Our friends Miriam and Jim Tower have been busy, and we're so glad they shared more from their garden!
"Hi, I thought I would share some photo’s of our zone 5 backyard in Sparta NJ. We recently received certification as a Monarch Waystation. We have a problem with deer eating everything up so we have a portion of the backyard fenced in and they haven’t jumped it yet! To help keep the butterflies, fish and birds healthy we do not use herbicides or pesticides. The plants seem to enjoy our organic compost which we have been making for over 20 years."
I had to look up exactly what a Monarch Waystation is, and that is very cool!
Keep sending in photos, everyone! Whether you've never shared before or you've been featured multiple times, we want to see your garden! Email us at [email protected].
Comments
I never knew there about the Waystation for Monarchs. I am sharing it today at my Butterfly class. Very cool! And of course it is now my new goal for the summer!
Your gardens are lovely!
The protected part of your property is quite beautiful and is good for the soul as well servicing the needs of nature's creatures (other than the deer). I do hope you treat yourself to some sit-down time on that enchanting white swing and let yourself take in all the loveliness you have created that surrounds you.
Your garden is lovely and I love the pics of the fritillaries and the swallowtail. I don't see any milkweed. What varieties are you growing? I've been collecting as many as I can. The weedy Asclepias syriaca seems to be the Monarch's favorite in my yard. They are so aggressive and are even pushing up my brick sidewalk, but I just don't care. I yank up the runners where I don't want them and let others grow so I can smell their fragrant flowers and see their silky leaves, hoping for more and more caterpillars! Thanks for sharing your waystation. I should check that out!
Congratulations, Miriam and Jim, on helping to keep the Monarchs and other bugs and butterflies thriving. We could all be less fussy about bug damage and encourage a more natural approach in our gardens. Your garden is gorgeous and looks like it is very happy under your care.
Tim, Thanks for the reminder to be aware of butterfly preferences when choosing new plants. Apparently, even having milkweed in containers on apartment balconies will help the Monarchs survive.
Hi May. I had asked you last year about a plant you had in a container: Kalanchoe pumila. Thanks to your ID I've procured one this year. It's such a pretty little succulent. I'm really excited to have it. Many thanks!
Tim I'm so glad you found it. I took mine in for the winter, but it was not happy there, got leggy and buggy, and finally gave up. If I find another one I'll get it and treat it as an annual.
Sharing favourites and tips with other gardeners is what makes GPOD so valuable.
Congratulations on your certification. Your yard is a beautiful oasis for the butterflies.
Congratulations Miriam and Jim! Yours is the ultimate garden,
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