Butterflies are Always in Style

Painted Lady on Oregano Bloom

Garden trends seem to be less dynamic than hair and clothing fashions. Thank goodness for that. I'll admit I used to perm my hair and wore every top armed with shoulder pads. You know what I'm talking about - the giant pads made of mountains of foam. Back in the 80s women's tops had sewn in pads - the only exception were swim suits. The smart pad inventors even thought of "one pad size fits most shirts" that stayed in place with velcro attached around the other elastic strap that women wore. Around 1995 a friend took me aside and told me straight to my face that the 80s were over and it was time to go shopping immediately. I complied and drove straight to the mall.

Trends in gardening have more staying power.  Succulents, cacti and terrariums are more popular than ever. The interesting shapes, colors and sizes of no fuss air plants (tilandsia) already seem like space age plants so should be around for decades. Gardener interest in heirloom plants and seeds grows every year. Xeriscape, not - zer o scape design that includes low water plants, native plants, and smaller lawn sizes is not only trendy, it's become smart gardening.

Butterflies will never be out of garden fashion and if I could influence anyone's choice of plants, I'd say choose plants that butterflies like for the full growing season. Bonus - many of the butterfly plant choices will be liked by other pollinators.

Steps to Create your own Butterfly Garden

First, make a list of butterflies you've seen in your garden and neighborhood. Try to write down what plants they are visiting too. If you're not seeing many butterflies around you, then you're going to have fun putting in new plants. Get going, fall is a great time to plant and you'll have a head start on next year's butterfly garden.

If you don't know butterfly names, here are some quick local reference links and information -
Butterflies and Moths of Colorado
Butterfly Families

Our colorful flying friends need and want what we want, well mostly - they don't need clothes with shoulder pads. They want food for themselves which means open sunny areas with lots of flowers for nectar - that sweet liquid that provides the energy source they need to get around. Some butterflies even prefer weed plants like dandelions and nettles.
  

Larva stage of Black Swallowtail on our dill

Butterflies also like certain plants to lay their eggs which become become larvae (caterpillar), then a pupa, then the adult - you remember the life stage from grade school. Mild alert - in the larvae stage there will be some eating of the host plant, no big deal - small price to pay for these small wonders.

Butterflies need protection on windy days, which can be provided with tall plants for shelter.  And a bit of water is always appreciated. We put out a shallow clay dish of water with rocks for butterfly perching and ease of sipping. Most days I find bees of some sort taking deep drinks - there's plenty for all!

Learn More

Below are links for nectar and host plants for common butterflies in our area, and other great information about specific butterflies.

Attracting Butterflies to the Garden

Colorado Hairstreak  Colorado State Insect

Painted Lady

Mourning Cloak

Two-tailed Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

MUST visit - Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster, CO  

Here's a video of the large number of Painted Lady Butterflies that were so numerous last fall in the Denver area. They loved this agastache plant, so did Ferris.

We Made it to Fall

Today is the first day of fall, technically called the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. We'll have a perfect balance of twelve hours of sunlight and twelve hours of darkness for about five minutes, then it will be Thanksgiving.

Welcome Fall! In Colorado it usually means mild temperatures in the 60's and sunny days so bright you need a brimmed hat and sunglasses. Trade the sandals for close toed shoes or just add socks. 

If the early squirrel nut burying is any indication of the winter ahead, it might be a doozy. I'm finding holes in the mulch all over the landscape, more so than past years. Enjoy the change.  

Internet Photo from Moonstone Horoscope

Produce Harvest and Storage Tips

It doesn't seem like summer is going to end, but we know it can happen any minute. Take advantage of the extended growing season. Keep harvesting and preserving.

Check out the harvest and storage tip chart below.  Consider signing up for a preservation class this fall, there are many to choose from - Learn to Preserve.

Practically Perfect Plant - Plumbago

From the first peek of bulbs in late winter until the last red maple leaf has dropped in the fall, gardeners often lament over the end of another growing season. Hold on to your tattered garden hat - we're still several weeks away from consistent down jacket days. Let's hope for several light sweater days interspersed with some rain gear - we can use the moisture, better make it gortex, we really need the rain. As we fade to autumn, take a look at what's pretty in bloom so you'll know what to add to your spring plant shopping list or buy it now if you can still find it in a garden center.

The top of my suggested planting list is plumbago, commonly called leadwort or try this mouthful-Ceratostigma plumbaginoides. 

Plumbago, or best described - fairly aggressive (in a good way) groundcover that has just about every perk to make it a practically perfect plant in your landscape. If placed correctly! You know...that whole "right plant, right place" mantra commonly used by gardeners in these parts. 

