The butterfly garden finally looks like a garden. I am still experimenting with adding new plants, seeing what will thrive here, tucking things in to the bare spots.
The river rock dry water bed is complete, after two summer’s of hard work. It really delineates the space throughout the garden. The butterfly garden grows on both sides of the dry river bed, it’s the biggest garden in The Garden.
Early spring is such a barren time in the garden. Especially after everything is cut back and trimmed. Last year when we expanded the rear patio we also added a 9′ diameter circular patio to the north west edge of the butterfly garden to provide a seating area. I drug a big heavy steel piano harp out her and propped it up next to the patio to provide a backdrop. I haven’t decided whether it will stay here or not. Looking out over the cleaned up garden, I realize I need to add some more evergreens or sculptures or something to add interest in the early spring.
Any suggestions?
As spring progresses, the butterfly garden begins to “spring” into it’s growth stage. The 4 pom pom shrubs bloom in a riot of 3″ white snow balls. Eventually I’d like to have a trellis between them, straddling the dry river bed, to provide a hidden
passageway to the circular patio. I haven’t found the right arch yet. During summer the butterfly garden really comes to life. White, red and purple predominate. I’m looking for some orange plants that will grow here and that butterflies like. It was important to me to provide a place for butterflies and bees in my garden, and I brought many divisions of perennials from my aurora garden to our new home in Brighton.
As the season turns towards fall the Maximillian sunflowers steal the show. Their yellow is so bright that they glow in the moonlight. They keep their flowers until the first hard frost.