Just as Lovely

  The purple mist plants (wild ageratum) have, once again, taken over the flower gardens.  What was once filled with daylilies, zinnias, petunias and nasturtiums is now a sea of purple.  Well, purple and orange, if you wish to be technical.  (I was informed of that by Son..his words.)  Anyway, the ageratum blooms are thick in spite of the drought and those blooms have attracted the loveliest abundance of orange butterflies!

  For years, the blooms would draw many, many monarch butterflies and I so enjoyed those but, lately, the orangeness has been brought by fritillary butterflies.  These come in huge swarms to flit about the purple mist and I am equally happy with them.  To my way of thinking these are just as lovely as the monarchs...much the same as the ageratums are just as lovely as any exquisite orchid.  I guess it is all in the way you look at things and how much you can appreciate what is set before you.  It is a grand feeling to get to the point that you can find satisfaction in the simple things of life.

Oh, those beautiful weeds!

   It occurred to me that my gardening skills sure are a lot different than most folks.  I garden as to what appeals to me and not what others push.  At least, I can say that the Small Gardens are interesting, if nothing else.  You never know what you might find lurking beneath the plants.  At any given moment, you may come across a ribbon snake, a few toads, frogs of all sorts, turtles, butterflies, moths, bees, birds, squirrels, rabbits and, if at night, raccoons...tons of raccoons.  Besides the numerous critters that are welcome, a goodly number of weeds are also on the "ok" list.

  Late this afternoon, I had to smile as I watched the goldenrod plumes nod with the breeze.  Honeybees were busy among the blooms which is always an added bonus!  I like goldenrod even though there are those who claim that it causes their allergies to act up.  I beg to differ...it does not...that is ragweed.  Goldenrod is insect pollinated so is not drifting about on the wind.  I leave the goldenrod wherever it grows and, in the fall, it is a glorious sight to behold!

  As I meandered through the Small Gardens, the wild ageratum or purple mist plant was putting on a delightful show with its blooms as it tried to attract butterflies and bees.  This, too, is considered a weed by many but, in my eyes, it is gorgeous and has every right to be on display.  The plants are perennials so other "garden annuals" are carefully planted between the rootstocks.  Marigolds and purple mist plants do well together so I try to remember this as I plant marigolds.

  Weeds!  Oh, those beautiful weeds!  Weeds that are the bane of most gardeners sit well in the Small Gardens and never disappoint with their lovely blooms.  Folks, never look down on things because you have always heard them described as "weeds".  Sometimes, those weeds outshine all others.  Be kind.

My Butterflies are Missing!

  Normally, September and October are the months when the yard is filled with butterflies of all sorts.  Of those that visit, the Monarchs have all ways been the most prevalent.  They would come in swarms as they migrated.  There were times a few years back, when the Asclepias and Ageratum were simply covered with the orange and black butterflies.  For the past two years, however, the sightings have been sparse, to say the least.  I miss the butterflies.

  I was reading the other day how the plight of "missing" butterflies was not just a local thing.  It seems that the Monarch population is on a sharp decline in this country.  Part of that is due to weather changes but a good bit is due to the loss of habitat.  One of the main sources of food for these butterflies is the milkweed plant and, as the name implies, most folks see this as a weed.  The plants are promptly destroyed to keep those "well manicured" lawns and gardens in shape.  No one wants a weed in their garden.  This is a shame.  Sorry, folks, those things you deem as nasty weeds are actually wildflowers and should be left to grow where they will.  Here on the Bayou, I leave as many as possible.  Yes, I do cut the grass but wildflowers are welcome to grow in the flower gardens and vegetable gardens because I know the importance of having native plants.  The native flora helps the native fauna survive.  Cut out one of the two and both are soon decimated.

  The milkweed plant is of the Asclepias genus.  These plants grow readily in just about any type soil.  (I have one that grows in sand!) These plants require little to no work so can be a lazy gardeners dream plant!  Mine is dubbed "Butterfly Weed" and it truly seems to attract the Monarchs.  This type Asclepias has orange, red and yellow clusters of blooms and looks quite striking when mingled with the purples of the Wild Ageratum and the towering fluffs of Goldenrod!  My wild gardens are never boring but they sure miss the butterflies!