space perennials are an important component in providing color and interest to your landscape.  The possibilities are countless and there are many varieties to choose from.  For your convenience I have composed this handy reference chart organizing some of the more popular and preferred perennials.   A brief description showing bloom/foliage color, height and bloom time is supplied for each and the numbered descriptions match the photos in a left to right fashion.  Hope you find this information to be useful.

PERENNIAL
BLOOMS/FOLIAGE
HEIGHT
BLOOM TIME
1
Ajuga ‘Burgundy Glow’
Purple
6-8"
May-June
2
Aruncus (Goatsbeard)
Creamy-White
4-5'
June-July
3
Aster ‘Woods’
Purple
12 "
August-October
4
Astilbe ‘Sprite’
Pale Pink
12 "
July-August
5
Astilbe ‘Puple Visions’
Purple
14-16"
May-July
6
Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’
Yellow
15"
June-September
7
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Deep Pink
18-24"
June-September
8
Hemerocallis ‘Sammy Russell’
Orange-Red
28-32 "
July-September
9
Hemerocalis ‘Stella D Oro’ (Daylilly)
Yellow
15"
June-October
10
Gaillardia ‘ Goblin’ (Blanket Flower)
Orange-Yellow
12"
June-August
11
Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ (Coral Bells)
Deep Burgundy Foliage
White Blooms
12-15"
August-September
12
Heuchera ‘Caramel’ (Coral Bells)
Caramel-Colored Foliage, Cream Blooms
10-15"
July-August
13
Geranium ‘Rozanne’
Violet-Blue
20"
June-Frost
14
Hosta ‘Francee Williams’
Green-Yellow Foliage, Lavender Blooms
2-3'
July-August
15
Hosta ‘Patriot’
Green-White Foliage, White Blooms
15-18"
July-August
16
Lilliuim ‘Stargazer’
Pink-White
4'
July-August
17
Lillium ‘Cassablanca’
Pure White
30"
June-July
18
Iris Germanica (Bearded Iris)
Assorted
30-36"
May-September
19
Achillea ‘Moonshine’ (Yarrow)
Sulfur Yellow
18-24"
June-September
20
Liriope ‘Variegata’
Green -Yellow Foliage, Purple Blooms
10-12"
August-September
21
Salvia ‘May Night’
Deep Purple
18"
Late May-July
22
Sedum ‘Brilliant’
Rose Pink
18"
August-September
23
Rudbeckia ‘Goldstrum’
Golden Yellow
24"
July-September
24
Nepeta ‘Walkers Low’
Lavender-Blue
18-24"
June-July
25
Peony ‘Karl Rosenfeld’

© Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening
Magenta
30-36"
May-June

For further information on perennials also visit:

 Best Long Blooming Perennials    


As Always...Happy Gardening! 


 Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.