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June 3, 2002The recent rains, while not quite enough to make up the deficit in the reservoirs, have made quite a difference in the garden. Lawns are green and flowers are blooming right on schedule-some even ahead of their usual time.This spring I have added many plants to my garden, as usual. But I have tried to time the plantings to take advantage of anticipated rainfall and not use the hose as much. By planting in the evening or day before predicted rainstorms, the new trees and shrubs were watered in by Mother Nature. Even the young vegetable and annual seedlings got a good start with the light rain they received. Planting late in the day whenever possible helps to avoid heat and low water stress on the plants. Once again I was reminded of the advantage of using mulch. In the areas of the garden that had adequate coverage (2-3 inches deep), the soil beneath was cool and moist even during the hot dry spell. The areas where the mulch had become thin or non-existent, the soil was warm and very dry. Mulch does keep the temperature and moisture content of the soil more even. Officially, the frost date is May 15th. However, this year many gardeners were surprised by late frosts several nights past that date. Many of the annuals will come through these cooler temperatures without damage. But if your yard has low lying or exposed areas that are prone to frost, you may have lost some of the tender annuals. Peppers, basil, eggplant, and annual vinca are some examples. Low night temperatures often cause these plants to droop, setting them back quite a while before recovering. Some never grow well afterwards, weakened for the rest of the season. There is still plenty of time to plant(or re-plant )tomatoes, peppers, basil and the tender flowering annuals. Cucumber, corn, squash, bean and melon seeds can be planted directly in the garden. Most will germinate in a week. Gladiola corms can be planted at two- week intervals to provide a continuous supply of cut flowers this summer. Cosmos, sunflower and zinnia seeds can also be planted directly into the garden now. They will provide a constant source of cut flowers for colorful bouquets later in the summer. And they are among the favorite varieties of nectar flowers for butterflies. Attracting butterflies to the garden is enjoyable and helps create an environment for these endangered species. There are many varieties of flowers that attract butterflies. Particular favorites include bee balm, butterfly weed, coreopsis, coneflowers, lantana, marigolds and salvias. Some flowering shrubs that butterflies like are honeysuckle, spirea, privet and wiegela. One shrub that attracts the most species is butterfly bush. This bush is alive with butterfly activity all summer through to the first hard frost in autumn. Besides growing plants that provide nectar, you should also plant ones that provide food for the butterfly larvae (caterpillars). Dill, parsley, milkweed and Queen Anne's-lace are good choices. The caterpillars also feed on several lawn weeds including clover and dandelion- a good excuse for a less than perfect lawn. Most butterfly larvae are not considered to be problem pests in the garden. The destructive caterpillars are usually the larvae of moths. However pesticides should not be used in a butterfly garden as they destroy all stages of the butterfly life cycle. Butterflies need sunny warm areas to feed and sheltered areas to protect them from cool winds. Placing rocks in areas that get early sun will give the butterflies a warming area. Water sources are also necessary. They often frequent ponds and birdbaths for water. Butterflies are known for a behavior called "puddling". Large numbers will be found drinking the mineral-rich water that forms in puddles during evaporation. You can create your own puddle with a shallow pan set in the ground to catch water. Clean and refresh it occasionally to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there. Butterflies are attracted to most bright colors as well as fragrances. Large tubular shaped blossoms are the easiest for them to land on and feed. But many smaller flowers work just as well. The key is to plant lots of flowers. The more flowers you plant the more butterflies will come. Beth Nardone, botanist, is a resident of Hillsborough and is the Nursery Manager at the Belle Mead Co-Op. Questions and comments can be sent to bethtanical@rcn.com |