Prairie Winds Farm

Cassia bicapsularis ( Upper photo; bloom is a buttercream color ) In the lower photo are yellow sulphur butterfly caterpillars feeding on the foliage and being reared inside my home to protect them from predation by wasps. A perfect shrub for long term bloom during august through November in Texas. Tender in winter if a hard freeze occurs. In my butterfly garden photo from previous post, the shrub is planted in the left rear as a focal point. Height is 6-8', likes full sun. Butterfly eggs look like lime green or off white pieces of thread sitting vertically on leaf. Female is likely to lay her eggs on tender new growth.

Purple Porter Weed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis Justicia betonica, White Shrimp Plant Here is a photo of the perennial Justicia betonica , White Shrimp Plant in my butterfly garden. The plant likes shade or morning sun. It blooms late summer on into the Spring if there are no freezes. It is easily propagated and makes a stunning filler for the garden area. I produced this one from cuttings. It is 2 years old. It bloomed the second year. I have seen hummingbirds and hawk moths nectaring from it. The purple bloom next to it is coming from the Purple Porterweed, Stachytarpheta jamaicensis . The Purple Porterweed is an exceptional nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies. It likes dappled shade and grows tall sometimes 4-6' if your soil is rich and you water well. Keep the blooms deadheaded so that the plant will continually produce more nectar for your visitors. the Stachytarpheta comes in coral, red, white and purple colors. You can easily prun...

Here is a photo of the backyard butterfly garden shown through the back screened in porch. You should consider placing your butterfly garden in an area of your yard where you can enjoy their visits. Here is a photo of garden mix, center, and shredded bark mulch by the yard in my driveway prior to spreading. The last pile is crushed granite used in a pathway. Soil and drainage for your Butterfly Garden or Wildscape If you already have an existing garden with good fertile soil, you probably don't have to do much before you plant your garden. You can easily enhance the soils microbial activity by incorporating some compost and working it into the soil by soil turnover with a shovel or a tiller. Keep in mind that when you till, you introduce weed seeds to the surface. If you cover your final garden planting with a protective layer of mulch, pine needles, cotton burr compost or leaves from the leaf pile, you will reduce soil temperature in the summer heat and increase the soil temperat...