Zippin along by JeffreyW

“How do you fall in love with hummingbirds?” I asked my teens. We were sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner while two female ruby-throated hummers flitted back and forth outside the window.

My two teens stared blankly back at me. Silence… “I mean it,” I said, “I want to tell people how to fall in love with hummingbirds. How do you do it?” Still silence. “Well,” I said, “How do you fall in love?”

Falling in love is simple

“What is the first step in falling in love?”

My teen daughter was growing impatient. “You see. You fall in love,” was her curt reply. “Who needs to ask how to fall in love with a hummingbird? It’s simple. Just see one.”

How to see hummingbirds

Assuming you don’t have Mom to do it for you, it’s still surprisingly easy to “snare” a hummingbird or two to fall in love with. Here are five ways to attract them.

1. Add at least one native flowering plant or shrub with red, trumpet-shaped flowers to your garden.
2. Hang a hummingbird feeder – preferably from your window.
3. Leave slim dead branches on your trees. Hummingbirds need very narrow perches for their tiny feet. They like to sit on leafless branches, which give them an open view.
4. Put out rotten fruit, such as tomatoes and banana peels. Hummingbirds need small insects to add protein to their diet and they enjoy fruit flies.
5. Tie bright red, pink, or orange ribbons to your trees and to your feeder. When you put up a new feeder hummers will need to find it before you will see them. Hummers are attracted to red, pink, and orange objects.

Are you in love yet?

“It’s easy to fall in love with a hummingbird.” My teens haven’t forgotten my dumb question – two days later they’re still shaking their heads over it. Is it really that easy, or does life get in the way for most of us? Have you fallen in love with nature yet?

Kid tip: actions speak louder than words. When kids live with adults who respect and care for nature they just think that’s the way the world is.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Related posts:

1. Why You Want to Add a Birdfeeder to Your Garden
2. How Does Love of Nature Arise?
3. Kansas Fall

Female black swallowtail by Lenora Larson

Swallowtails are some of the most spectacular and the simplest of butterflies to attract to your garden.

To get swallowtails, just know their needs then shop anywhere you find plants on sale.

What swallowtails need

I was fortunate to visit with Lenora Larson, butterfly gardener, and nationally recognized writer, last weekend. Lenora is an amazing source of butterfly information and she is very enthusiastic about sharing!

First, I learned that butterflies aren’t too brainy, but they are able to recognize whether you put in the right plants for them. Second, the easiest, and best, way to attract butterflies is to give them specific foliage plants for their caterpillars, not flowers.

Plant some parsley

The beautiful and spectacular black swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polyxenes, needs plants in the carrot and parsley family to lay its eggs on. When the female black swallowtail lands on a parsley leaf chemicals in her feet detect chemicals on the parsley leaf and she lays an egg.

It’s great news for you. Parsley is easy to grow from seed, and is very available as a potted herb (you’ll find it just about every place plants are sold). In my garden parsley self-seeds; I’ve got rather a lot of it. Sure enough, even though my own butterfly garden is not yet planted, black swallowtails are visiting and there are tiny caterpillars on my parsley.

About black swallowtails

Black swallowtail caterpillar by Lenora Larson

Not only are black swallowtails easy to attract, they are one of the largest North American butterflies.

With a wingspan of up to 4 inches across these swallowtails are similar in size to monarchs.

It’s simple to tell the male from the female, and black swallowtail caterpillars are attractive and interesting.

When small the black swallowtail caterpillars look like tiny bird droppings. As they go through each molt they change color and pattern and end up as monarch mimics.

About parsley

Parsley is an easy herb to grow. It tastes great on soup or salad, and can be used to make parsley butter. Parsley can even be chewed to reduce the smell of garlic on your breath. While kids rarely develop a taste for herbs, parsley is one they might be quite happy to chew on during a visit to the garden.

Attracting swallowtails

It is really easy to attract black swallowtails to your garden simply by planting extra parsley for them. If you prefer to plant a native flower golden alexanders, Zizia aurea, and prairie parsley, Polytaenia nuttallii, are suitable. Golden alexanders likes moist soil in a sunny spot. Prairie parsley likes sun and dry, rocky soil. Both have yellow flowers and bloom from May to June.

Lenora calls butterflies “flying flowers”. They bring your garden alive and I think they are worth just a little effort for the beauty and interest they add to the garden.

