Pollinator Buffet

It's been several months since I posted...how does that happen?  Life has been a challenge for so many of us this year and I have taken solace in my garden.  Now that the temperatures have soared into the mid 90's I'm not spending as much time outside, but I'm making sure everything is watered so that when cooler temperatures arrive everything will get it's second wind!    I'm so ready for fall but still enjoying the blooms throughout the garden.  I went to a plant sale in Tulsa for some pollinator and hummingbird plants to specifically set up a little buffet on my patio table for viewing.  

 I love looking out my breakfast room window each morning while enjoying my first
 cup of coffee.   

 I purchased pollinator favorites of purple coneflower, red sage, firecracker cuphea, creme drop phlox, lavender and blue face angelonia.  



It wasn't long before a female Monarch arrived and she did lay eggs on the milkweed out in the garden but I've not seen any caterpillars yet.     

Huge bumble bees visit daily as well as the hummingbirds.  

This red and purple cuphea with it's batface is one of my favorites too.  

 Most of what I purchased are perennials and will be planted out in the garden this fall but until then I have loved my morning view!

Purple Coneflower

Monarch Migration

The monarchs are starting their fall migration and my little pollinator garden is doing it's job.  I was so excited this morning to find the first caterpillar on the milkweed I planted this spring.

This is a variety of swamp milkweed.  In previous years I've only planted tropical milkweed but I prefer the swamp milkweed since it's a perennial.  It's all about making the garden low maintenance and low cost.

 The pollinator garden 

 is behind our home on the neighborhood greenbelt across the street from the lake.   

We have lots of wildlife and we do not use any chemicals in this area. 

This orange trumpet vine is a favorite of bees and hummingbirds.

Sedum Autumn Joy 

is almost in full bloom and a 

monarch favorite during fall migration. 

Sweet clematis vine is just starting to bloom and the bees love this vigorous plant.  It's very easy to grow and can be somewhat invasive but can be kept under control 

with a few early spring prunings.

The blooms are so pretty and smell 

so good!

Hyacinth Bean Vine is another easy to grow vine from seed.  I love the color of the blooms and the hummingbirds do too.  They have been visiting this plant almost daily since it bloomed.  Although this is planted next to my patio so I can enjoy it, I do have one planted on the greenbelt and it's doing 

well in full sun. 

The plants I choose to grow there have to take hot summers and be drought tolerant. 

I do hand water the plants a couple times a week when the temperature is above

 90 degrees and I use leftover grass clippings and mulch to keep the plants 

from drying out too fast.   

Monarch on my privet in the spring.  

They do like privet blooms in May as they

 are migrating north. 

I am hoping to see more monarchs as the migration gets in full swing however the reports this year say the count is low again.

I hope everyone will plant a few milkweeds in the garden each year and eliminate the use of chemicals.  

We all need to do our part to help these wonderful butterflies!