This is my 250th post... really? Seriously, where has the time gone? I can hardly believe I started this blog almost 3 years ago. Who knew I would have so much to say? Perhaps several of you that know me well, think I have shown great restraint... then again, maybe not. Okay, get on with it already!
I thought it might be nice to celebrate this milestone with a butterfly garden - what could be better?
Here's the catch - you are going to grow the garden, I will supply the seeds. I have wanted to plant a butterfly garden for over a year now, I never got around to it last year. And quite frankly, the monarchs can't really wait anymore.
Here are some quick details about the Monarchs (from the website for Live Monarch Foundation):
The Monarch is one of the longest migrating creatures on Earth. Beginning in August, millions of eastern monarchs (those living from the Rockies to the Atlantic Ocean) migrate from their summer feeding and mating grounds to Mexico, where they spend the winter before returning to the United States in late February and March to begin the cycle of life again. Monarchs live in all states and reproduce wherever they can find enough Milkweed to support their young. Monarchs are not pests and will not eat anything but Milkweed. They do not hurt crops, ornamental trees or in any way upset the balance of Nature in areas they are introduced.
Monarchs are not as plentiful as they were years ago, the use of insecticides and herbicides has eliminated much of their habitat. The milkweed that, the Monarch depends upon for survival, is disappearing as meadows and prairie are developed. While the winter population in Mexico numbers 200 to 400 million, many feel the Monarch may not survive. In 1991 about 70% of these wintering Monarchs in Mexico froze to death as a result of three days of rain and sub freezing conditions. This was an enormous tragedy for our friends the Monarch and they have not been seen again in many Northern regions. Habitat must be protected now, before we see the day when this miracle of nature is only a memory. The Monarchs and many butterfly species need your help. Please plant seeds and ensure their survival. Planting new habitat will not only help butterflies around your home but will help butterflies reach others who without your assistance would not see a Monarch. One seed can change the world.
The seed pack could include the following:
Asclepias Speciosia Northern Milkweed
Asclepias Curassavica Southern Milkweed
Achillea millefolium White Yarrow
Ammi majus Bishop's Flower/Queen Anns Lace
Asclepias curassavica Sunset Flower
Aster tanacetifolius Prairie Aster
Bupleurum griffithii Thoroughwax
Calendula officinalis Calendula
Centaurea cyanus Bachelor Button
Centaurea moschata Sweet Sultan
Chrysanthemum carinatum Tricolor Daisy
Chrysanthemum maximum Shasta Daisy
Coreopsis lanceolata Lance-leaved Coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria Plains Coreopsis
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos
Dianthus barbatus Sweet William
Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower
Gaillardia aristata Blanketflower
Gaillardia pulchella Indian Blanket
Limonium sinuatum Statice Turbo White
Limonium sinuatum Statice Turbo Yellow
Lobularia maritima Sweet Alyssum
Lupinus hartwegii Mexican Lupine
Nigella damascena Love-in-a-mist
Ratibida columnaris Yellow Prairie Coneflower
Rudbeckia gloriosa Gloriosa Daisy
Tithonia rotundifolia Mexican Sunflower
Trifolium incarnatum Crimson Clover
Verbena tenuisecta Moss Verbena
I have about 20 packets of seeds to give away. I already have packets set aside for Tammy in CT, Teri in Grass Valley and Lisa in OR. Please leave a comment here if you are interested in planting a garden to help with the butterfly population.
Once you leave a comment, I will contact you via email for your mailing address - so if you don't have a link to your blog or website, please leave a way for me to contact you.
If I should run out of packets of seeds, and you want to help, you can send a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to the Live Monarch (non-profit) organization, please check their Live Monarch website for details. They do ask for a $2 donation.
