Hello, August!
The butterflies in your flower arrangement remind me that I’ve been seeing lots of butterflies in my yard. I’m especially happy that at least one Monarch is visiting regularly, and hanging out by the milkweed patch that is growing more robust. I hope it’s laying eggs, and that in a few weeks time, I’ll see the caterpillars go into J formation to form the chrysalis.
There are two kinds of milkweed there, swamp and common. The common milkweed plants are transplants given to me by a friend who lives just a few blocks away. Those ones are tuberous, so will spread. They haven’t had blossoms yet this year (transplanted last year), but I hope they will next year. They are huge compared to my swamp milkweeds! I’m thinking of transplanting some of those next spring into the meditation garden area.
I’m considering putting in a butterfly bush over there, too. Yesterday I perused a garden center for ideas. I saw a beautiful raspberry colored crepe Myrtle bush that shouldn’t get more that 4’ high, but it was expensive. Still…a crepe Myrtle would be lovely to have as a late summer bloomer over there.
Today it feels like a Fall day, a little cool. The first time it happens in the season, it always catches me off guard, even if I know it’s been forecasted that way. Even though I’ve been in the Midwest longer than I had lived in the South, it still surprises me, and gets me a little down to know that summer is nearing its end. I may complain, but the truth is, I love the sun and the warmth. My comfort level goes well into the 90’s.
Anyway, hello August and FRiends! Time waits for no man.
We have tons of milkweed on our property and just let it spread.
On the local town newsletter, they’re always encouraging people to grow and plant milkweed. We simply won’t whack it down. That way it spreads on it’s own.
We’ve been working on getting rid of invasives and are starting to see an increase in native flowers - FINALLY!