Years ago, when we first made the decision to homeschool, one of the first things we did was to plant a butterfly garden. The kids had so much fun choosing plants and seeds, and I let them plant without any particular plan in mind. Every year we add a few more plants, but this year we are really upping our game, hopeful for a bustling butterfly location. Since so many people are becoming aware of the importance in supporting pollinator populations, I thought some simple tips would help you get started.
1. Know your growing zone. If you’ve never gardened before, a simple online search will tell you what the zone is for where you live. Fortunately, many butterfly-friendly plants are hardy across several zones, so you’ll have plenty from which to choose. It is a suggestion because you don’t want to invest your time and energy into a gorgeous plant that really only likes to grow in Florida if you live in Maine.
2. Decide your feelings about native versus non-native plants. Some people have VERY strong opinions on this subject, so be forewarned before you engage in online conversation on this topic. There are many wildflowers and local options if you want to stick with those. My personal thought (which counts for nothing, so feel free to ignore it) is that weather can often cause butterflies to be off course of their usual areas, so I plant a variety of host and nectar plants.
3. Choose both host and nectar plants, as well as some resting spots. What the heck does that mean, you ask? Host plants provide places for butterflies to lay their eggs, and some also give the caterpillars food to eat as they grow. Nectar plants provide the nutrition to the butterflies once they undergo metamorphosis. Resting spots, such as rocks or a small birdbath, provide downtime from flapping those beautiful wings.
Need help deciding? There are so many plants from which to choose, so here are a few of my favorites. I love mixing in herbs with flowers!
Host plants: parsley, dill, fennel, Baptisia
Nectar plants: butterfly bush, purple coneflower, bee balm, black-eyed Susan, sedum, zinnias, yarrow, verbena, lantana, salvia, cleome, common sage
Both: butterfly weed, aster, Angelica, perennial snapdragons, daisies
If you want a more organized butterfly garden, you can find lots of free plans online. For a free printable garden journal, you can find a great one here.
Happy planting! Please send me photos of your wonderful creations!
I had a reason to have a good laugh at myself yesterday, and it really felt wonderful.
For years, I was that person who needed to be in control. In fact, I would often let that keep me from even trying things if I believed I couldn’t get it perfect. Not a fun way to live, right?
That started to change when we added Child #3 to the mix. Her sparkly personality meant I needed to find a way to be more “Fun Mama” than a perfect one. And, no, that doesn’t mean throwing all rules and expectations out the window. I didn’t want to raise tyrants, but I did want to make sure I was soaking up joy with them whenever I could; after all, how many mothers of older kids have told you not to blink, they aren’t little forever?!
Another factor that helped me loosen up was our decision to homeschool. The irony was it was my extensive research that showed me I was going to have to prioritize what I wanted our learning experience to look like. I made a conscious decision (and verified my hubby was on board) that with the focus being on the kids’ education, the house wasn’t going to perfectly clean. This gave us so much freedom to focus on what we loved rather than feeling constantly guilty about the kitchen floor not being mopped regularly. (Not all family members agreed with our decision, but that’s a subject for another day.)
Enter the disaster I made in my kitchen and the laughter that ensued. You see, I had promised my friends that I would make a video of our family’s favorite lemonade recipe. Well, I only had enough ingredients for one take, so when something went wrong, I had to roll with the show. Take and look and see the hilarity that followed.
I didn’t realize how much I needed to laugh at myself under all the current craziness we are experiencing. I hope it at least brought a small to your face. And I have a new favorite saying: What big mess did you make today?
Luscious Lemonade
- Juice from 6 lemons and 1 lime (feel free to add more if you want a stronger citrus taste!)
- ½ cup local raw honey (make sure you use local if you want help with your sneezes)
- 1-2 drops Lavender Vitality
- 8-10 cups ice water, or different amount to taste
Combine lemon and lime juice, honey, and Lavender Vitality in large glass pitcher. Stir well. (If your honey is particularly thick, you may want to heat in a gentle warm water bath before adding to juice.) Add water, stirring again. Taste and enjoy!