Which butterflies have you seen in your garden this year? Are you surprised that black swallowtails are so easy to attract?

Kid tip: black swallowtail caterpillars are easy to raise indoors, as long as you have enough parsley, or fresh carrot greens, to feed them with.

I’m excited to announce that select Loving Nature’s Garden articles will soon be featured at Grandparents.com. You’ll want to check out Grandparents.com for kids cooking, recipes, activities, travel tips, and their benefits club.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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2. Beans, Beets, Butterflies, Bees, and Birds
3. The hidden treasure weed which monarchs love

A butterfly on leaf by Dottie Mae

“ Come, butterfly It’s late- We’ve miles to go together. ” Basho

You want to have beautiful butterflies in your garden.

Have you put off butterfly gardening because of the work involved? You don’t need to. You can start small.

Simple butterfly gardening

A butterfly doesn’t care how beautifully your plants are arranged, whether they are color coordinated, or if the neighbors admire them. The fastest way to get started is by adding a few suitable plants to your existing non-grass garden areas.

You can add a new plant anywhere you have an open spot in your garden, or remove a plant you don’t want any more and replace it with a native plant which butterflies will love.

Butterfly needs

Butterflies have two different plant needs: nectar sources for the adults; and host plants for the caterpillars to feed on. This article covers some useful, and attractive, spring native, nectar sources for butterflies.

Aquilegia canadensis - Jeff Hansen

Aquilegia canadensis – wild columbine

The nodding blossoms of Aquilegia canadensis remind me of beautiful ladies in ballet skirts as they dance in the spring breeze.

Wild columbines are no-fuss plants which will grow happily in shady spots in your garden. Their dresses vary from red to pink, with an under-dress of yellow to cream.

Plant wild columbines on the east, south, or west side of your house. Tuck them into bare spots in the dappled shade of deciduous trees, but not too close to the trunk. They will readily self-seed and make your garden even more beautiful. They also attract hummingbirds.

See the native range of wild columbine and read more about Aquilegia canadensis.

Phlox divaricata - Jeff Hansen

Phlox divaricata – blue phlox

The five-petaled, blue flowers of Phlox divaricata look gorgeous in dappled woodland shade under mature trees, with a background of spring green.

Plant them on the east, west, or north side of your home. Add a little compost as they don’t like dry soil.

The fragrant blue blossoms appear later than those of the columbine. They’ll attract both butterflies and hummingbirds.

See the native range of blue phlox and read more about Phlox divaricata.

Prunus americana - Jeff Hansen

Prunus americana – wild plum

If you have a bigger spot available in your garden consider adding Prunus americana.

Wild plums form an attractive small tree, or multi-stemmed shrub. They are one of the earliest natives to flower.

As well as producing early flowers for butterflies and hummingbirds, the fruit will feed songbirds, and  can also be used to make jellies and jams, if the birds and squirrels leave any!

Plant Prunus americana in full sun or part-shade on the south, east, or west of your home. It doesn’t seem to be fussy about moisture.

See the native range of wild plum and read more about Prunus americana.

Spring nectar for butterflies

The spring nectar plants for butterflies are almost all native woodland plants which tolerate some shade. They are great plants for tucking into what are often problem spots in your garden. Use them around trees, next to shrubs, and in your foundation planting. As well as attracting butterflies, many spring natives also feed hummingbirds.

Where are you located? I can help you to find a local native plant source for your area. Let me know your city and zip code in the comments, or through my contact form, and I’ll be happy to help.

Kid tip: some native plants which butterflies enjoy are poisonous. If you have young children be sure to check for this before planting them where your children play unsupervised.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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2. What Can You Find in a Nature Garden?
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Serious Bird by Navicore

My garden was deserted, not a bird in sight.

Suddenly a blue jay was cawing and the birds appeared. Were they following the blue jay? Actually, no, I was wrong.

The leaders of the bird world are in fact chickadees. Other birds follow chickadees to find food.

Get a chickadee to nest in your garden and you’ll have more birds to watch and enjoy.

Chickadees nest in holes

Chickadees will naturally nest in holes; they’re not beyond excavating a weak spot in your siding either. It’s preferable to give them their own birdhouse or nest box.

What to look for in a chickadee or tit nest box

Birdhouses, or nest boxes, come in a large variety of styles. You’re better off with a functional nest box than a fancy one. Here is what you need to host chickadees and their titmice, and European tit, cousins.

