We’re visiting with Ric McGee today.
In 1999–2000 the nonprofit retirement community I directed was renovated and expanded. An avid naturalist, I designed and raised funds for a community cutting garden at the home (which was built in 1960 in its present location but has been serving elderly women of limited means for over a century in Lexington, Kentucky).
Now retired, I spend 10 to 20 hours most weeks in spring, summer, and fall volunteering as the community gardener. Folks on the honor system can walk into the garden, grab a cut-off water bottle and a pair of scissors at the entrance, fill the bottle with water from a watering can, and pick a bouquet. Donations to help keep the garden maintained are accepted with great appreciation in a mailbox at the entrance. Last year, with pictures taken while I worked, I had notecards made. The cards are now another fundraiser!
Already in early spring, this garden is a great space for the residents to enjoy.
The garden welcomes all sorts of visitors, like this eastern swallowtail on lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflora, Zones 8–10 or as an annual). Lisianthus is native to the prairies of North America, though this is a cultivated form with extra layers of petals.
A bumblebee explores a purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, Zones 4–9), another great North American native that is beautiful in the garden or a vase.
A monarch butterfly feeds on a zinnia (Zinnia elegans, annual) bloom.
A monarch caterpillar munches away on some milkweed (Asclepias sp.) Caterpillars and the holes they make in leaves are less beautiful than butterflies, but if you want butterflies, you have to make sure caterpillars have plants to eat that haven’t been sprayed with insecticides.
A cloudless suphur butterfly feeds on gomphrena (Gomphrena globosa, annual). In addition to feeding butterflies, gomphrena are great cut flowers, drying perfectly and holding both their color and their shape.
Common buckeye butterfly on a zinnia
A black swallowtail stops on tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica, Zones 9–11 or as an annual).
A praying mantis hangs out on the fence.
Have a garden you’d like to share?
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Comments
Oh, this is beautiful. I can see your 10 to 20 hours of handiwork a week there front and center. What better use of retirement time for you. I do hope you have volunteers who also add to the beauty----working with others is most often preferable to working alone. How big is the space?
I can imagine the pleasure that the garden affords those living in the facility as well as people in the community at large. The bees, caterpillars, and butterflies probably think it was a genius idea to provide them with all this bounty. Beautiful gardens are always appreciated, if not acknowledged, by people just walking or driving by.
Such a lot of good work. Keep at it!
Ric - I agree with what wittyone said. I hope at some point you will share some wider views of the garden. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful - butterflies always brighten my day!! Thank you for your work on this lovely garden.
Oh, my. Really pretty!
What an incredible garden for the area, it truly is special. I love the idea of the cut water bottles and scissors so folks can bring a small bouquet to their homes. I'm guessing that this small bit of thoughtfulness allows the nearby folks a sense of ownership, protection and respect for this little piece of natural heaven. Kudos!!!
Great photos! So real it's like being there!
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