Common milkweed not only provides nectar for bees and other pollinators, but it is the larval host plant for Monarch butterflies. According to landscaping expert David Beaulieu, “Asclepias is the only plant family that serves as the host plant for monarch butterfly egg laying. The monarch larvae, the hatchling caterpillars, feed exclusively on milkweed leaves. … Continue reading Milkweed Hosts Monarch Butterflies
The month of June is not only known as National Pollinator Month and National Perennial Month, but also as National Rose Month, among others. Our garden roses are amazing this month, especially our ‘Queen Elizabeth’ roses. Also enchanting are the irises, climbing hydrangeas, viburnums, Kousa dogwood bracts, baptisia, digitalis, and clematis. Incidentally, I recently learned … Continue reading June is National Rose Month!
It seems that May has always been a “wondrous” month in our garden. Of course, we won’t delve into events like the Mother’s Day Blizzard of May 9, 1977! Our beautiful cherry tree is in bloom as are some of our rhododendrons and azaleas. Most of our daffodil blossoms are still glorious, even though some … Continue reading The Wondrous Month of May
The increasing daylight length has added to the welcoming of spring. It’s especially exciting to see “carpets” of crocuses and blue Siberian squill blossoms. Interestingly, many of the crocuses are not where their bulbs were originally planted. For that, we have to thank the rascally chipmunks and squirrels for digging them up. During the winter … Continue reading Celebrate Spring!
Recent storms and blizzards have set snow records according to the Blue Hill Observatory. “The 27.1 inches of snowfall measured on [Saturday] Jan. 29 also broke the record for the highest calendar day snowfall ever measured in January at the observatory.” Power outages, car accidents and damages to trees were common. But at least we … Continue reading Winter Weary!
