Great! I just ran across this and see that it is an old post, any new developments with your aviary? Funny because I keep some host plants in the pool cage to protect cats from wasps, etc, and often have butterflies trying to get in!! Of course I have plenty of larval plants outside the screen too so they can find a spot for their eggs. Anyway, nice pics!

Thanks everyone! I found a source for grevillea near me, they are at a nursery where I always admire the abutilon so I'll pick up at least one of those too. I'm always up for adding more salvia, and I've been wanting to get a Meyer Lemon for a while now so onto the list they go! I am in Sunset zone 14, but we get occasional arctic incursions that freeze the more tender plants. I love aloe flowers but we usually get into the teens a couple of times every winter, my neighbor has a hardy banana at it gets frozen to the ground at least once a year. Honeysuckle is another favorite of mine but I already planted a couple of Lonicera ciliosa on the back fence, which is the only place I think is suitable for them in my yard.

I'm much further south than you, but I planted my fennel plants (bronze and green-4 inch pots) in the fall and it's been gorgeous the past 2 months. I'm hoping they'll carry on through the summer and hungry catepillars. I'm going to buy more plants next fall. Through all the heavy frosts we had this winter, they've carried on and look terrific. I haven't been in this location for a full year yet, but my herb/butterfly/hummingbird garden is in a much better location than at our last house. I'm hoping my stellar fennel performance is a preview of what's to come! (If only my chives would get half as big as my fennels!) Bobbi

Thank you. I will look into this "nectaries" thing. Very cool! Thanks again, Julie