• Base – about 4” by 4” (10cm x 10cm) on the inside, 6″ by 6″ (15cm x 15cm) on the outside.
• Front height (internal) – about 9″ (23cm).
• Hole – 1⅛” for black-capped chickadee and chestnut-backed chickadee; 1½” for the Carolina chickadee and titmouse;  25mm for blue tit, marsh tit, and coal tit; 28mm for great tit.
• Material – cedar, exterior grade plywood, hardwood (oak or beech), woodcrete, or a hollowed out log. The inside surface should be rough or roughened. Nails, screws, or other fixings should be brass or galvanized.
• Design – look for a nest box which opens up for cleaning (October is the time to remove any old nesting material).
• Perch – do not choose a nest box with a perch. A perch makes it easier for sparrows to get in a nest box. If your chosen birdhouse comes with a perch please remove it.

Where to buy a chickadee or tit nest box

If you’re not ready to break out your tools, there are plenty of places to buy birdhouses suitable for chickadees, titmice, and tits.

• Woodlink carries the exclusive license for Audubon designed birdhouses and nesting boxes – take a look at Woodlink nesting products
• I bought my own chickadee nestbox at my local Wildbirds Unlimited Store. Visit your local store or shop online at Wild Birds Unlimited.
• In the UK the RSPB are the birds experts. Look for blue tit and more nest boxes in the RSPB store.
• Blue tit boxes come in a large variety of shapes, materials, and styles. Here’s a great blue tit birdhouse collection.

How to build a chickadee or tit nest box

Nest box building for chickadees, titmice, and their European tit cousins is not that complicated. If you’re willing to get out your saw and screwdriver you’ll need a reasonable birdhouse design plan. Here are some excellent ones.

• Shaw Creek Bird Supply manufacturers and sells bird houses. They also provide a basic chickadee nest box plan.
• For my UK friends, both the British Trust for Ornithology and Lincoln Wildlife Trust have good basic nestbox plans: Lincoln Wildlife Trust nestbox factsheet; how to make bird boxes.

Chickadees and European tits are lively. amusing, all-year garden residents who benefit from nest boxes. Provide a great environment for chickadees and you will bring other migrating birds, including warblers, vireos, and kinglets to your garden. What could be more fun than more garden birds to watch? They’ll also take good care of removing pesky insects like aphids.

Which birdhouse will you put up in your garden this year? If not, why not?

Kid tip: Project Nestwatch is a fabulous citizen science project which the whole family can get involved with. You may enjoy checking out the variety of nestcams across the country, or even on another continent.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Related posts:

1. Why chickadees are so greedy
2. All About Bird Nesting
3. 3 ways to bring more birds to your winter garden

Dark-eyed junco by dobak

When it comes to attracting birds to your winter garden, just think of your own basic needs: food, water, and shelter.

Being without basic necessities is a scary thought. In winter, that fear is very real for birds.

Cold food, no water

I remember well the ice storm of January 2002.

First came the ice, one inch thick on the steep driveway in my front yard. Then, the pear tree on my front lawn creaked, groaned and fell open like the segments of an orange. Finally, the power went off.

Soon, I had no way to cook food; I had to turn the water off for fear it would freeze; and my home became too cold for comfort. I decided to move out.

If birds don’t find what they need in your garden they too will go elsewhere.

1. Food for winter birds

Birds can survive in even the coldest of climates provided they have enough food. Little 5″ chickadees spend the winter in Alaska and the 4″ golden-crowned kinglet, one of the smallest North American birds, can be found in the northern states, including Minnesota and Maine.

The two best foods to put out for winter birds are black-oil sunflower seeds and suet. Both provide fat. Fat is the best food source for birds when the weather gets cold. And, no, they don’t have to worry about their cholesterol levels! They are built to turn fat into energy.

“Black-oil sunflower seeds attract the widest variety of species,” according to The Bird Watching Answer Book. They are easier to crack open than striped sunflower and have a high meat-to-shell ratio. Birds also seem to be particularly attracted to black fruits and seeds.

