Looking Ahead

Taylor Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

With the weather feeling cool and crisp and the gardens slowly fading. Tomer and I are just maintaining the plants that will survive until the first hard frost. As most of you, my thoughts are now on my home but Tomer's are consumed with the sights and smells of the Woods in Bronson...where he and family gather to hunt, share breakfast and stories of the days adventures.
With thoughts of gardens behind us, we were looking ahead to Winter and settling in for a season of rest. Until today, when in the mail was a small envelope addressed to...The Gardener. Hmmm...what's this? What a pleasant surprise when upon opening we read these words.
Hello,
The Taylor Garden Club likes to commend our residents who do an excellent job tending their yard. Your yard is year round a joy to see. Your tulips in the Spring a joy to see, and Summer and Fall are always nice. The Garden Club meets the third Thursday of each month. We would love to have you visit or join.
Wow! I think we are going to take them up on their offer. What better way to make new friends and learn from one another? I'm looking forward to it.

This is one of the goals of the Taylor Garden Club.
Create a
"Butterfly Friendly Zone"

Butterflies are beautiful flying insects whose lifecycle depends on many types of plants, trees and shrubs. These "flying flowers" are in a general decline, through loss of native habitat, herbicide and pesticide overuse. The Taylor Garden Club is leading the
"Make Downriver a Butterfly Friendly Zone"
project, encouraging everyone to follow some simple guidelines that will attract butterflies to make your home, their home!

Delightful Dozen
Plants for Successful Butterfly Gardens:Wayne County, MI

Where Butterflies Feed
Nectar Plants

Butterfly
Bush
Swamp Milkweed
Butterfly
Milkweed

Purple
Coneflower
Zinnia
Joe-Pye-Weed

Aster
Mexican
Sunflower
Lantana

Blazingstar
Tall Verbena
Wild
Bergamot

Where Butterflies Lay Eggs & Caterpillar Feed
Host Plants

Clover
Swamp Milkweed
Butterfly
Milkweed

Dill, Fennel
& Parsley
Pearly
Everlasting
Rue

Spicebush
Shrub
Turtlehead
Tulip
Tree

Violet
Willow
Tree
Hop
Vine

Butterfly Gardens Guidelines
Plant in sunny place sheltered from the wind.

Plant groups of colorful nectar flowers that they prefer.

Plant for diversity in height, color and blooming times.

Include larval host plants for them to lay eggs on and for the
caterpillars to feed on.

Avoid the use of pesticides. Handpick or use water sprays to
remove unwanted pests.

Rocks of stepping stones can be used as sunning spots for
these cool blooded creatures.

Provide a puddle in a sunny spot for "puddling." They need to
sip salts and minerals from damp sand or soil.

Provide some shelter. Butterflies rest in tree and shrub foliage
on rainy or windy days. Leaving some leaf litter, a brush pile,
or a small stack of wood or branches gives shelter to a variety
of butterflies which winter here in Michigan.



Butterfly Friendly Zone

Love to all!