First let's start with the flowers. Clusters of striking, bright blue flowers that bloom for several weeks beginning anytime in the summer that last well into fall. Plumbago's one last parting gift after bloom is the lush, shiny green leaves that begin a gradual change of red - which is more of a unique maroony/burgundy color that says fall is here, stay a while. 

A boulevard planting of plumbago just starting to bloom in July

The other what/where specs -

Height in the books say 8-12 inches, but when we grew it years ago in a different landscape setting than what we have now, it grew taller - at least 18 inches. It was very happy in the east location. It will grow in all-day dappled shade -  west sun locations are not recommended. Spread is 12-24 inches. If you're wanting a full groundcover look sooner, plant them about 15 inches apart, they will fill in quickly.

Long-lived, zone 5 plumbago requires good soil drainage, no constant wet feet. It grows happily in organic rich soils to poor, gravely soil - not fussy at all. Plants spread by underground rhizomes so put them where they can freely grow. Plumbago are in the plant brute category and may dominate plants grown near them.

Once established plumbago is very water wise and can take drought conditions. Deer, rabbits and pest insects steer clear. Butterflies like them.

Just so you know, you'll get three workhorse seasons out of plumbago - it goes to nothing in the winter after leaf drop and is somewhat slow to emerge in the spring. But don't let that stop you from planting it under trees, shrubs or for erosion control. Use it in rock gardens, cottage gardens and any garden style. It adds class and pretty in blue blooms that complement the sunny, fluorescent indigo fall sky - like they coordinated their ensemble colors for fall back-to-school.

Cut plants back each spring to stimulate new growth and if planting in fall, a light mulch over the winter will give added protection. Older plants may die out over the years, but just remove dead areas, fill in the hole with fresh soil, the gap will be covered quickly.

Plumbago on an east facing slope

Photo from University of Maryland Arboretum by Sam Bahr

September 11

Remembering those who were lost on September 11, 2001.  

'Soaring Spirits' climbing rose is named after those lost in the twin towers.

Read more about the remember me rose series - Memorial Roses.
 

'Soaring Spirits' Climbing Rose

Internet photo from Help Me Find Roses.

Learn to Preserve - Food!

Eating delicious home grown produce is right up there with winning the billion dollar Powerball. I'm not stretching the truth one bit. I've never won at Powerball (or know anyone who has), but have eaten home grown fruits and vegetables that are worth way more than winning a game of chance that you'll probably never win. 

Now that you have all this great produce, what next? You've shared and donated, why not preserve your extras for another homegrown taste experience mid-winter when three feet of snow has just fallen? Preserve the taste of summer with sweet, flavorful peaches. Add backyard grown fresh and vibrant tomato flavor to your signature lasagna dish. Don't stop with just peaches and tomatoes. Many different fruits and vegetables can be preserved, fermented or made in to jams, jellies, salsas and green chile - now we're talking!

Don't know how to can, ferment or pickle or need a refresher? Maybe you're planning on growing more produce next summer to preserve or possibly start a cottage food business and you'd like to know more about the Colorado Cottage Food Act? There's a class for just about everyone on preserving produce - even making sauerkraut!

You've come to the right blog. Below is a list of upcoming food preservation classes along the Front Range.

Click on the linked title and location for fees, times, location and more information. You can register from the link.


September 10 Water Bath Canning - Fort Collins

September 12 Basics of Preserving Food Safely - Loveland

September 12 Preserving the Harvest 2018: Pickling - Pueblo

September 13 Preserve the Season: Salsa - Colorado Springs

September 13 Fall Foodie Classes: Canning & Preserving - Boulder

September 14 Cottage Food Safety Training - Golden

September 15 Preserve the Harvest Fruits: Jams and Jellies - Aurora

September 18 Pressure Canning - Fort Collins

September 21 Cottage Food Safety Training - Centennial 

September 26 Sauerkraut - Golden

September 26 Preserving the Harvest 2018: Fermenting - Pueblo

September 29 Cottage Food Safety Training - Loveland

September 29 Food Preservation on the Plains - Techniques to use Today - Denver 

October 4 Sauerkraut - Centennial

October 10 Food Preservation Technique Class: Fermentation - Colorado Springs 

October 10 Sauerkraut and Fermented Vegetables - Fort Collins

October 10 Preserving the Harvest 2018: Freezing and Dehydrating - Pueblo

October 11 Fall Foodie Classes: Pickling & Fermentation - Boulder

October 13 Preserve the Harvest Vegetables: Pickles and Tomatoes - Aurora

October 17 Pepper Jelly - Golden

October 19 Cottage Food Safety Training - Centennial

October 20 Food Preservation on the Plains - Techniques to use Today - Denver

November 9  Cottage Food Safety Training - Golden 

November 15 Pepper Jelly - Centennial

December 7 - Cottage Food Safety Training - Longmont