Our Butterfly Garden is at the front of the Arbor, at Teacup Wedding. It was planted in 2000, and has plants that are vital to the life cycle of butterflies found in south-east Michigan. They are very hardy, little-to-no maintenance, mostly drought-tolerant, perennials that are native to our area. The plants – some common, pretty and colorful, others – not so much, provide for the four stages of the butterfly life cycle: egg, larva, pupa and adult. The garden is also beneficial to a variety of birds, Hummingbirds, and other wildlife. You’ll see that the leaves are “lacey” (a pretty way to describe “filled with holes”). We don’t spray insecticides because we want the wildlife to enjoy the plantings!
The purple Spiderwort in full bloom at the front of the butterfly garden. Such a dainty little blossom amidst the tall, thick blades.
I love the color. There are very pretty, pink and white varieties, too. The Spiderwort gets too tall for it’s own good and has to be supported every year. It’s just perfect along a fence line where it can give privacy and can easily be secured when it gets tall. It’s a hardy and beautiful perennial that shoots up at the first sign of spring. Oh, and every year you have more than the year before, for better or worse.
This noisy, little House Wren lives on the Butterfly Garden fence post, surrounded by Dutchman’s Pipe vine.
In and out all day. It stays so busy feeding the babies in the nest! On very hot days, Karla has been known to move a garden umbrella over to the post to shade them. If she could just find an air conditioner small enough . . . Some folks have fairy doors, others have bird houses!
The Bee Balm, Monarda, was planted in 2000 and every year it comes back looking like a little mop-headed alien. Mind you, that’s my description. I’m sure my garden books will describe it in more appropriate botanical terms. We have two colors: Scarlett and Raspberry Wine. The tall, yellow daisy-like flower is False Sunflower, or Heliopsis.These plants will grow to be taller than me very quickly – so that would be over 5’5″. The Butterfly Garden plants are primarily full-sun perennials. They are practically maintenance-free and have come back every year for more than a decade. Each spring we plant just a few annuals, usually Cosmos or Zinnias.
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea, with one of my favorite Daylilies, Little Business, in the background. It’s a dwarf, or compact, long-bloomimg daylily.
Swallowtail butterflies enjoy nectar from the Button Bush. This one is growing in a pot just inside the pond ledge. They like moist soil.
My other favorite Daylily, Stella D’Oro, in front of the Scarlett Monarda. The beautiful purple spike of the Butterfly Bush on the left. False Sunflower and Dutchman’s Pipe in the background. Dutchman’s Pipe, or Pipevine, is the primary food for Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. It has large, heart-shaped foliage and provides great fence coverage, but must be managed in a garden with close plantings like this. It is so hardy that it will reach out to grow on everything – and strangle it with love!
In the past, I avoided petunias. They are so easily bruised by heavy rain, and the maintenance of dead-heading everyday made them too “high-maintenance” for me! Well this year, I had a change of heart. I saw these white petunias and decided to use them in all the hanging baskets and planters in the garden arbor. Such classic, lovely garden flowers.
The morning sun, and afternoon shade, at the east entry is perfect for the Hosta, Ferns, and Irish moss growing along the stone path.
Nemesia, an airy little flower, seems to thrive in these conditions, too. This delicate plant looks beautiful all season, from early spring long until frost. That’s a bonus when you live in Michigan. It can get a little leggy, so the Impatiens fill in nicely.
About 4 years ago these berries came up on the fence at the end of the drive. I thought that they were likely brought in by the birds, so other than picking and eating a few when we walk by, we leave them for the wildlife to enjoy.
Still loving the Lavender. That’s Karla with her new shovel digging Rose Campion. Bright, magenta blooms with soft, sage colored leaves. That plant will grow anywhere – and everywhere! I love to find it growing in the most surprising places, like in the middle of the hot, limestone drive. If not managed it can get out of control. Fortunately, when you find a stray plant, you can easily dig it up and re-plant it, or put it into a pot and give it away! It may be the perfect plant for a sunny, dry location in your yard.
I have wandered from the Butterfly Garden. I’ll end with a bluebird sitting on top of the world . . . the evergreen at the back of the Butterfly Garden! If you’d like a peek at a shady, little, outdoor garden, visit 5347PlymouthRoad.com
Tags: Butterfly Garden, North American Bluebird Society, Teacup Wedding Ann Arbor
I’m just not the type to wear a big fancy dress
