Butterfly magnet

Sorry marsue.. It was your pic, and beautiful!! I got sidetracked, I confess.

Thank you tcs, lol

debnes

tcs, thanks for the correction on the butterfly--
debnes, glad you liked the photo
Next spring I am going to try to plant a larger area of plants to attract more butterflies. I have a good place next to the fence on our back property line that receives sunshine almost all day. The only problem is the soil--yucky clay, which means it will have to be amended. At my age (65), that is not as easily done as it was a decade ago--LOL--and even though my dh is 4 years younger than I, he has back problems so that leaves him out when it comes to digging up flower beds. He managed to do a lot this last spring when he was planting our roses but he paid for it afterward in pain. :o(.
Any advice from anyone on amending soil?

Marsue, try making a lasagna bed along that fence line. Next spring, plant all you want without having to dig through clay soil. Your efforts in amending that clay now with a raised, no dig lasagna bed will pay dividends for you come spring '08. http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/lasagna_gardening.htm

Deborah

If you pack your plants in tightly, there's no need for propping of your asters. The plants beside, in front, in back, hold them up.

Cordeledawg, when I first read your suggestion about a lasagna bed I thought "what on earth is a lasagna bed?" Then it occurred to me that lasagna is made in layers and that must be what a lasagna bed is. Then I went to the hyperlink you suggested and read all about it. Wish I had known about this earlier--I could have had lots of grass clippings by now. We don't have any trees in our yard so I will have to make the rounds of a subdivision nearby where there are lots of trees and wait until the occupants rake up their leaves this fall and bag them up. Since they are going to put them out for the trash collectors anyway, perhaps they won't mind if I help myself to some as well! (I'll ask first, of course.) :o)

This is a great time of year to get bagged leaves. Once before I started composting, I had bagged up about 6 large bags of dry leaves and just hated to throw them away when I knew others would love them for compost. I listed them on Freecycle in my area and sure enough, someone came and picked them up! :-D

you were up early, Sheila! I was, too, as I am normally an 'early bird' :o) However, I had to have my coffee first and I just now turned on my computer. I have never heard of "Freecycle". Is that some sort of re-cycling web site? Sounds interesting. I just love Dave's Garden. I joined back in May but due to putting in flower beds and having grandchildren around this summer, I didn't get back to joining the forums until just this week. I already have received some good advice from different people. It's so much fun getting acquainted with others on the various forums. There are so many of them that it is hard to decide which ones to check out first!

Yes, definitely try the lasagne bed thing! Worked wonders for us and the butterflies are loving our new garden, too.

Jmorth, I think you must be in a butterfly migration 'fly lane' or something!?! You have so many butterflies on your property!

I keep checking my asters with no luck. I am still getting monarchs on the verbenas but never more than one or two at a time. The swallowtails seem to be finished for the season here...

I am planning for next year and thinking of putting in a new lasagne bed, too...

Hey, tabasco, I am "all fired up" about the lasagna bed. I told my dh about it and now he wants me to put one alongside our driveway, too! LOL So it appears that I am going to need LOTS of newspaper and organic material. What did you use for organic material besides grass clippings and/or dead leaves? Also, did you have to buy bags of potting soil or top soil to layer on top of the organic material? The weebsite mentioned above by coreledawg said to use peat moss but I think some sort of soil would be good, too. Should we move this discussion to a different forum? It started out with jmorth's beautiful photos of butterflies and one subject led to another and now we are talking about lasagna beds! LOL but , for me, the reason for the lasagna beds is so I can plant lots of flowers that attract those beautiful butterflies!

Marsue, I too got "All fired up" about lasagna beds. There have been many discussions on several forums about this gardening technique that works like a charm. To find all the forums with this topic, either as a subject title or in the body of a post, got to the very top of this page and type in "lasagna" in the search forums block. It's right under the date and time on the right hand side. Once you find threads that really interest you, go to the very top again and save it in your favorites by clicking on the little yellow folders. Better have some time and a pot of coffee ready because there's been a lot of discussion about Lasagna gardening. If you still have questions, go to either Soil and composting, Garden talk or even the perennial forum and start a thread to get update input on the subject.

