Nature News
Get Ready for Spring!
by Yvonne Breukers
Although Spring isn’t here yet, there are a number of things we can do to prepare for it’s arrival. By going through the motions, we can sooth our souls imagining what our gardens will look like a few months from now and when we will reap the final rewards along with the Birds, Bees and Butterflies!
Speaking of butterflies, one of the best things you can do to attract Monarch Butterflies is to plant native milkweed. Directly or indirectly, milkweed also nurtures bees, birds, beetles and other insects. Now is the time to purchase and prepare milkweed seeds for planting by stratifying them.
Our order of California Native Milkweed Seeds will be in the store soon. Sounds complicated, but it isn’t. Simply take your seeds, put them in a plastic sandwich bag with ¼ cup horticultural sand and ¼ teaspoon hot water, swoosh around to mix, seal the bag and place it in the refrigerator. After 6 weeks, if no more frost is expected, they are ready to be planted. Since most native milkweeds are perennial, once they are established that first year, they will sprout on their own after that.
Other seeds you can start to entice butterflies (and you) into your garden: Parsley, Lovage, Oregano, Thyme, Lavender, Marjoram, Coneflowers (Echinacea), Borage, Hops, Sweet Violet, Nasturtium, Sage, Mints, Rosemary…… too many to mention, but I can almost sense the gentle wind, the warmth of the sun and the wonderful smells wafting in from y(our) gardens.
What plants attract butterflies the most in your garden? Let us know by sending a note and/or picture to yvonnesplants@hotmail.com