Poisoned Petals (35 page)

“I’m glad.”

“Remember that last time we were on Morrow Mountain out in Badin and we saw all those tiger swallowtails in that tree?”

“Yes! We still have the pictures your father took.”

“Maybe we should take your butterflies out there and let them go. Steve could come, too, if you like.”

“I think just the two of us should go,” she answered. “And that would be a great spot to let them go.”

The theme from Star Wars started and Peggy sat down.

“I love you, Mom,” Paul said. “I know I don’t say it enough and . . .”

“Don’t be silly! Love is more than pretty phrases. You show me you love me all the time.” She picked up a chip. “And I love you, too. Now be quiet so we don’t miss the movie!”

 
Spring is the gardener’s time of year! Sweet breezes beckon as the land warms and thrives. There is nothing like the beginning of the year for anyone who loves to get outside and watch things grow.

But it can be difficult to know what to do once you get outside. Many would-be gardeners are discouraged when they face the enormous amount of work to be done.

The best thing to do is set up a list of projects. This list can be maintained according to priorities. Don’t get overwhelmed. Focus on each project and see it through, even if it takes longer than one season. Your yard will start to look better right away!

Another good thing to do is to create a plan of how you want your garden to look. Where do you have shade and where do you have sun? Do you want to plant a color garden all in red or yellow? Do you have room for trees or a pond?

Taking a good look at what you have to start with can influence what you want to do for the rest of the year. Be ambitious in the spring, maintain in the summer, harvest and replant in the fall, and prune in the winter. A good game plan will see you through all the phases of your garden!

Happy Gardening!

 
 
Care and Feeding Guide

 
SPRING BUSHES

 
Lilac.
Nothing smells as good as a lilac! They are a low-maintenance shrub that offers beautiful flowers for weeks in the spring and a nice shade plant for summer. Once planted and properly cared for, the lilac will last for the life of your garden.

Lilacs don’t like to keep their feet wet so be sure to plant them where they can get adequate drainage. Water frequently and deeply in the case of prolonged dryness. Their roots run deep.

Use plenty of mulch to keep soil moisture and to keep weeds down. Lilacs don’t mind almost any kind of soil from clay to sand. Use a general-purpose fertilizer in early spring, preferably one high in phosphorus to promote blooming. Repeat in summer after blooms have fallen off.

Forsythia.
Forsythia or golden bell is an extremely fast-growing bush. It can grow one to three feet per year! Pruning is the only way to take care of it and still maintain any sort of shape. It is the earliest spring-blooming bush. It can be planted individually or as a group to provide a nice row. After the yellow flowers are gone, it will keep leaves the rest of the year.

They are easy to grow. Established bushes require very little care. They should be set out in full sun to partial shade areas for best results. They will grow well in most soil but will need to be well drained.

Fertilize once a year in early spring with a high-phosphorus fertilizer. Water only during extended dry spells.

 
PLANTING A BUTTERFLY GARDEN

 
What gardener wouldn’t love to have a yard full of flitting, gorgeous butterflies to add to the attractive landscape? It doesn’t take a lot of work to attract butterflies to your yard, just some planning.

To begin with, you’ll need a location with plenty of sun and protection from the wind. A planting along a wall or line of bushes will work great. The specific plants you place in the garden will determine which butterflies you’ll attract. Achillea, aster, bee balm, liatris, lavender, lilies, thistles, and violets are all good bets.

A good butterfly flower needs shape, color, and fragrance. Butterflies have a long tongue (proboscis) for sipping nectar from deep flowers. Having lots of small flowers packed tightly in a composite head is very attractive to them.

To attract the widest array of butterflies, a variety of colors is best. Butterflies see colors in flowers that are not visible to humans. Mass plantings of a flower are more attractive than just one or two of each. Fragrance in flowers is also important. Butterflies have a good sense of smell. Use flowers with more scent rather than hybrid varieties that are showier but have less scent.

A water supply can serve as a resting spot for some to drink and obtain minerals. You can make a nice mud puddle or push a saucer into the ground and keep it moist.

Butterflies are cold-blooded and need to warm themselves on cool mornings before they can fly. Add a supply of dark rocks to collect warmth for butterflies to rest on.

Some butterflies are attracted to fermenting fruit. A feeder can be made with cut apples, plums, peaches, or other ripe fruit. Red admirals and mourning cloaks may visit these.

You can get a book or go to sites online to check out what type of butterfly is visiting your yard. This will give you some clues on what flowers to plant next year. A few of the butterflies you might attract to your garden are tiger swallowtails, sulphurs, skippers, hairstreaks, and buckeyes.

 
Websites:
www.butterflyworld.com
www.butterflywebsite.com

 
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
6500 South New Hope Rd.
Belmont, NC 28012
www.dsbg.org

 
In 1989, Daniel J. Stowe, a retired textile executive from Belmont, North Carolina, reserved 450 acres of prime rolling meadows, woodlands, and lakefront property and established a foundation to develop a world-class botanical garden. A lifelong nature lover and gardening enthusiast, Dan Stowe and his wife, Alene, envisioned a complex evolving over several decades to rival other internationally renowned gardens. One hundred and ten acres are complete.

The Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden site has a long history. Native American tribes, the Catawba and Cherokee, trapped, fished, and raised families here. Later, the area was home to early European settlers. Recently, the gardens were used as pasture for farm animals. Most of the site is covered by mature woodlands and pine forest.

The gardens offer many classes and children’s programs on horticulture, botany, gardening, and nature conservation. The facilities are open year-round and are available for special events such as weddings, parties, or other events.