Happy Lasagna Gardening!
Deborah

Jack, Were your golden rods planted or did they just appear on your property? I've been wanting to buy some then low and behold, they're everywhere around my pond. Seeing your pictures gives me the idea just to plant asters in front of each of the goldenrod clumps.. Think that will work?

Thanks, Deborah! I am going to take your suggestion and find some forums on Lasagna Gardening right now. Don't know how long I can stay awake because I am usually in bed by this time. ( I get up early) LOL I can't drink "real" coffee this late at night -- it keeps me awake-- but I will definitely have a pot brewed in the morning and I can continue my research on the subject.

Just d-mail me if you have any questions, Marsue. Happy Lasagna Butterfly Gardening!

Deborah

Hey, Deborah, I was just reading a forum started by a MaryE in Oregon in Nov. 2003 and it went through to August, 2005. She showed a progression of photos from the very start of her lasagna garden clear through to 2005. It was beautiful the second summer! I am so encouraged because she said her 'soil' up there was just clay and rock and that is mainly what my 'soil' is, too. It was really interesting to read through the whole thing. I am sure that I will have lots of questions once I get started so you will probably be getting some d-mails from me! Thanks! Marilyn P.S. I am going to bed now--my eyelids are trying to close! LOL

tabasco,
I think the local 'fly-lane' is about used up for this year, the magnets are pretty much turning into wispy seed heads...it was truly a fantastic season for butterflies here starting with Red Admirals on Coneflowers and ending with the Monarchs on New England Asters. In between were the Swallowtails (Eastern Tiger), Cabbage Whites, Sulphurs, Hairstreaks, Eastern Tailed Blues, American Snout, Pearl Cresent, Question Marks, Eastern Commas, American Painted Lady, Buckeyes, Viceroys, Silver-spotted Skippers, and golden Skippers. I would be remiss if I failed to mention that in addition to the above many kinds of bees, wasps, and moths (especially the dusk time Hummingbird Moths) also were visiting this year. I must have taken a couple thousand pics.

Pic is one of the moths (attracted by Flowering Tobacco).

Cordeledawg,
There are a lot of native goldenrods up here (at least 9). They are especially plentiful around the edges of woods, and disturbed soil prairies, field borders, rural roads, highways, & exposed river bottoms. Mine must have started from an errant seed probably from a field border. Within the span of a couple of years it has developed into what the pics illustrated. The asters are a couple of years old too. The goldenrod-aster
placement was initially happenstance but couldn't have worked out better had it been planned. This spring I knew the potential so I did selectively destroy or let grow self-seeded seedlings of both species. Theorectically, the show should improve next year. I just hope the asters retain their butterfly magnet status.
I think your plan to plant asters in front of golden rods is great just be sure the varieties utilized meet your needed height standards.

J

Great HBM pics Jack!
I know I've asked this before, but what camera are you using? (and) How do you get the lighting right to get the HBM pictures? They are so crystal clear!!!


debnes

debnes,
The camera usually used is a Kodak Z740. Especially for the HBM I might get only 1 good one out of 5 shots, they are really fast. The ratio for butterflies is much better. Here's a couple HBM's in 1 frame.
J

jmorth, great photo of the HBM's!. I am so looking forward to starting my lasagna garden so that I can plant a bunch of flowers that attract the butterflies and hummingbirds, moths, and bees, too. We have a great area along the fence on our back property line. Only thing is -- Yikes! -- Where am I going to get that much newspaper! --not to mention grass clippings, dead leaves , peat moss, etc., etc. Our lot is 100 + ft. wide but the bed won't be quite that wide because we have a storage shed that is in one corner of the yard. I haven't decided how deep to made the bed but will probably start with one about 4 to 5 feet wide. That should certainly be enough for starters! Just thinking of how many seeds or plants it will take to fill that up boggles my mind! LOL. I am sure some of you have much larger beds than that. Then there is a triangular area in the front that my husband wants to do. It is 25 x 19 or would be if it was rectangular. Our house faces west so the front gets all the afternoon sun--definitely a go for sun-loving plants!

