I want to draw more bees/butterflies to our vegetable garden
nickjoseph Milwaukee, WI
8 years ago
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nickjoseph Milwaukee, WI
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Will our bees/b'flies/birds be gone a LONG time?
Comments (34)I'm not sure why people are saying she learned from her mistake. She was deceived into the spraying which she had no part of doing. She isn't guilty of anything other than trusting her neighbor. I spray every week with Bayer. I have lots of bees, tons of birds and lots of lizards that eat the insects. Other than bugs I deliberately spray I haven't seen any laying around or dead in blossoms. If I don't spray here I don't have decent roses. I admire your compassion but I grow roses for their beauty and honey they sure ain't beautiful here in bs country without spray. When we are all dead and gone the insects will take back the world. They are very resiliant and adaptable. I'm sure your insect and bird population will have no long term effects of the one spraying in your garden. I know I'm heartless and don't care about the environment but what's the point if the roses look horrible. I may as well save my money and just watch TV. I'm hiding behind my shield now. Nancy...See MoreI think I am ready for some Butterflies, bees and Hummers!
Comments (9)Thank you leafhead, now you are just exhausting me! :-) I am out of room for any thing larger than Marigolds, snapdragons and yes, asters. I cannot decide which asters to get. They recommend Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black' and Aster novi belgii Alert (red), for my area. I did find a great plant list just for the Texas High Plains, so I think I will try their local varieties. They also sell plants, however it is a long drive, but they do have native milkweed, several varieties, I would like to try. Next year I will have time to put in more garden space, as I do away with more lawn, but for now I am full-up! I think I will learn alot this summer, and by next spring I should know more about what is good for me as far as natives, and if I see butterflies I did not expect, I will plant what I can to meet their needs. I am very excited about my first season. I don't think I have a chance of seeing either a Giant or a Tiger Swallowtail. The sulfurs we get are happy with grasses, so I have that covered. I do need Violets! The list never ends.... Thanks again, Debra...See MoreInviting Bees Into the Garden
Comments (14)Mo, I got some seed of Crimson Clover that I need to get outside and scatter around. The bees do adore clover, don't they? I forgot about that one. They also love the dandelions, too, and I let mine grow because not only the bees love them, but the spring migrating Monarchs use them as a nectar plant, too. The bees seem to enjoy the henbit as well, so yes, I have a weedy lot on purpose. We have taken so much away from our little beneficials that I feel like I can give back and sacrifice some lawn weeds for them. These "weeds" bloom before my other plants in early spring so I rely on them for nectar and pollen, and so do the bees and butterflies. I'll be interested in seeing how your Crimson Clover does for you. Please chime in and let us know when it comes up. A median strip over by one of the schools here was devoted to Crimson Clover, and it's always so pretty when it blooms. I hope yours, and mine, do too! I wish I had room for a Chaste Tree, but I don't. I have 3 Rose of Sharons in the back yard, but I never notice the bees on them as much. I can't wait til spring! Susan...See MoreButterfly, Hummingbird and Bee Garden
Comments (12)Great List of plants Debra. Our hummers, butterflies & bees here love my Mexican Sunflower Plants(Tithonia Fiesta Del Sol). I found one that only grows 28-30 inches high) as my husband does not like the Tall Variety that is topping about 6-7 Feet now. I just cut in back about 2 feet on the top. You have to dehead them(so they will keep blooming and watch out for the seed pods as they can really stick your fingers. Leave seed pods along with Coneflower seed pods & chickadee's will devour them in the fall. But they are full sun. We already had this Sage bushes that a lot of people grow here(Denton, Texas). I wish it bloomed all the time(only blooms when it is about to rain). Next year planting Turk's Cap, Gabor Trumpet Vine(Campis radicans "Gabor'), Honeysuckle Vine you already have and planting a Chaste Tree. They seem to really enjoy my Phlox Phlopaniculata "Bright Eyes". We moved here from N.C. about 1 and half years ago. I am finding out that my Full sun plants are not really fun sun here in the Texas heat. Going to also try a Hardy Fuchsia just to see what it does here(it likes part shade to shade.) We are having a time with either mites or white flies taking the plants down in the drought and heat. Can't spray them as I will kill what I am trying to attract. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) did not make it first year here so we planted the "Low and Behold' Variety in a Large Planter. Had to put it on roller & keep moving it in & out of the sun. Going to try and over-winter it in Garage. Just found out today that I am not suppose to plant any plants in a plastic container as that keeps the roots hot so I am repotting it in a Ceramic Container- suppose to keep roots cool or I can try some type of Double-potting method. Our Hosta's did not do that well here like N.C. even after adding peat moss to the garden. We also ran out of areas to plant sun loving plants. In N.C. (S. coccinea) was a big hit along with Foxglove(likes shade) and Spider Flowers(Cleome hassleriana) but it too is sun loving plant .Your Cypress Vine should be a big hit. The hummers are really fueling up for their trip and they will get fat. I did not know that my Pineapple Sage plant would not bloom until October. It was blooming when I bought it & I pinched the top out so it would bush out but the mites attack it. They are looking good now but still no blooms yet. The young hummers are checking us out when we are outside which is always fun. Hummingbirds fly a certain route around houses etc. So be careful when changing parking spots in your driveway/road. I just found out that many kill themselves while running into parked vehicles and storms throw them down or into trees so big canopy of trees are great shelter & shade. We are having to put up window bird decals up. Woodpeckers and baby chickadees pecked our feeders apart this spring when they fledged. It bother me a little but it was kind of funny. I am having to change the feeders twice a day as the solution is getting cloudy when temps. hit 100 degrees or more and I boil it 2 minutes. Thanks again for your great list. Bonnie...See Morenickjoseph Milwaukee, WI
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