Let’s Have A Garden Party
“Starting A Perennial Butterfly Garden From Scratch”
Guest Post by Jennifer Ewashko
Let’s get this party started, shall we? Hi! My name is Jennifer and I live over on my blog “The Fallen Leaf”. My Instagram page is @FallenLeafInteriors. I like to say that my main category is Home Décor but I’m really a little bit of everything. Aren’t we all just a tad of this and that? I post about what I find inspiring and sometimes about what is rattling around in my head that day. Mostly home décor ideas, and a little bit of lifestyle which includes recipes, gardening and family life. My IG stories are where I like to show the real life stuff…. You know, the nuts and bolts behind the scenes. Translated that means I have an un-natural need for caffeine, dirty dishes in the sink on any given day, never-ending laundry, décor projects, and dinner to whip up for my family on the daily. If you’re a friend to all, like to laugh, a mom with laundry baskets for days, and too many projects going at one time then we’ll get along just fine.
Now that the intro is out of the way, I bet your wondering why I landed on my friend Tammy’s blog today. Well, Tammy is a girl’s girl, she loves her tribe and likes to share her community and she asked me to be a guest blogger. So, here I am. When Tammy asked me to write a blog post, I had no idea what to talk about on someone else’s blog. I mean… how do you decide what another person’s tribe is in to? So, as my normal default is to talk about what’s currently swimming around in my life that just happened to be my new perennial garden. If you have ever started a garden from scratch you know that it can be quite the adventure. So much happens from the time you envision butterflies a fluttering around beautiful blooms to actually getting that first actual bloom. So many hoops to jump through and let’s face it….. work! Keep reading and I’m going to share how I made my visions come to life and as usual comic relief will be at the forefront. Cause y’all, sometimes bloopers happen and those are the moments that make the world more fun!
**Please note that the products pictured below are in no way sponsored, they are just my personal choices for my garden.
Let’s The Garden Party Planning Begin By Picking A Venue!
Your first hurdle will be to decide where you want this fabulous garden to live. The area that I picked was behind the waterfall wall of our pool. It’s what you see when you see from our upper deck, every window in the rear of our home, and it stares at us from the pool deck. It had not been a priority until some other more important projects had had their day. But the time had finally come to spruce up this area with something that was enjoyable to look at. Did I mention that this mama likes things pretty?
Research Your Venue! The area I chose would get full sun all day until the sun slipped behind the trees late in the evening. Any flowers would need to be comfy basking in the rays and being drought tolerant would be a plus.
As far as the soil, I had my hubby dig a hole about 8” deep to see what kind of soil we were dealing with. What we found was not exactly favorable but we could work with it! Some plants actually thrive in poor soil conditions. Who knew?
What we found was clay……tightly packed, water-holding, poor draining, heavy soil. A mental note was made for taking this into consideration when choosing plants.
Next, find out what gardening zone you are located. I am located in 6b. Keep in mind that what grows in tropical south Florida will not grow in the far north regions. Knowing your zone is also very important because some flowers will act as a perennial in the deep south but will be an annual (one season) in colder climates. Each garden tag will have the preferred zones for the plant you are choosing. Do not disregard this, it could save you from purchasing a plant that will not thrive in your area. Generally, your local garden centers will have plants for your area. This information is especially important to know when ordering online.
Party Decorations! Every great party has decorations, right. We had already had the area fenced for some protection from deer so the fence provided a nice perimeter. But I didn’t want a flat, boring flower bed. To alter the landscape we brought in two large rocks and placed strategically placed them to add some character. Just like home décor…. details matter!
Mulch that would be added in the end will provide a backdrop for the flowers to take center stage. The color of mulch you choose is a personal preference.
Guest List! Who will you invite to your garden party. Would the guest list be comprised of only perennials; plants that come back year after year. Or, will you also include annuals (one season plants), shrubs, and evergreens. I chose to initially fill the space my garden with perennials. I also added in some grasses for texture, and will be adding evergreens later for some winter eye candy and a tree in the corner to anchor the whole garden. My first phase was to get the flowering perennials and grasses planted so they could establish before winter saunters in. All totaled, I started my garden with 43 plants. Here are some of the sun-loving, drought tolerant flowers and plants that I chose for my garden:
Crash Some Parties! One of the best ways to figure out which flowers to plant is to take a walk in your neighborhood. See what the neighbors are having success with and what may or may not be thriving. Take in to consideration any wildlife in the ‘hood that may be an issue and keep in mind any measures to hinder their access as you move forward.
