Well, it looks like I picked a terrible spot for my Hummingbird/butterfly garden. It's always wet. We live on a conservation lot and the runoff from two yards runs right through where I want my garden. The problem is I have an extremely small lot and this is the most ideal viewing area for the garden. What can I plant there that can take the extreme wetness of the rainy season? The soil is mostly sand but I have augmented with some nice potting soil. We have auotomatic sprinklers that go off once a week if needed but it seems lately they are not needed, however the neighbor's sprinklers go off needed or not and drain in that area. I already have a hibiscus tree in there, which seems to be doing ok so far. I have a couple of pretty lantana plants which also seem to be doing ok. The salvia that I put in last weekend don't seem to be doing that well. Before I put any more money and plants into this thing, can someone please help with plant ideas?
BTW, we live in West Central Florida. Any help you all can give me to make this the garden that I have dreamed of will be extremely welcome!! Thanks in advance.
Wet Garden
I googled the PDB with the following:
site:plantsdatabase.com "butterflies and/or birds" "consistently moist soil" "Water regularly" "9a"
looking for bird/butterfly plants that can take 'too much' water, but really only need regular watering, and came up with 5 listings
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=site%3Aplantsdatabase.com+%22butterflies+and%2For+birds%22+%22consistently+moist+soil%22+%22Water+regularly%22+%229a%22+&btnG=Google+Search
I presume zone 9a, is that correct?
Hope that helps ...
Cheri'
Those are beautiful!! Thank you! There is a garden shop that specializes in hummingbird and butterfly gardens that I will visit next weekend. I'm not sure this area will ever get a chance to dry out because of the neighbor's sprinklers, but at least this morning I noticed that my lantana's are doing better and, in fact, have a ton of new buds! Maybe everything just needs time to settle in and get used to their new home. My problem is I am too impatient. I want it all perfect NOW!! I want a beautiful garden full of lovely plants with tons of butterflies and hummingbirds buzzing about :) Guess I just need to grow some patience of my own :)
Thanks again for the ideas!
Would it be possible for you to raise the garden and maybe put down some large gravel or small rock for the bottom?
What a great idea!! This place is wonderful, I get such great ideas from you all. Thank you!
Robert Kemp Canna's as well as other Hummer attracting Canna's will do well, so will Cardinal Flower. Here is a link for Canna's: http://www.karcheskycanna.com/