I just took a tour of my butterfly garden and it appears the deer have no fear of the road. They munched on some coral bells, garden phlox, and asters. I guess I need to move those closer to the house or protect them some how. I hate trying to keep up with spraying repellents, too. I saw my first butterfly! It was a Red Admiral that fluttered by a window and landed very briefly on the sunny brick window ledge. Whatever they like must be in my woods, because they are easily my most common butterfly. My Spicebush survived its first winter and is putting out new leaves. I also got new blueberry bushes and raspberry plants in the ground Sunday. I'm expecting delivery of more raspberry and strawberry plants any day, too. I don't know if deer will eat strawberry plants, but I'd better plan to protect them somehow. The liatris ligualistylis is peaking out, and there are some volunteer seedlings, too. It looks like it might be a wonderful summer, Martha

Wow! Very, very cool! Hackberry is a wonderful tree. I know of 5 butterflies that it host. Mourning Cloak, Snout, Hackberry and Tawny Emperors, plus Question Marks. Then, it also makes berries for birds. The Monarchs should be there soon. Two laying eggs in Northern VA on the Journey North sightings.

KAY, I love your BUTTERFLY BENCH AND CHAIR.They are really pretty and I like your bird bath, too. Very Very pretty. I would have to have a very thick cushion on the seat and the back, too, and especially the back of it.I have some bad back problems.I could sit on it fine, just could not lean back on it,but it is so very pretty.Dont look very shady in that spot, unless maybe its only in the sun a few hours a day.I like how it seems to be "Hidden", too.Thank you for posting it to let us all see them. I love that first daylily.Its gorgeous, too.Forgot the name and didnt want to back track :) Jean

You can put newspaper around the base of the OG's and cover the newspaper with mulch. I do that all the time. It kills whatever is growing under the newspaper and the newspaper ink contains zinc which prevents seeds from germinating. After a couple of years, the newspaper will disappear.