June 7 , 2023
Native Plant Garden from Scratch in HOA: Kathleen Scott
“ If we want butterfly stroke and bees and hummingbird and snort , we have to give them a place to breathe and a place to eat on and a place to shelter , ” Kathleen Scott recount us when we headed to her New Braunfels garden in November 2022.An experient gardener , Kathleen’saComal County Master Gardenerand dish up on the board of theNew Braunfels Native Plant Society . Still , she start up afresh when she and husband Denny closed on their just - build up house in November 2020.Their challenges : HOA lawn necessary of 75 % front yard and 50 % backyard . cervid live on here , too , so Kathleen choose deer resistant plants in front . In front and the fenced back , they satisfied the HOA by ringing the yard in borders and curving beds . We’ve known each other for years via social medium and emails , but did n’t meet in person until last fall when she hosted Sara Dykman , source ofBicycling with Butterflies : 10,201 Miles with Monarchs , and put up her garden as an interview location . Watch Sara ’s powerful story!Her garden — only a year old — so beautifully illustrates planting for the time to come that we returned a week later . They bug out plant in October 2021 , mainly from 4 ” wad and germ , layering vines , shrubby trees , understory trees , perennials , red yuccas , bunch grasses , and land covers . A few subtlety tree , too . Everything ’s very young and establishing roots , but pint - sized possumhaw holly , kidneywood , goldenball leadtree , senna and more foretell a richly diverse home ground against the lifelike preserve beyond . Here ’s Kathleen ’s study in progression plant list!The Bermuda eatage greensward was so new that they ripped it out in section . Then they spray nutrients , superimposed compost , composition board and mulch . in conclusion , after six month , they set forth planting in October 2021.Right off the squash racquet , the young plants headed into hard freezes , intense summer heat and drought just as their root were getting established . But aboriginal plants can take the punches!Still , Kathleen celebrated when she and Denny put in dribble irrigation in May 2021 . With a little redundant wet , Maximilian helianthus and goldenrod truly went over the top ( as they can do in wet years ) , a golden autumnal feast for butterflies , bees , and goldfinches . On our visits , cloud and even drizzle scattered what had been hundreds of butterflies — including migrate Monarchs — but a few hung around for us . Another of their favorite industrial plant : snowy mist-flower , also call shrubby agueweed ( Ageratina havanensis).In the house - side pit raised bed , its fragrant peak draw crowds of bees , butterfly stroke , and other pollinators . Red tropical sage ( Salvia coccinea ) is also a striking with butterfly and hummingbird . Fall obedient plant ( Physostegia virginiana ) well suits butterflies and hummingbird , though by November , it was winding down . But this perennial is so fast-growing that Kathleen confine its vim to stock tanks . Kathleen planned for serial blooming and divers plants to attract birds , hummingbird , butterflies , bees and other pollinators . In this corner , Lindheimer ’s morning glory bloomed while woolly ironweed was substitute efflorescence for seed head . Tiny green milkweeds ( Asclepius viridis ) promise Monarchs a host plant in the future . Closer injection of Lindheimer ’s morning halo ( Ipomoea lindheimeri).She uses tarragon - flavored Mexican mint marigold ’s leaves in recipes , while pollinators head up for its favourable - sensationalistic flower . Gregg ’s mistflowercan flower in spring / summer ( like it is now in our gardens ) , but especially shines in fall . In right years , it ’s positively blanketed with flit Queen butterflies . In late spring through summertime , biyearly ( blooming every two years ) standing cypress is sure to lend hummingbirds into your garden . Last November , Kathleen ’s were in rosette phase , but now that they ’re in blossom , hummingbird are rejoicing . Layers are authoritative , and the ground is one of them . In the side strip , evergreen Texas frogfruit salad days spring through summer as a butterfly master of ceremonies plant and ambrosia for midget bees and other pollinator . Snake herbcan bloom from spring to descend , sporting tiny lavender flower , but it was a surprise to see winecup in November . In the gate ’s corner bed , hummingbirds and butterfly stroke head to turk ’s cap and tropical sage ( Salvia coccinea ) . Just out of position , native coralbean predict hummingbirds in late spring to other summer . Yellow cowpen daisies entice butterfly to its nectar late natural spring to fall . Tropical sages , both red and white , of course populated Kathleen ’s garden . Hummingbirds and butterflies , like Gulf checkered lily , dip into flush , while goldfinches eagerly pluck its seeds . To further multiple butterfly generations , Kathleen includes legion plant life specific to each species , like cacoethes vine for Gulf fritillary . Hatching caterpillars chomped through hers , but the plant life will be back , and perhaps the butterfly stroke we saw started lifespan on the arbor of promise .
Watch her tale !
Thanks for blockade by ! Linda
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