Suet is a very good source of energy for birds and will bring in both woodpeckers and nuthatches, which are not interested in seeds. You can get started with suet feeding using a simple wire suet block feeder (easy to find at grocery stores or hardware stores), or an onion bag tied up with a block of suet inside  (ask for suet at your butcher shop or the meat counter at the grocery store). Large woodpeckers need a tail prop suet feeder – check your local bird store or shop for one online.

2. Fresh, unfrozen water

Birds can eat snow, but melting snow uses up vital energy. Winter weather can be very dry, and there’s not always snow on the ground. By providing a water source you’ll be helping the birds and more will come to visit. On dry winter days robins line up for a visit to my garden water bowl.

Provide a shallow bowl of fresh, warm water each morning in winter, or set up a heated bowl. I use a large, heated dog water bowl with some stones in to keep the water shallow. Some birds are tempted to bathe even in winter if you provide water deep enough! Check out these water for birds guidelines from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

3. Safe shelter

Birds don’t like to perch out on open, exposed, leafless branches in winter. They will look for an alternative.

• Woodpeckers and other cavity nesting birds will use holes in trees and nest boxes for sleeping on the coldest nights. Be sure to clean out nest boxes at the end of the breeding season then hang them back up for use in winter.
• Brush piles provide good shelter for birds. When fall comes, leaves get trapped among the tangled branches making them good places to get out of the wind. If you don’t yet have a brush pile plan to use your fallen branches and shrub trimmings to build one this year.
• Evergreen shrubs and trees give birds good winter shelter. If you want to plant an evergreen and aren’t sure if it’s native you can find out at the USDA plants database. Maybe adding an evergreen is on your garden list for 2011. I know it’s on mine.

There are some simple actions you can take to bring more birds to your garden in winter. Put out a saucer or shallow bowl of water; shop for suet and onions (you get to eat the onions); plan to build a brush pile and plant an evergreen. The birds will thank you!

Which birds have you seen this winter in your garden? What is attracting them? How often do they visit?

Kid tip: chat with your kids about how birds find food, water, and shelter. When it’s windy and cold kids can hunt the yard for the most sheltered spot.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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1. 5 Ways to Winter Bird Watch with Kids
2. Make Like a Kansas Possum and Prepare for a Prairie Winter
3. How Long Does It Take Birds to Find a Feeder?

California quail by Teddy Llovet

There is no doubt that the holidays are a time of excess for many of us.

Looking back over the years, I see the day after Christmas as the day when stress and tiredness begins to surface.

Christmas past

One of my favorite presents when I was a kid was the selection box – a variety box of chocolate candies.

I loved dipping into that selection box unsupervised. But it wasn’t all good. I could eat more chocolate on Christmas day and the day after than on any other day of the year. Shall we say “sugar sick”?

Changed meal times, combined with too much chocolate, sleep deprivation from getting up early to see what Santa had brought, and being cooped up indoors for days in a row was a recipe for disaster.

Get out, get walking

Then one year, when I was all grown up (but still loved chocolate), my Scottish friends invited me to go for a Boxing Day walk.

“In Britain, Boxing Day is usually celebrated on the following day after Christmas Day, which is 26 December.” – Woodlands Junior School, Kent UK.

Going for a walk on Boxing Day was a new tradition for me, though not for others, but one I really welcomed.

Whatever the weather

Whatever the weather is for you on the day after Christmas make a plan to get outside and reconnect with nature. The fresh air will bring back your flagging appetite and the exercise will blow away the tiredness and stress. There’s nothing worse than a case of cabin fever and winter is prime time.

If you like birds do take your binoculars along. You just might see some birds out for a Boxing Day walk too!

Kid tip: sleep-deprived kids can be low on energy. Invite your kids to bring some candy along on your Boxing Day walk and give them a goal to reach before eating it.

You can read about the origins of Boxing Day at Snopes.

Do you have any after-Christmas traditions? What do you think about going for walk on Boxing Day, with or without family?

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Good New Year to you all when it comes. My regular readers may have noted less frequent posting as we approach the holidays. I will be down to once a week posting until January.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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Black capped chickadee by Noel Zia Lee

“Nature dangles her secrets right below our noses, yet we rarely notice.” – Alison Kerr, 2010

I was snuggled up in bed reading a book, Beyond the Bird Feeder, given to me by a really good friend.

Suddenly this sentence jumped out at me, “… occasionally chickadees or nuthatches will take it upon themselves to transfer as much of the feeding station as they can to nearby hiding places.”

