A quick visit to The Frog Pond. I've seen a few more Monarchs this year than the last couple of years, but still not like "the olden times". We are working on adding more milk weed areas to the back of our farm and the neighboring farms for next year. I'm super excited about that. We all do too much mowing around here.
When we moved here in 2003, we "landscaped" around the small pond out back. I added quite a few Kentucky native plants and left some of the other "weeds" to fill in between. The single Joe Pye Weed I planted (that this butterfly is feeding on) has spread around almost half of the pond.
It's probably ten feet tall and I can see it from way up on the hill. It's a favorite!
Thistles are a conundrum. Such a pest, but so pretty and everything loves the flowers. I let them stay, but try to keep them a bit under control.
Incoming!
This beautiful butterfly has a beautiful blue body. Hopefully you can see it if you click to biggify.
A weed that feeds :-).
A little puzzle fun. Enjoy!
13 comments:
Beautiful capture !!
Sweet!
I love thistle but what a pain to get thistle bur out of a mean schnauzer (he doesn't care for combing much). So we try to not let him into known areas. But sometimes I forget or I don't see the burs. Beautiful photos of native plants aka weeds...
We had a thistle by the side door that my brother wanted to see how tall it would get - 8ft! And the bees, butterflies and even the hummers loved it. Then it went to seed and those little buggers stuck to everything! Will probably have a yard full next summer. Love your frog pond!
I don't see the puzzle :-(
Did you know that Joe Pye Weed is considered a dye plant, also thistle (although I don't know which variety)?
I didn't know that! Yet another reason to love Joe Pye :-). Not sure why the puzzle jumped ship, but I think it's back now. Sorry about that :-o.
No puzzle for me. LOVE your butterfly plans! We have a few here in WIsconsin right now.
IM enamored with the hummingbirds
74 minutes later...but I was listening to TV at the same time... Joe Pye is a great plant...some little bird uses it to build nests in the Spring. Your butterfly photos are amazing:)
Thank you for all you do to help the butterflies!
Despite other butterflies being seen, I haven't seen a single monarch this year. I'm hoping to plant something next year to attract them. This year was all about learning what already exists in my new garden. I haven't seen any milkweed anywhere near where I live. I'll have to see if I can find some seed for next year.
Sso glad that you allow the weeds and thistle to grow!! It does have it's place for all the bees and butterflies!! Even though they are terrible for the farmer with grazing animals!!
Do you have common boneset in your area? It often grows with Joe Pye Weed here in MA, and makes a nice complement...very similar growth form, white flowers.
It looks like we do! Thanks for the suggestion. I need to do some work out there this fall and I'll add that if I can find it.
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