I'd have to say my favorite part of the garden lately has been what I've been calling the butterfly garden. I may have to change it to hummingbird garden since they seem to be much more regular visitors. Either way it has filled in so nicely in just about 4 months. Definitely worth the work it was.
April 26th, just after I finished it.
This was taken today at almost the same place as above. I've tried taking pictures at all different times of the day and finally just accepted that the lighting doesn't show the vibrancy of the colors.
Right in front of the Butterfly Bush.
Everything has just really thrived and done great. Hardly any of these plants were here when I started, so in 4 months they've had a lot of growth.
There are several Sunflowers coming up from the bird feeder that is in this bed.
A close up of a Buddleia alternifolia flower. The scent carries throughout the front yard. I really like how this type of Buddleia grows compared to my B. davidii. This type stays in bloom much longer and doesn't just bloom on top like B. davidii. Hummingbirds love it.
My first year growing Lantana, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm going to plant lots more next year.
Echinacea 'Green Envy'
Echinacea 'Tiki Torch'
Echinacea 'Fragrant Angel'
Zinnia 'Green Envy'
Rose 'Julia Child'
I'm already excited to see how this area will look next year. I'm going to plant bulbs in here, because so many of these flowers are summer bloomers. Then when the lilac blooms it'll have some company.
Wonderful pictures - makes me want to visit!
ReplyDeleteYour yard is beautiful. I love lantana also but I planted 5 of them in an 8X8 foot bed and I am going to have to remove 2 next spring...they are huge. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt really has filled in wonderfully. Very neat on the butterfly bush. I did not even know there was a type other than davidii. This one sounds luscious.
ReplyDeleteCatherine do you fertilize your flowers or do you just have really good soil? Your bed filled in wonderfully.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely garden! Catherine, your efforts have borne rich fruit. I like your buddleiya bush . We don't have hummingbirds here, what a pity.
ReplyDeleteThat lantana photo is great! I like that Green Envy zinnia, too. Hard to believe how much this new bed filled out in 4 months! Thanks again for the blogging help, Catherine!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that butterfly bush! Ours would never ever grow that large in a season before winter came and killed the top off. Everything looks lovely, Catherine! You should feel really good about what you've created there!
ReplyDeleteHow very pretty and full everything is in such a relatively short time Catherine. I especially love the White cone flower. Here in GA we have really good luck with Lantana. I have a plant outside the kitchen window and enjoy the butterflies and hummers that it attracts while I work in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI love the Green Envy & Tiki Torch Echinaceas. Great job....looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteVery nice indeed. Love that butterfly bush! I'm also liking the Green Envy Zinnia. Isnt it amazing how fast a bed can fill in?
ReplyDeleteOh, do you know lantana is easy to root? Just cut little sprigs and stick them in dirt.
Wow! This is great! I loved to grow lantana when I lived in the SE. I haven't grown it much here. I'll try again next year. You have such a nice variety of flowers in your garden!
ReplyDeleteMy butterfly/hummingbird garden is at it's peak now too. I love my lantana and will be attempting to overwinter it in the house during the cold season.
ReplyDeleteI know how your green envy zinnia got it's name: I'm envious and would like a few of my own.
Wow, Catherine! Wonderful flower bed! :-) By the way, have you seen Julie and Julia? It's a great movie and Meryl Streep does a wonderful job as Julia Child! (I saw it last weekend and Really want to see it again.)
ReplyDeleteOh Catherine!!! It is just so beautiful! I wish I could visit in person! great work friend!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful flowers and photos of them. I love the way your garden blends together. I am so jealous of the hummingbirds. I want to see just one this year. My feeder is out of the way and I have to go sit by it to see them, if they are indeed visiting. The nectar goes down quickly so I am assuming they visit but I have yet to see one. I think I will have to start spending all my time out there until I catch a glimpse. Any suggestions for attracting them? I have all the right flowers and a beautiful feeder that I fill and change weekly.
ReplyDeleteSusie - The soil is really good there because when I enlarged it I put all new in and mixed in compost. It really does show how much some good compost helps.
ReplyDeleteMissy - I had no idea it was that easy to root. I wonder if I should start some to bring indoors?
Jill - I might try rooting some to bring inside since I love the color. It was kind of expensive so overwintering might be a good thing to try.
Shady - I haven't seen it yet, but really want to. I've only heard good things about the movie.
Teresa - I just plant lots of things the hummingbirds like. The most popular thing during the summer was Monarda 'Jacob Cline' now it's the Cardinal flower. In spring it was a pink flowering currant bush. I'm always planting lots of flowers they like and that seems to keep them here year round. They also love the hardy fuchsia.
