Make Way for Monarchs

Last year I started working on making my gardens

a monarch waystation

(you can read about that here).

I was little discouraged because I didn't really see many monarchs.

Actually, I didn't see any.

But I did see some swallowtails, 

so it was worth the work.

This year was entirely different.

I discovered that I have monarch caterpillars all over my milkweed.

And I also see 5-10 monarchs in the yard at any given time.

Hoping to eventually see a monarch chrysalis or 10

on the milkweed soon.

Garden for Wildlife

May happens to be "Garden for Wildlife" month.

And so, I share with you the beginnings of a wildlife garden. 

I've mentioned before my intent to make my gardens a certified Monarch Waystation

and a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

In between rain showers, 

I managed to get things started.

The back 3 plants are Swamp Milkweed, the 2 in the middle are Tropical Milkweed

and the one in front is sedum which serves as a nectar plant.

More importantly, the sedum was my grandmother's and 

I've managed to have it with me at every place I've lived.

Anyway, it doesn't look like much yet, but I'm almost there.

To be able to have a certified Monarch Waystation, there are some specific things you need to have.

1. Space:  There is no minimum space requirement, but having at least 100 square feet of habitat has been deemed the least amount you need to be effective. 
2. Sun: Your Monarch Waystation needs at least 6 hours of sun per day
3. Host Plants: Milkweed plants are the host plants of Monarchs.  You need to have at least 10 plants comprised of at least 2 types of milkweed or 10+ plants of one variety.
4. Nectar Plants: You need at least 4 annual, biennial or perennial nectar plants that the Monarchs can use as a food source.  You probably already have them in your existing garden.
5. Shelter: Milkweed plants should be planted close together to offer some cover for the Monarchs, their eggs and caterpillars.  
6. Management Plan: This means you have plans to thin out your plants to prevent overcrowding, mulching to conserve water, etc.  Basically the things needed to keep the Waystation in good shape year after year.

I technically have the nectar plants I need, so I'm just 5 milkweed plants short of the 10 required.  

But, I did plant some seed in a planter, 

and I'm awaiting the local nursery's plant shipment this week to get some more Swamp Milkweed. 

 I am also considering ordering either seed or plants of another milkweed variety off the internet. 

To certify your garden as a Wildlife Habitat, there are also a list of requirements

1. Food: You need 3 from their list of Pollen/nectar plants, berries, birdfeeder, squirrel feeder, hummingbird feeder, butterfly feeder, nuts, etc. (I have 2 out of 3)
2. Water: You need 1 from the list of bird bath, water garden/pond, stream or butterfly puddling area. (I have this category covered)
3. Cover: You need 2 from the list of wooded area, ground cover, rock wall or pile, dense shrubs or thicket, evergreens or water garden/pond. (I have 1 out of 2 so far)
4. Places to Raise Young: You need 2 from the list of mature trees, nesting box, host plants for caterpillars, dense shrubs or water garden/pond. (I have 2 out of 2)
5. Sustainability: You need 2 from the list of soil/water conservation, controlling exotic/invasive species or organic practices. (I have 2 out of 2).

While I will be able to get my Monarch Waystation certification this year, 

the Certified Wildlife Habitat might have to wait until next year.

One of the items listed for 3 of the requirements is a water garden/pond.

I plan to install one, but it won't be until next year.

Of course it's possible I fulfill the rest of the requirements without it,

and then I'd probably go ahead and get it certified.

So, if you have some space, 

consider gardening for wildlife.

A Monarch Waystation is simple to do-

if you already have a garden, all you need are the milkweed plants

and they are easily found online or even at your local nursery.

Happy Gardening!

 

Diggin' It

Now that Spring has Sprung,
or at least since it's shown up once or twice in between freezing temps,
snow showers and 60 MPH winds,
Big E and I have been working on the outside of the house.
I was anxious to tackle the areas in front of the garage
where two large piles of bricks had been sitting for who knows how long.
Bermuda grass had grown up through the bricks
and snaked its way into the garage.

 I plan to make the area part of my Monarch Waystation,
which will host Common Milkweed and various plants
popular with pollinators.

 Both sides of the garage housed the brick piles. 
Thankfully they're all gone now.

 This side will also be a part of the butterfly garden.
Not that the butterflys, bees and humingbirds won't have other areas of the garden
to enjoy as I'll be planting things all pollinators love,
 I just wanted to provide a quiet corner without a lot of activity from the family.

 The digging up of the new garden beds is going to be pretty labor intensive.
The area we've outlined so far runs the length of the yard which is about 110 ft.

 We also managed to get all the grass dug out from around the tree.
I have already planted some lilly of the valley and transplanted some of the hostas
Miss Bertha had in one of her gardens.
I'll need to put down some landscape fabric in area
and then it will be time to mulch.

Hoping the weather improves so I can keep getting my hands dirty!

Spring Garden Fever

 Currently, this is what the outside of the house looks like.

And yet, despite, or perhaps, because of it, 

I have a serious case of Spring Fever.

 I'm anxious to start all my outdoor projects, 

most of which are gardening/plant related.

Gardening is my big stress reliever,

and it's been many years since I've had flower gardens

(or potential ones rather)

of my very own.

The digging and planting, the design and enjoying sitting out on the patio

all make me feel relaxed.

And trust me, I need all the stress relief and relaxation I can get.

So now I'm using the last of the winter

to plan out the gardens.

I'm planning things like brick paver patios,

water gardens and flower bed design.

I've also looked into making the property a Monarch Waystation

and having the yard be a National Wildlife Federation certified Wildlife Habitat.

(I encourage others to look into these as well, no matter where you live!

Especially the Monarch Waystation, Monarch Butterflies are declining rapidly and need help!)

I'm also working on a plan for some added curb appeal-

something the house is in desperate need of!

The steps to what was the upstairs apartment will be removed

once we replace the door with a new window.

The front of the concrete porch I plan to spruce up with stone veneer,

and eventually replacing the ugly iron columns and railings with nice white ones.

I also think I'm going to get 3 large containers and plant an evergreen shrub in each one

for the front of the house on the sidewalk.  

Without a front lawn, the house needs something to soften it up.

I'm also thinking about a planting box on the right end of the porch 

so I can plant some type of climbing plant to grow up that side.

I'm thinking perhaps cardinal vine as it's an annual,

has bright red flowers that will attract hummingbirds and match the front door.

When the columns and railings get replaced, I can plan something more permanent.

And I suspect I'll be butting heads with my husband over design ideas.

I have it in my head to have a cottage garden

with English roses spilling over white picket fences

and climbing arbors 

(which will be featured to the right of the house towards the back yard some),

and I'm thinking he's more of the organized plants in a line sort of fellow.

Really, if that's the case, he should just plan to give in now. 

For now, this is the reality of the yard,

and I've been told I can't rip out shrubs until the ground isn't frozen or too muddy.

Guess we'll see about that.