Michigan Butterfly Garden: Before & After Photos

Momof4

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I tried last year but everything died!
It either got eaten by rabbits, we had broken sprinklers and 100 degrees days. They never had a chance.
I was so sad. Plus, I spent a fortune on the plants!
 

Alicia Hoogstra

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If anyone is interested I have several perennial plants that are SUPER butterfly magnets. I would be happy to share...(free)! Also check out Cheerios's "Save the bees", they are giving away free seeds to attract honey bees.
 

Oxalis

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You are such an inspiration!
Many thanks!! My husband and I are really enjoying increasing the Michigan native plants in our yard. :) It's better for the birds and butterflies who already live here.
Where are you located in MI ?
Around the Detroit area.
I tried last year but everything died!
It either got eaten by rabbits, we had broken sprinklers and 100 degrees days. They never had a chance.
I was so sad. Plus, I spent a fortune on the plants!
Aww, I'm sorry to hear that! I've had trouble with a few plants, but most of my hubby's plants in the backyard have been nibbled on by rabbits, mostly just during the winter. All of my tort plants were fine because they were caged off. Maybe try more native plants? I know milkweed is great for monarchs but not even deer will touch it. ;) There are some native California milkweed species, according to USDA Plants: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ASCLE And if they seed like ours did this past year, you won't run out of milkweed any time soon!
If anyone is interested I have several perennial plants that are SUPER butterfly magnets. I would be happy to share...(free)! Also check out Cheerios's "Save the bees", they are giving away free seeds to attract honey bees.
Sweet! Thanks for sharing! :) We're very concerned about our honeybees over here!! An important lesson to help plant more native wildflowers in your area. :<3:
 

Oxalis

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New Michigan butterfly plants in the ground this year, from a local native nursery, Wildtype:

Lead plant, Amorpha canescens
Pussytoes, Antennaria neglecta
Angelica, Angelica atropurpurea
Golden Alexander, Zizia aurea - I got three of these! :)
Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca
Sweet everlasting, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (formerly Gnaphalium sp.) - This plant seems just like maple syrup! :eek:
Wild false indigo, Baptisia lactea

I'm hoping to get A LOT more native plants (like a whole tray's worth) once I've opened up more space.

butterfly1.jpg

The hollyhock (at the back of the photo) is already super big. The swamp milkweed (in the front middle) is very happy near the downspout! ;)

butterfly2.jpg

The bearberry plant is in a cage because I was told it's a very fragile plant, and the rabbits worry me!

butterfly 3.jpg

I specifically picked these species because they're on the south side of the house, which is generally full sun and drier soil, which they can tolerate. I know the plants are just babies so far, but hopefully they survive the rabbits and spread all over our front yard. :D We still have a long way to go in regards to pulling out the lava rocks and replacing it with better soil and pine bark mulch (especially since we're not calling a company to come pull out the rocks for us). :( We're also planning on replacing the trees in the front landscaping (a weeping cherry and a crab apple) perhaps with species closer to natives as well; I'd love an American smoke tree (Cotinus obovatus) if we can find one for sale. Lots of work to do!
 
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Oxalis

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I have the native prickly pear I would be happy to send you, if you'd like.
I have some too, in our backyard. I'm really hoping it flowers this year. I think the rabbit may have pricked himself on the spine the other day... o_O
 

Oxalis

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Sweet everlasting, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (formerly Gnaphalium sp.) - This plant seems just like maple syrup! :eek:
Sorry, I meant "smells just like maple syrup." :confused:
 

Oxalis

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Mine took 2 years to bloom. Now the blooms are beautiful!
Muahaha! Our backyard Opuntia is beautiful with blooms, finally! :)

opuntia5.jpg

I have some photos from our front yard butterfly garden to post later too. :)
 

Oxalis

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Update: The happy little Monarch stopped by our swamp milkweed recently! :) We were walking back from the store and luckily grabbed a few photos from our crummy dumbphones. ^_^

Monarch2.jpg

Monarch5.jpg
 

Oxalis

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Seems I forgot to post some photos of our flowers too! Our hollyhock is some ten feet tall and had lots of blooms in July.

giant_hollyhock.jpg

The "native genotype" Opuntia bloomed this year too, with nice colors.

native_opuntia2.jpg

Stevie enjoyed a nice cactus flower snack this summer too. What a lucky butt! XD

cactus_flower_treat.jpg

Everything really grew this year, despite an obvious need for rain this season. But our native plants are adapted to the occasional Michigan summer drought and are doing well. It is important to try to water them a little more their first year in the ground, so they can get better established. Our serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) was shorter than me this spring and now it's way taller than my husband (who's 6'). We can't wait to see which birds the berries attract! :D
 

Alicia Hoogstra

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And..more of my gardens
 

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