Hi Catherine~~ Beautiful border. Your plants look healthy and happy. Isn't it funny how we're already planning changes we'll make for next year? ... I'm green with envy over 'Green Envy.' Both of them! Actually all of the flowers look great. I can just hear the hummers a humming.
ReplyDeleteI like to see those before and after pictures. And the resoult is magnificent! I relly like what you have done there. And all your Enchineas.. I have to get more of them for my garden. The plant you where asking about at my blog is an Astrantia major. Don't know what you call them in english, but I try to learn so please tell me. I have two different kinds of Astrantias this 'Star of Royal' and a darker red 'Rubra'. They are very easy to grow from seeds, if you feel like trying please let me know and I'll send you some. Have a nice day / gittan
ReplyDeleteA big change in 4 months Catherine. Looks beautiful and healthy. I am focusing on host plants for the caterpillars as well as attracting butterflies..it's amazing to watch....
ReplyDeleteGosh, Catherine, that is so much growth in such a short time. Your buddleia alt. is amazing with the number of colorful blooms. I need to look into that one. With a shrub like that in the area, no wonder you have so many visitors. Your echinacea collection is fabulous! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Lantana is so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have Butterfly Bush envy it's huge and so full.
Love the way your bed is layed out.
Full with a variety of plants/flowers. That's the way I like it !
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ReplyDeleteYou have such a bright and cheerful blog. The zinnia picture took my breath away. You have one of the most amazing gardens I have come across. I'm right here, soaking up all you have on your blog. It's a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do a feature on your water garden too.
http://theurbanbalcony.blogspot.com/
I especially enjoyed the before and after pics of your new bed. So gratifying!
ReplyDeleteIf I was a butterfly (or hummingbird), I'd for sure be hanging out in your yard. I always enjoy before and after photos. Only four months of growing and WOW! BTW, I am a huge fan of lantana.
ReplyDeleteYour new bed is lovely Catherine! It's filled in very nicely in a short time.
ReplyDeleteAttracting butterflies and hummingbirds is the main goal of my gardening. And I couldn't do it without my buddleia! They both love it. I've got to get myself some of that echinacea Green Envy, it's gorgeous! I'm hooked on echinaceas these days.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder the winged ones are coming to your garden in hordes. Look at those Echinaceas - they're so pompous. Isn't it nice to see your plants growing up so bushy right in front of you? Like watching your kids grow in a fast-forward mode!
ReplyDeleteI love the green envy zinnia! The butterfly garden looks great! I bet you have lots of great visitors there all day long.
ReplyDeleteYes, if I was a butterfly or a hummer, I love this garden too! I bet they really put on a show to rival all that color you have going on! Wow!
ReplyDeleteIt turned out fabulously Catherine. I think you have an amazing green thumb tho ~ everything you touch just flourishes. I can't imagine gardening without lantana ~ that's how much I like it. I have it planted in several containers and even overwintered it in one last year. It's pretty hardy ~ I wonder if it would overwinter outside in your garden? That is a good looking butterfly bush too. I have a 'davidii' and a 'honeycomb' both only bloom at the top. Where, oh where could I plant another?!!!! Love that green zinnia. I'm going to have to expand my seed collection next spring!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Buddleia alternifolia would be happy here. Buddleia davidii is quite common, but B. alternifolia seems to have some nice features.
ReplyDeleteLantana is very popular on the island. You can't go very far without running into it.
It's really amazing to see how the butterfly garden has exploded into life.
Wow! That did fill in really well! I love the butterfly bush and never knew there were so many coneflowers!
ReplyDeleteCatherine your butterfly garden has really grown. I love the big butterfly bush.
ReplyDeleteThe green envy and tiki coneflowers are just so different and pretty.The lantana is such a good choice to, it is a butterfly magnet in my garden. My butterfly bush is still a baby and I cannot wait until it is as big as yours.
You have every right to feel proud of your acheivements, Catherine.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that we grow many of the same flowers and Buddleia alternifolia is a great favourite of mine. Sadly, no humming birds in England to feed from the flowers but, with global warming, perhaps one day?
Johnson
Wow - that is a lot of growth for 4 months. Guess you must have done a good job keeping up with the watering during your hot spells.
ReplyDeleteThe bed sure has filled in! No wonder the hummingbirds love it so much, with so many wonderful flowers!
ReplyDeleteLovely garden~~if I were a butterfly I would be happy to live in your garden! I'd be happy to visit it! gail
ReplyDeleteYour butterfly/hummer garden is looking great. I would be very impressed if I were you!
ReplyDeleteCatherine, this is outstanding! Great job and beautiful blooms and foliage! You have such a great eye for design. Love it. And how I appreciate the hard work you put into it!
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