Summer News
My garden this year looks amazing. It went from a strip of pink spiderwort last year to a certified Monarch Waystation. The only problem is I’m not seeing many butterflies…
Last week I listened in on the Massachusetts Pollinator Network monthly meeting. Many people talked about seeing lower numbers of bees and butterflies this year and there was an exchange of ideas about why. Most of the discussion centered around already low numbers last year followed by a summer drought and a spring cold snap. That on top of the pressures that insects are already under due to the overuse of pesticides, habitat destruction and light pollution.
What can we do? These are my two go-to groups for the science behind it all, ideas, and inspiration.
Xerces Society has a great section on their website with some very actionable things we each can do to make a difference.
Home Grown National Park started by Doug Tallamy - professor, entomologist, ecologist and conservationist
Butterfly Spotlight
The one butterfly that I am seeing daily is the Cabbage White. I’ve been curious about what makes this little one so hardy. A few facts from The Life Cycles of Butterflies…
host plants are cabbage, nasturtium and spider flower (Cleome)
nectar plants are cosmos and tall verbena (Verbena bonarienses)
the Cabbage White is considered an agricultural pest
not native to North America but flourishes here
continues to mate and lay eggs until the first frost
overwinters here in its chrysalis
Good News
So far this season, together we have planted over 265 plants that support butterflies!
Thank you for trusting me with your gardens! If you need anything please reach out and keep the referrals coming. I still have space in my calendar : )