Less greedy, more sneaky

Whoa, chickadees hide food? I had no idea! Right enough, I’ve watched the chickadees at my feeder and I could never figure out how many were visiting.

Those annoying European sparrows fly in, take a seed, sit and eat, while the chickadees swoop, grab, flit off, and are seemingly back again in a wink. Suddenly it made more sense.

Questions, questions, without answers

My mind was full of questions. Where exactly do chickadees hide the sunflower seeds they’re stashing? Do other birds, or squirrels steal them? How come I’ve never heard of this before?

I asked several of my friends about chickadees hiding seeds and none of them had ever heard of it. They were as surprised as me! I even looked up a couple of bird books to read more, and there was no mention.

Not only squirrels hide food

So, was Beyond the Bird Feeder wrong? A quick online search turned up the following nuggets of information on why chickadees appear so greedy:

• Black-capped chickadee life history from Cornell Ornithology Lab includes fascinating information about chickadees clearing out brain neurons in the fall before embarking on a new season of sneakily hiding seeds.
• A 2004 scientific study on chickadees compared birds from Alaska and Colorado and found the Alaskan birds to be brainier and able to hide more seeds and remember where they put them.

Who knew that the tiny, hyperactive chickadee was so brainy? Certainly not me – now I love chickadees even more!

Did you know this about chickadees? Do you have a favorite bird which visits your garden?

Kid tip: try to track those smart little chickadees. Can you see where they are hiding their seeds?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Related posts:

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Female American robin by kevincole

“In the spring robins dance with me in the garden. I dig; they dig. They sing, my heart rejoices.” Alison Kerr, 2010

Where do robins go in the winter? Do they leave for warmer climes?

Robin joy

The cute British robin, Erithacus rubicula,  stays put in winter and is arguably the most adorable visitor to the bird-table.

The American robin, Turdus migratorius, on the other hand is sufficiently absent from the garden to make us wonder where he goes.

Birds of a feather

In fact robins inhabit most American states year round, leaving only Canada and the most northerly parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Maine for the south. What happens outside of breeding season, including winter, is that robins form flocks. In fall, winter, and spring they can be seen in larger numbers as they gather in trees to roost or eat berries.

More on robins

The folks at Cornell Ornithology Lab tell us that flocks of robins number around 50 in the north and as large as thousands in the south. You can attract them to your fall and winter garden with fresh water, and fresh or dried fruits. Kathlyn Stone was surprised to find winter robins in her Minnesota garden (until she discovered what her husband was up to).

Have you seen any robins recently? It’s time to start fall feeding – what kind of food do you plan to put out in your nature garden this year?

Kid tip: You can find out more about American Robins at Learner.org where there are answers to lots of great questions, teacher and student resources, and a robin observation checklist.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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New Bird Feeder by ahisgett

If you haven’t already got at least one bird feeder in your nature garden you’re going to want to add one. Here is why.

It’s Easy

Hanging a bird feeder in your garden is one of the easiest ways to get started with nature gardening.

You don’t need to know precisely which kind of birds live near you, and you don’t need to understand native plants and how to care for them (at least not yet).

It’s Pleasurable

Birds are such a joy to watch. I’ve heard so many stories of elderly folks who practically lived for the joy of watching little feathered visitors outside their window. Maybe you remember too The Birdman of Alcatraz?

Somehow birds have magic which can touch even violent and troubled souls; there’s no doubt that watching birds is a pleasurable and calming hobby. And it’s a great for all ages from infancy up.

It’s Inexpensive

While a good quality, sturdy, squirrel-proof bird feeder can easily cost more than $50, it’s not expensive to get started. You can make a bird feeder from a milk carton or orange juice carton. And when you compare the cost of feeding a few garden birds with the cost of keeping a caged bird, or other pet, complete with vet bills, it’s a really affordable choice.

It’s Educational

Garden birds are the ultimate mini science teachers. They prompt questions in everything from ecology, through nutrition, to physiology, anatomy, behavioral science, geography, optics, acoustics, and aeronautics.

Kids can learn about what different birds eat, where they live, why they migrate, how they breathe and communicate, why their feathers are shiny, how their skeletons are similar to ours, and why they are important to our gardens.