Party Refreshments! One of the most crucial items to check off your list is to decide how you will feed your guests. How will you deliver water to your garden. Is there a water source close by? Will you depend on manual watering, sprinklers, or irrigation? Deciding on your water delivery method now will save you some agony later on. Trust me. Especially if you know that hand watering every day will be hard to fit into your schedule. Missing or forgetting to water could make all your garden hopes and dreams go up in a puff of dust… literally. Be realistic. I chose to use a drip irrigation system that I had used for my window planters and deck plantings. The drip system is easy to manage, easy to make additions to, frees up time, and was successful in the past for me.
Drip Irrigation components generally consist of a timer, a tubing system, connectors, and several types of water delivery heads which include drippers or sprayers of different abilities. All of these components can be found at your local home and garden store or Amazon. I use the system made by Mister Landscaper and found most of the parts at my local Lowe’s Home Improvement. I now keep a box with extra fittings and attachments so that I can quickly add a water line if I plant a new flower. In the photo below are some of the components that I used for my irrigation system:
Enlist The Help Of A Party Planner! Visit your local nursery or garden center. Make friends with the people who work there. An actual nursery usually has a very knowledgeable staff. Some of the staff at your local home center will have some garden info to share but for more in depth gardening knowledge always turn to your local nursery. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, lots of questions. It’s their job to not only sell you flowers but to make your garden successful. Because a successful garden will reap more business for them, right. Also, think about ordering hard to find flowers through an online source like Proven Winners. I recently ordered some Allium because I could not find it locally. They arrived in pristine condition. Don’t shy away from online flowers.
Seating Arrangements! When you finally decide on which plants to plant and bring them home where in the world will you put them? Do Not, I repeat, Do Not Just Plop Them In The Ground. Move them around the garden in their pots. When purchasing your plants it’s always a good idea to by several of each kind. A grouping of 3 or 5 is always more impressive than one lonely plant sitting next to another lonely plant of a different type. Play around with the layout until you are pleased with it before planting. As you play around with this “seating arrangement”, keep in mind what the final product will look like. What flowers do you want to see together? Will the colors clash? Do the flowers you chose attract pollinators. For example, if you want butterflies plant a butterfly bush or two. If you want hummingbirds, plant flowers with bright colors and a trumpet shaped flowers. If you want to bring in monarchs then a butterfly weed (milkweed) is a must. Be prepared for the monarch caterpillars to eat the butterfly weed in order to gain energy to go into their cocoon stage. This is a normal process and they would not be considered a pest. At the end of the process you will see some beautiful creatures fluttering about. Here are some pictures of how I arranged my garden:
Dirty Dancing! At some time during every party, usually in the wee hours the dirty dancing always ensues. It’s finally time to get your hands dirty and get those plants in the ground. When planting your flowers dig the hole about a third larger than the container it comes in. This will provide a good place for the roots to take hold and the plant to flourish. At the bottom of the hole, take the time to break up the soil so the roots won’t have to work so hard for their water and nutrients. Remove any rocks. In that freshly dug hole that you prepared sprinkle a slow-release fertilizer in and work it into the bottom, previously fluffed dirt. This will provide nutrients for your flowers throughout the first growing season and give it a little boost during the transition from pot to ground. If your soil is like mine, dense and clay-like, you may want to consider mixing in a soil conditioner to the bottom of the hole as well as the soil that you use to backfill the hole. This will improve the soil’s drainage and the plant’s ability to take in nutrients from the soil.
After you have planted all of your plants, finish off the look with a fresh layer of mulch. Try not to cover the crown of the plant with mulch as this may smother the plant.
Check The Guestlist? Finally, make sure that you label your perennials. Using the tag that comes in the container is a good way to do this. This will also give you a “landmark” during the winter months for the plants that completely die back to the ground. And believe me when I say that if you don’t mark them you will forget where they are planted or the specific variety. Knowing their location is important especially come Spring when you want to add new plants or some colorful bulbs.