Thanks Jack!

marsue~ I think some people use hay bails loosly strewn then packed in lieu of the clippings.and such.

Judy~ Didn't you use hay for some of yours? Do you have the link to your lasagna bed making thread?

debnes

Hey, all you guys on this thread!--. Just wanted to share to bits of good news with you.
First, thanks to Sheila_FW, who told me about Freecycle, I found a local Freecycle group and have I ever hit the jackpot! 3 people have donated their newspapers to me for the lasagna bed; then I really hit the "mother-lode" all wrapped up in one lady--she has horse manure (oh, happy day!), she has plastic jugs, she has cannas, forsythias, and other plants for the asking and on top of all these freebies, she teaches riding lessons! You may ask what riding lessons have to do with this thread--well, nothing, but my granddaughter has been wanting to take riding lessons!

Then on Saturday past, I noticed a yellow bloom when I looked outside and yes, indeed, there was a goldenrod in my side yard right beside an oleander. Oh, happy day again!-- A goldenrod for my perennial bed. Sigh--I'm in gardening heaven, except for one thing. Now I need to find someone to shovel that horse manure into the back of DH's pick-up! (DH has a bad back, sure enuff!)

Marsue - I got into Freecycle this summer while cleaning out for remodeling. I didn't want to throw away years of quilting magazines, and didn't want to sell a couple of "well-loved" pieces of furniture. It worked really well for me! If I do any more offering, I'll need more time for backups - as quite a few didn't show up - but more did than didn't. I haven't asked for anything yet - but am considering lasagna gardening as well and would also need lots of newspaper. Great idea

Glad your experience was great! My trash made some other folks really happy!

LOL - freecycled manure... now that's a good one! Good luck with the shoveling help.

thanks, bookworm! I'll keep you posted about the manure shoveling--LOL

Marsue, I really enjoyed reading about your lasagna bed discovery. I felt the same way when I first read about it. I have my first one "cooking" now. I used grass clippings, and straw. I also mixed in bought steer manure compost to speed it up some. The hardest part has been having some plants sent to me that I WANT to plant in that bed and it's NOT ready! I want to let it be until spring. IF you plant too early the new soil can be too "hot" and the active decomposing phase it really takes up a lot of nitrogen is what I heard... PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong!

Looks to me like if you can get your hands on some goldenrod seed you will be in goldenrod heaven SOON!!

I'm with you, psych! I'll have to restrain myself from planting in my lasagna bed before it is ready. I want to let it "cook" until spring.
and speaking of goldenrod seeds, how do I go about harvesting some seeds from that plant in the photo above?

LOL.. I hope you are NOT asking me!!! I am afraid I'm one of those silly gardeners that have not been converted to seed gardening but trust me... I am gonna try this spring!

Have you gone over to the plant and seed trade forum and asked if anybody had some seeds for goldenrod for SASE?? OR ask for advise there concerning the harvesting of seeds from your own plant.

I really can not express how much fun and joy DG has brought me! If you are into "grab bags" and other surprises, you might want to join one of the Swaps or Round Robins.

I would love to join one of the swaps but right now I don't have anything to swap--new house, no plants--guess I'll have to wait till next year to join the swaps

LOL... oh Dear, you just don't know the CRAZY people here! We have one going for Christmas tree Ornaments, one that is for homemade goodies and decorations, another that was for Gardening "stuff" (like whimsey things, books, plant labels, you name it). The point of what I'm saying is, you don't need plants or seeds to find a swap. In fact you don't have to be gardener to love DG!!!

marsue, we are having a big North TX Round UP or plant swap in Arlington on Sunday Oct 28th. It would be a great time just to come and meet loads of other members even Dave himself is coming. Everyone always brings extras, no trades required. Here is the link to the headcount & directions. Hope you can plan to make it.

Headcount link
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/781812/
FOOD thread..... we are having a Cook-Out!!!
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/774113/
Cost is $7 to be paid by the members only, this will cover rental and food.



