Category: Butterflies

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener With increasing awareness of the risks of certain pesticides to essential pollinators like butterflies and bees, modern gardeners are turning to plant selections that foster these beneficial insects by providing attractive habitats and food…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener How to attract more butterflies into the gardens was this week’s most-asked question from friends, family, and garden center customers.  Because butterflies have their favorite foods, the answer is the same whether you are…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener June is considered perennial month in the mountains of Arizona. This is the top time to find big, bold perennials at the garden center. These are the flowers that come back bigger and better…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener How to attract more butterflies into the gardens was this week’s most-asked question from friends, family, and garden center customers. Because butterflies have their favorite foods, the answer is the same whether you are…

By Ken Lain, the mountain gardener What flowers are hummingbirds and butterflies most attracted to? Milkweed’s advantages to landscapes. What is a hummingbird’s favorite flower? What is the best hanging plant to attract hummingbirds? What shrubs attract hummingbirds? Lisa and…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener What plants and flowers do monarch butterflies prefer? What plants do monarch butterflies pollinate? Do Monarch butterflies like marigolds? Milkweed plants for monarch butterflies. How do you save a monarch butterfly from dying? Monarch…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener Monarch and Swallowtail butterflies flock to this impress bush. Spectacular 8″ inch flowers fill the yard with fragrance and beauty used in flower arrangements and foundation plantings. Heat, drought, and wind only make this…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener How to attract more butterflies into the gardens was this week’s most-asked question from friends, family, and garden center customers.  Because butterflies have their favorite foods, the answer is the same whether you are…

by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener We’ve all seen well-meaning, but dreary, low-water landscapes. The only color is gray to gray-green, with plants that look brittle and bone-dry. But water-wise gardens can be vibrant, colorful, and yes, even lush-looking. We’ve…

Monarch Butterfly on a Butterfly Bush by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener With its four-inch wingspan and vibrant black and orange pattern, the Monarch butterfly is easy to recognize. Sadly, Monarch population numbers have experienced a…