Where’s The Bar, I Need A Drink? Now is the time to set your timers if you chose a drip system. In the summer months because my garden is full sun I have mine come on every 12 hours for about 15-20 minutes. In early Spring, once a day would be more than sufficient. Also, take in to account the drip head capacity that you have chosen. Most of mine deliver 1 gallon per hour, 2 gallons per hour on things that require more water like hydrangeas or larger shrubs.
Don’t forget about fertilizer. I use a water-soluble bloom booster every 7-10 days. A bloom booster will help support your flowers during the blooming process. The blooming process takes extra nutrients so a fertilizing routing throughout the season is important. You will generally stop fertilizing several weeks prior to the first expected freeze so that the plants will prepare for the winter transition. Check with your local garden center regarding specific dates for your particular garden zone.
Don’t Forget To Mingle! You may be under the impression that your work is done. However, gardening is an ongoing commitment. Check your flowers every day. Walk around your garden. Deadheading is a necessary evil. Historically, it is not my favorite chore. Lately, I have been trying to change this attitude. Deadheading will remove the tired and spent blooms making your garden look neat and tide. It also has a functional reason. Removing the spent blooms will keep the plant from going to seed and giving out early for the season. It also encourages the plant to set new blooms. Deadheading should continue throughout the blooming season. Toward the end of the blooming season you will want to stop snapping of those little spent blooms about a month to six weeks before you expect the first freeze. This will give the plant an opportunity to prepare for winter. The time to stop deadheading depends on your garden zone, so be sure to research when is best to stop deadheading for your area.
Check daily for signs of pests. Not all creatures are created equal. Insects such as pollinators, lady bugs, and praying mantis are all beneficial to your garden. Japanese beetles and aphids, not so much. Ask your garden center staff for recommendations on how to treat the pests for your particular area. Larger critters like rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks and deer are also bothersome. If you follow me on Instagram you would already know that deer are my kryptonite where I live. A fence is a necessity as well as chemical deterrents. I have recently found squirrels and rabbits in my garden so I have sprayed the perimeter and plants with a repellant. It’s stinky but effective. It must be reapplied periodically throughout the season as rain will wash it away. Also, don’t discount the old gardener tricks. After the squirrels had a rave I reached out in my IG stories for helpful tips. Who knew that squirrels don’t like spicy party food. Cayenne pepper sprinkled around is a tried and true deterrent for them and their little chipmunk friends. Your garden shed should be equipped with an arsenal of weapons at the ready for anything that nature throws your way.
Garden Party Memories! Now is the time to start that garden journal. Include a comprehensive list of the flowers you planted. What has thrived? What has flopped? Keep track of fertilizer days noting the type used. Note the dates of when your flowers bloomed and when their blooms ended. This information will be helpful for the next blooming season. Jot down ideas for future plantings. Remember, with perennials the first year they sleep (this is where my garden is), the second year they creep, and the third year they leap! Looking back at your journal over the next few years will show you how far your garden has come. And Take pictures so you can really see the progression of your garden. It will take a few years to really fill in, so be patient.
Thank You Notes! Don’t forget to enjoy your garden. You have put a lot of time in to making it successful, so don’t forget to stand back and appreciate all of the hard work. Yes, gardening takes a lot of time and energy, but the rewards are bountiful.
In closing, I hope that you have enjoyed this blog post. I have enjoyed sharing my tiny level of garden knowledge. As a gardener, you will never stop learning. It’s all trial and error, and there are no short-cuts to having a beautiful, healthy garden. I would like to invite you to come follow along on my blog. The Fallen Leaf where I share a little bit of everything. This next year, I have promised myself to blog more often. I enjoy writing and sharing and hope that you will come along on my journey. I want to thank Tammy for inviting me to share. She has been a mentor for me throughout my Instagram journey and continues to make herself available when I can’t figure something out. And for all of her generosity, and loving spirit I thank her for being part of my village, my people…..my village people. Yes, I went there. Happy Gardening!!
Hugs Y’all,
Jennifer
Instagram Handle: @FallenLeafInteriors
Website: FallenLeafInteriors.com
Blog: The Fallen Leaf