Caterpillars!

I am very excited to report that the Monarch butterflies have favored the Milkweed plants in my garden with caterpillars!

Within the next ten days, these guys will crawl away to a hidden spot and become chrysalises, and ten days more, and they will be new Monarch Butterflies. 

I planted these Milkweeds for just this purpose, and it's happening!

Pollen

I have assembled a pollinator garden! I have filled  previously bare mulched quadrants with mostly perennial flowers that attract pollinators.

All winter I browse the Internet and learn more about Native Plants,  Plants for Full Sun,  Butterflies,
Hummingbirds, etc.  Then, in the Spring, I buy some new  plants to add to the old ones just coming up,

This is its third year. The perennials have established themselves.  Not only that, it has rained more than anyone wanted, except those plants.

As a result,  here are some of the plants that make the bees very happy:

native phlox and calendula (an annual , from seed!)

 

 

Cherry Bells, Anise Hyssop, Perennial Sage, Crocosima

 

 

Yarrow

 

 

 

Lantana

 

 

 

As a result, the pollinators are happy.  I am now  miserable with early onset hay fever!