Video

Bees

Butterflies

Chipmunks

Animal Encounters

While you chill and enjoy the view and calm of your container garden, local and migrating fauna reap some benefits, as well. Sometimes it is as bandits, but fortunately in most instances if planned properly, your garden will support mutualistic and beneficial wildlife encounters. Below are a few recordings of visitors in recent years.

Selection of flowers that attract pollinators aid in natural pollination and provide an awesome view of these animals while they are at work. There are an endless variety and combination of plants to choose from to draw these amazing animals to your garden space. If you are interested in providing a haven for butterfly eggs and larvae (adding a butterfly garden), you can include host plants, plants which are known to attract specific species for egg-laying (i.e., milkweed for monarchs, dill and fennel for swallowtails, thistle for painted ladies, asters, violets, etc). Just keep in mind that host plants are present for the larvae (caterpillars) to feed on once hatched.* Note, the monarch butterfly population has declined and scientists believe qualify as an endangered species.

All of these flower varieties can be grown in planters (marigolds, lantana, zinnia, petunias)

Some flowers that attract butterflies are zinnia, purple coneflower, marigolds, aster, butterfly bush, lantana, phlox, herbs like yarrow, lavender, bee balm, fennel, oregano, dill, and sage.

The butterfly featured in this clip is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Regal Fritillary

Monarch

Monarch feasting

Silver-spotted Skipper

Butterflies in action

Bees enjoy most of these flowers, as well. They are also partial to geranium, wild bergamot (bee balm), poppies, sunflowers, herb blooms and much more. *Note, honeybees have significantly declined and scientists fear may be moving toward extinction.

Bumblebee

Bumblebees in action

Bumblebee collecting pollen, drinking nectar

Bumblebee in cucumber bloom

First witnessed bee visit of the 2021 season, and alas, a likely poor restaurant review

Bumblebee at work

First witnessed squash bee, 2021 Season

Carpenter bee resting in shade after a drink of water on a hot day, June 2022

Hummingbirds are attracted to much of the same blooms that butterflies visit, in search of nectar. They are quite fast and jittery…too much movement, and they’re gone!

Hummingbird

At times, we have visitors that take more than they give. Introducing my nemesis of the last couple of years, The Chipmunk!

Chipmunk

These little guys were mostly guilty of digging holes everywhere, displacing newly planted seeds and transplants. Hence the netting over the planters that did not have plastic much covers, until the plants were better established….But, cute little buggers.

Let’s Chill