The Boomer Magazine: Garden....Construction's over....where are the butterflies ????.

A Climbing Don Juan blossom cluster 4-15-13

Last summer I decided to do something different with the backyard conversion project. I had run out of sunshine and was down to shady areas only. A next shadier phase was in order.

Roses did not get enough sun along the patio walk, moved roses and planted shade loving variety of butterfly plants

After doing a little research I found something that would fit perfectly. I would build a raised bed garden for a butterfly, hummingbird and honey bee hotel.

Young knockout rose cluster opening for the first time in the spring 4-15-2013

Research showed there would be plenty of beautiful flowering plants that would grow well in the shade.

I pulled the dirt back from the big trees. My neighbors had to warn me I would kill them by adding another foot of dirt above their shallow root system. The dirt blocks the water from getting down to the roots.

The bonus was, if I chose correctly, I could attract and help the butterflies, hummingbirds and honey bees. Once again, I had a plan.

Our shady, shady wall area is beginning to awaken from the season's slumber.

During our cool season, (we don't allow winter), I built the beds and planted for all three.

Mollie and the back fence area. Two new trees are on the left. The "hide a fence" project on the right is doing well despite insufficient light for the climbing roses.

I've hauled eight pick up loads (yards) of bulk rose dirt, about a 160 bags of various kinds of mulch and enriched potting soil, and about 6 tons of cut limestone and Corkstone.

Spring has sprung ! Where are the customers ?

Plants purchased and planted include:

10 under canopy "butterfly trees".

Newly built and planted front window garden, filled with rose dirt and lined with Sonora Corkstone.

32 different kinds of hill country roses (all the previous year)

50 milk weed plants, about half Tropical and half indigenous Texana.

The new dining room window bed. We dug out the 1979 box woods roots and all and started over with these butterfly plants.

175 shade and sunshine, food providing blossoming plants.

Four blossoming vines.

Shot from the "office chair".

It's been an enjoyable project. Although, I kept an organic vegetable garden for several years,

The rarely blooming Lavender Lassie Rose. This is only the second bloom in a year and a half.

I am a rank amateur at this flowers and butterflies deal.

The start of the Rose Garden Walkway. I added some sun loving butterfly plants in the openings between roses.

The stone borders and path ways are built. The dirt is in place. The plants have been planted.

I haven't a clue what this little rose is...the nursery had it labeled as a double knock out but I don't think so. Any ideas please help by letting me know in the comment section.

The calendar has turned from fall, through cool season and now deep into an unusually cool South Texas spring.

The delicate but beautiful Oakley Fisher Rose

As the weather warms up the butterflies, hummingbirds and the honey bees are supposed to arrive.

A little closer look at one of the round raised beds. That's a majestic taking up all the room in the middle. This bed is trying to keep the South Florida bromeliads alive. It's going to be close.

They didn't make it by tax day as I had expected. So all we can do is wait.

The Wisteria, "Bubba's tree", has gone from blossoms to rapid growth.

We expect to see the beautiful critters fitting around for many years to come.

A brand new baby Plumbago from Medina Nursery. It's propped up to keep the limbs off the ground.

This project will pay off in personal pleasure and satisfaction many times over.

A view of the raised beds from the veranda.

Plus, we are helping the three species propagate in a small way.

The beautiful Tropical Milkweed blooms all year. We are to cut them back for the cool seasons so the butterflies will continue on their migration and not stay where it will be too cold for them.

I've read all three critters are having loss of habitat problems.

Climbing Iceberg cluster blooms

The honey bees are supposedly in big trouble with some sort of disease attacking them.

The Trumpet plant strutting it's stuff. The darned thing is huge and still multiplying. Last year it was one stalk now it already has three big stalks. I am afraid it's going to get too large. We'll see.

Don't forget, no pollinators no wheat, no wheat means no flour, no flour means no bread, no bread and no bread means no burger joints from that point things can get downright Old Testament in a hurry.

The Beautiful and not often seen Orange Westerland Rose.

I think I'll help save the pollinators it might be smart thing to do in light of the alternatives. At today's prices it's cheaper than buying self defense ammo.