Milkweed for Monarchs Plant it and they will come Waystation

It'll probably be back, so keep your camera handy!

I saw something that looked like a moth sitting on one of my Winterberry shrubs today, but for the most part I only see bees in my yard.

I'm heavy on bees too, Muddy. I think the lavender-looking butterfly I've seen a few times is a Summer Azure. A few Painted Ladies and the one Tiger Swallowtail. Aside from that mostly Cabbage Whites and Dainty Sulphurs.

My Black-eyed Susans usually draw in some butterflies and I'm looking forward to seeing them! The most excitement I've had so far is seeing a hummer that found my newest and smallest Salvia 'Black and Blue', which happens to be the only one blooming right now. As soon as the Salvias are in full bloom, they're swarmed with bumblebees, and I think the hummers are scared away.

I would be excited by a hummingbird, too, Muddy! I haven't seen any yet this summer.

Saw a bright orange butterfly with stripes floating through my garden yesterday--couldn't get close enough to it to either get a photo or tell if it was a viceroy or (too good to be true) even a monarch. Either way, nice to see. Hope it comes back!!

I'm interested. I'm trying to grow some from seed, but realize it just might not sprout this year. I'm thinking about letting that seed tray dry out and trying again next year.

It took me almost an hour, but I found the 3 Monarda fistulosa I planted in forest last fall. It would have been easy if they were blooming, but they're not. The forest clearing is a sea of green right now. It's going to be something if most of that green is from native wildflowers!

Send some butterflies my way please. I have plenty of flowers in my front yard, but I haven't seen a single butterfly.

Changing subjects: I saw a bee drinking from my pond today. I had read that they do that, but had never seen one doing it.

Would be really cool to have native wildflowers in the forest, Muddy. You'll have to keep us posted!

The meadow is so dense with plants right now that you can't see the ground in some places. There's a lot of some kind of plant that wasn't there last year, maybe Goldenrod.
Greenthumb gave me lots of seeds for plants in the mint family (very deer-resistant!) and I think they're growing. I won't know what some of the plants are until they start blooming.

Sounds wonderful, Muddy--will be so fragrant and beautiful when in bloom! My little wildflower patch is showing its first tentative blooms, but seems to be dominated by just 2 or 3 species. Not the diversity I expected from the seed package.

Next year you can make your own wildflower mix, CatMint.
I tried one of those packets a few years ago and ended up with just 2 plants: a NOID Aster and a Comfrey, which isn't native.

that's a very cool idea, Muddy! is that something you've done in the past or would have any suggestions/pointers about?

I would look at the plants Prairie Nursery groups together for its wildflower seed mixes and see what suits your taste and garden conditions: http://www.prairienursery.com/store/seed-mixes#.U7N3XrFDCFg

Then, get the plants or seeds for free from your DG friends at swap time. You can sprinkle native plant seeds on the snow this winter and then voila! you'll have the beginnings of a perennial wildflower patch.

Thanks, Muddy! These mixes look so cool! I'll definitely have to try some. :-)

Part three thread over here:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1367451/