Planting for Butterflies

Planting for Butterflies:

Mistflower blooms in late October and November, just as the Monarchs arrive, and is swarmed by hordes of butterflies during the Monarch migration. Plant mistflower now, in the back of the border, with plenty of space – they will get up to four feet in diameter and height – and enjoy the lavender or white blooms and the butterflies, this fall.

Swallowtail on Lantana, Mystic Shores

Other native plants that we’ve found butterflies love: coneflower, milkweed, butterfly weed and lantana.

For more information on attracting and feeding butterflies and larvae:

http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/tnhc/entomology/butterfly/bfgarden.html

Wildflowers

Wildflowers

Caption: Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush by a Mystic Shores Driveway

Establishing a good stand of wildflowers in our area generally means planting the seeds in the fall, at the appropriate depth and with good seed-to-soil contact. The following site has specific information on establishing and maintaining specific wildflowers:

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/info/1a.1.html

Sources for wildflower seeds:

Native American Seed, Junction Texas: http://www.seedsource.com/

WildSeed, Fredericksburg, Texas: http://www.wildseedfarms.com/