But… it’s just the beginning

But wouldn’t you be better off planting some native shrubs, trees, or perennials which will feed the birds? Yes, it’s really important that birds have natural sources of insect food and native seeds to eat. Trees such as dogwood and crab apple attract and feed a lot of birds. And hummingbirds will love natives such as cardinal flowers. Shifting to greener, organic gardening practices will also leave un-sprayed insects for the birds to enjoy.

All the same, I recommend you mix feeding the birds with gradually adding natives to your garden. Feeders bring birds close in where you can see them from your window. I find that exciting and motivating and it makes me want to do more and more for our beautiful feathered friends. Perhaps you feel the same way?

Next week I’m going to share about Wild Birds Unlimited stores and why you want to visit one.

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

Related posts:

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2. How Long Does It Take Birds to Find a Feeder?
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American Goldfinches, April 2010

What can you find in a nature garden? Here’s an update on mine. I hope you’ll be inspired. Do let me know what is happening in yours.

Beautiful Birds

Back in December 2009 I asked the question How Long Does it Take Birds to Find a Feeder?

If you hang a feeder full of thistle (niger) seeds which goldfinches love, and goldfinches are gone until spring, then the answer could be 5 months, or more.

Five months is how long it took these little golden American beauties to turn up in my garden. It was worth the wait!

House Finch, May 2010

Also recently spotted at my niger feeder:  mourning doves (they eat the seeds which fall to the ground), sparrows (which I don’t care for), and house finches.

Fearless Robins

I’ve done a lot of digging in my garden this year and American robins have been my constant companions. Compared to the other birds, they’re fearless and don’t mind getting close  enough to grab juicy worms.

Robins make me laugh with their antics – they seem to be reluctant to fly and can be seen running away from people and cars in my neighborhood from January through December.

Blue Bird House, June 2010

Scolded by Nesting Birds

Nest boxes are prime real estate in my neighborhood. I’m going to have to put up some high rises next year.

My west neighbor had chickadees break into his siding this spring. When he chased them out, the sparrows moved in.

Then my east neighbor hung up this cute blue bird house. Chickadees were soon raising a family. Now, in June, wren parents are busy scolding anyone who gets too close and their youngsters can be seen out and about being fed.

I’ve never seen so many birds raising young around my garden since I moved here over 10 years ago. I’d like to think my nature gardening efforts are paying off, but maybe it’s because the cat who used to keep down the birds and rabbits is gone. Either way, it’s all good.

Phlox in Woodland Garden, June 2010

Beautiful Native Flowers

Native woodland and prairie flowers are so beautiful and delicate.

Not many flowers will bloom in woodland shade when summer comes around. These pink phlox are the stars of my summer shade garden.

Rain Garden Flowers

I’ve added a bunch of new native plants to my back yard this year, with the addition of my rain garden.

And my rain garden has had a really good testing. It’s been a crazy spring, with my whole back yard looking like a river several times. And the rain garden stood up to it all!

Cephalanthus occidentalis (button bush), June 2010

One of the new plants in my rain garden is Cephalanthus occidentalis, or button bush. The button bush came to me in a 5 gallon plastic pot, from which a massive central root had escaped.

The root had been hacked off before it left the nursery and I was a little worried about how the button bush would settle in. I’m pleased to report that it’s doing amazingly well, has put on significant growth, and is now flowering.

I can’t wait for the red cardinal flowers, Lobelia cardinalis, in my rain garden to bloom in July. Of course I’m hoping for some hummingbirds and butterflies. Meantime I’m enjoying my prairie garden.

Butterfly Weed and Spiderwort, June 2010

Prairie Garden

Asclepias tuberosa, the orange butterfly weed, is an itinerant visitor to my prairie garden. This year it has shown up and looks delightful next to the blue spiderwort, which has been in bloom since April.

The Liatris pyncnostachya, purple blazing star, will soon be in bloom.  I feel like the flowers are my friends who step me through the Kansas year.

Native flowers keep me going outside in the summer heat, provide a rhythm to my days, and give me a sense of place. I recently wrote a post for Carole Brown about Falling in Love with My Garden.

I hope you will grow to love your garden as I do, if you don’t already. Share the wonders of native plants and wildlife with your children and neighbors. I’m sure they will thank you.

Your turn – please leave a comment. What are your favorite native plants? Did any birds nest in your neighborhood this year?

Download your copy of Simple Sprouts ebook here (it's Free).

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3. Nature Hates Bare Soil