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Notes from Marilyn.

Butterfly tips:

        * Know which butterflies are in your area.  Butterflies of OK, KS and N TX  and  Butterflies through Binoculars are especially good for this.

        * Take a moment to understand the life cycle of butterflies, as there are two ways to provide for their needs and attract them to your garden.

        * Each butterfly species has specific plants they lay eggs on. For example, the Monarch will only lay eggs on Asclepias (milkweed) while the Black Swallowtail only uses members of the  parsley family such as dill, fennel and rue.  The Monarch caterpillar cannot survive on the dill and the Black cannot survive on the milkweed.

         *The caterpillar eats the food plant, don’t worry the plant will live.  The time from hatching to a full grown ‘cat’ is about 2 weeks, but will vary with species.

         *The caterpillar attaches itself to a hard surface with a silk substance.  After about 24 hours the skin comes off and the chrysalis, a shell-like structure.  Inside, the caterpillars organs are rearranging themselves and the butterfly is forming.

        *Some butterflies emerge in about 10 days, others hibernate over the winter.

        *The adult is happy to nectar on plants in your garden and it seems like every kind of butterfly has a favorite.  Some like the flat pads of flowers like Black-eyed Susan and Coneflower; others go to blooms with a deep throat like Salvia and Coral Honeysuckle. 

        * Never ever use pesticides.  I don’t even use the organic types. Butterflies and other pollinators are signs of a healthy environment. With no pesticides nature will strike a balance.  

           Top eleven favorites for nectar in my yard:

   Bluestar                      Amsonia

    Swamp Sunflower        Helianthus angustifolius           

    Mountain Mint            Pycnanthemum   

    Asters

    Indian Blanket            Gaillardia

    Turk’s Cap                  Malvaviscous

    Coneflower                 Echinacea

    Black-eyed Susan        Rudbeckia

    Milkweed                   Asclepias

    Goldenrod                  Solidago

    Beebalm                     Monarda

                                   Larval host plants

Again, you should know which butterflies are in your area.  Some are very widespread such as the Black Swallowtail, Buckeye, Monarch and Variegated Fritillary.  My plant list shows which butterfly uses which plant, keep in mind that this is not a complete list of butterflies or plants.  Sometimes a butterfly will use different host plants depending on location. 

 Some very easy larval host plants:

*Tropical Milkweed Asclepias curavassica (not native, but it is the one the Monarch and Queen prefer) 

*Dill, Fennel, Parsley for the Black Swallowtail

*Passionflower Vine for the Variegated and Gulf Fritillaries

*Partridge Pea and Wild Senna for the Sleepy Orange and Cloudless Sulphurs

Notes on Native Plants

There are so many great reasons to grow native plants.  A landscape of native plants is easier to maintain than a traditional one.  The diseases and pests that attack so many hybrids and alien species are just not an issue with plants that have evolved and adapted to our environment, so chemical fertilizers and pest controls are simply not needed.  In fact, with natives it’s so much fun to watch and see what kind of things DO show up; after all, plants and wildlife depend on each other for survival.  So many of the prairie natives are especially tolerant of drought, with root systems reaching deep into the soil, others are perfect for that perpetually wet area.  
 
At a delightful lecture I recently attended, the speaker mentioned how the plants she had were moving themselves around, finding their own spots.  To me, one of the most rewarding aspects of watching things grow in my “wild” areas is knowing that plants have adapted to the environment I have provided. 

Oklahoma has several resources for those who are interested in Oklahoma plants, conservation and gardening in an environmentally positive way and a few are listed below.  The Oklahoma Native Plant Society has several chapters across the state and is a wonderful way to learn about our native plants through field trips, seminars and a great newsletter.  A tremendous group of people, ONPS is also involved in promoting the planting of wildflowers through Color Oklahoma. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                        

I remember when I first heard someone advocating only planting those species native to ones area, I thought, “how boring, I could never do that!”  What a difference education, observation and lots of time and money spent on plants that were gorgeous in a catalog (‘New Color Breakthrough!’ ‘Rare!’ ‘Blooms all Summer!’) and then promptly croaked in my garden.  I found myself drawn more and more to the plants that had proven their worth, not only by surviving, but by filling a valuable link in the environment and providing benefits to wildlife. Years ago we started mowing around the Indian Paintbrush we found and every year we have mowed less and less and enjoyed seeing what comes up on its own. Gardening is a lot more fun when you work with your space.  

As I write this the Mexican Plums, Redbuds and Spicebush are in full bloom.  No less spectacular are the Least Bluets and Spring Beauties that dot our front prairie area.  The Indian Blanket has been green most of the winter, Indian Paintbrush is starting to emerge and yesterday I saw the first leaves of Liatris finally coming up.  Every day in the prairie and woods offers both the familiar and new.

The best part of what I do is meeting others who are passionate about growing natives and welcoming all the critters in their ecosystem.   I have learned so much from all of you.  Visiting with each of you is a joy.

Our son and daughter used to scream from the back seat, “don’t let Mom stop at another plant place!’   Both are new homeowners this year and lo and behold, our son is starting a vegetable garden and is busy identifying the trees in his yard.  Our daughter has planted strawberries first grown by her grandfather and succumbed at the local garden center to some things like Celosia and Dianthus.  When went down to help her mow last week, I watched as she mowed around the Prairie Anemone she had found in her yard…I guess they were watching! 

Marilyn Stewart