This message was edited Oct 19, 2007 6:43 AM

>>A goldenrod for my perennial bed.

I thought GoldenRod was an invasive weed.... it seems to be up here in the midwest.

should i be saving seeds for those who want/need them?

You know the thing about "invasive" is that one person's "weed" is another person's joy! I have SEVERAL plants that others would never consider growing because of how invasive they are, but I love them! Evening primrose, Corepius and Obedient Plant (in a pot!). Golden Rod can be stunning as you have seen from the photos', I'd say save the seeds and send them to those of us that like that kind of thing!

Back ot the Lasagna bed question--yes, I used hay (good hay from a landscaping company--no weed seeds or at least not many) as one of the components to our lasagna bed. Here's the link http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/726914/

I have several golden rods in the garden. One is dwarfish. The other is about 3 feet tall. I planted them for the butterflies but they haven't really visited them much. But the golden rods look smashing with the new england asters this month (October).

I want to make another lasagna bed this fall (as soon as my DH goes out of town!)

Tabasco.... are you being sneaky? LOL... Why are you waiting until the hubby goes out of town??? You go girl!
Pat

Speaking of lasagna beds, here's an update on mine: Today was a perfect day: blue sky, no clouds anywhere, abundant sunshine, perfect temperature, no humidity and to top it all off DH and I went out to the place where the lady promised us all the horse manure we could shovel.. You remember I said (above) that I really needed someone with a good strong back to help shovel that manure into the back of DH's pick-up? Well, in addition to the perfect weather, heaven certainly smiled on us today because when we got there, the lady's 18 year old son was there--a BIG, strong young man (has a black belt in karate). He grabbed a shovel and before DH knew it that pick-up was full of wonderfully aged manure. My prayers were answered! :o) PLUS, now listen to this: the lady told us about another lady who has a horse farm nearby and is begging people to come and take their manure AND this second lady has a FRONT-END LOADER and they will load the manure into your pick-up for you! Oh, I am in lasagna-bed heaven, indeed! (I never dreamed I would get so excited about manure LOL)
Sheila_FW, I truly owe you BIG TIME for putting me onto Freecycle! Why, I would even drive to Ft. Worth with a load of manure for you, if you wanted me to! LOL P.S. I wish I could attend your Round Up. If I had known about it a little earlier, I might have been able to make plans to come. DH just said to me today, "When it gets a little colder and these plants don't have to be tended to so much (referring to our roses), we'll have to plan a little trip away for a few days." We might even go to the swap over in Mississippi that the folks in the Mid-South Gardening Forum are planning in January. DH is starting to really get "into" this gardening thing--he even said today he would like to have a small plant nursery somewhere. I said, "Like when we win the lottery"! (Arkansas doesn't have a lottery)

Tabasco, my DH never does anything "according to Hoyle". Witness the attached photo of him putting down newpapers and then throwing manure on top of them. Oh, brother! I should have sent him out of town and done it myself. Now is that why you are waiting for your DH to go out of town? LOL
P.S. DH looks like the "headless horseman" in this pic--he was looking down at something.

one more thing: can anyone identify this "weed"? I found it today when we were making the lasagna bed. Looks like a week to me but I didn't want to pull it up until I am sure. I'll post two photos, one is the plant and the next one is a close-up of the bloom.

edited to say: "looks like a weed"

This message was edited Oct 19, 2007 11:39 PM

here's the close-up

and now I'm going to bed. Until I started visiting DG I was never up past 10 p.m except for special occasions. You guys are such a bad influence onme! LOL

Marsue, your gardens are going to be wonderful flowing around your back fence. So glad to hear you're getting all the ingredients you need too. That's great! I don't know what that "weed" is, if it is a weed. It's blooming a violet color? You may want to put that picture on the plant id forum if you don't get a response here.

marsue -- at least your DH helps. that is a bonus in my book.

i was going to echo the Plant ID forum http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/plantid/all/ they can ID just about anything.

Nice job marsue!
The weed looks kinda like Satchytarpheta, (porterweed), but that's not what it is. Do put it in the ID forum. It might turn out to be a good butterfly flower.

debnes