May 2024 Backyard Garden Tour | Part 2 | pollinator garden🦋🐛 | Texas Gulf Coast Zone 9b

May is when the magic happens along the Texas Gulf Coast! It isn't too hot yet, and garden plants are thriving and loving their lives. Join me for part 2 of the May Garden Tour as I focus on the full sun areas of the backyard gardens.

[@wesleyhackney]

I can’t believe how massive and how full and early blooming the tithonia is in your garden! Best stand of this plant I’ve ever seen. Never seen it that big and so many blooms so early. You must be doing something special

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Lol! I agree, I think they looked pretty good. We just had them flattened though by a strong storm with lots of wind and 2+ inches of rain in a couple of hours. We staked them back up and they are doing okay. (I had to remove quite a few of the broken branches.) I haven't done anything special for them. I noticed about 20 plants that were coming up from one of my raised beds this very early spring (they self seeded from last season's plants). So I put the 10 best ones into small pots so I could plant them in the new raised garden bed once we created it in April. I then planted these self seeded Tithonia once we got the bed finished in April. So I guess they had a natural head start. The raised bed dirt was new, so that probably helped them too.

[@jennifergreene8891]

Good morning neighbor! Lake Jackson here 😊 😮 the Woodpecker 😍 That Mexican Sunflower has such a stunning color 😍 I wish I had the room for it. I did get an Amistad and a Hot Lips this year, and they are doing great! And I am growing the Cuphea along with other different flowering plants from seed.. (my 1st time doing seed starting 😊) I need to get some Lantana. Does it grow fast? I thank you for sharing all the wonderful plants that grow so well here. I too have a Blue Chiffon! I had a firebush at my old house in Texas City. It was huge and covered in blooms for quite a long time! (7+ft × 5+ft) I should have brought some here, the new owner totally got rid of it 😢 Love all the beautiful color 😍 Thank you for sharing.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Good morning neighbor! The woodpeckers have trained their young to come and eat and have now "turned them loose". I get a kick watching them every day - it never gets old. Mexican Sunflowers grow crazy well for us here and attract so much life. Last year I stuffed them into my trellis bed with the Flame Acanthus and Passion Vine and that was a mistake. I knew I wanted this plant in the yard, so thought during the winter where to put it. Voila ... I got a new garden bed in April. lol! 😂 Firebush is amazing for us here. The hummingbirds, butterflies, birds, and native bees LOVE it. My Blue chiffon Rose of Sharon so far has been a slow grower for me. This will be its 4th summer with me. I thought it would be its full height by now of 12 feet tall, but unfortunately it is slow and steady. I don't think it particularly likes my clay soil. I fell in love with it's bloom color and just had to have it. I hope it starts to dazzle me soon. 😁

[@jennifergreene8891]

@@ButterfliesNBirds my Blue Chiffon was planted last spring and it is growing slower then any hibiscus I have had. It had a few blooms last year and so far this year just a couple... I am trying to be patient in thinking sleeper, creeper, leaper lol 😂🤣😂 so I am patiently impatiently waiting... Oh 😍 baby Woodpeckers... how many? That is so awesome. I love being outside watching and listening to all the beauty that people overlook. I am like "STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES PEOPLE" LOL If only for a moment it is so calming. Can't wait for your next video. Thank you 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

A nesting pair of red-bellied woodpeckers has a nest close to us and they bring their fledglings to our yard to teach them to feed. (They LOVE Bark Butter from Wild Birds Unlimited - I just smear some on the tree each day). They usually have 2-3 nests each year. The male flies in and makes a big production of his entrance and the female is quiet. Both are excellent parents. I almost pulled out my Blue Chiffon Rose of Sharon because it was so small and "taking up space" for not doing much. It has always bloomed for me, but just hasn't grown well. I also thought of the "sleep, creep, and leap" saying and mine did grow more in the third year. This is now its 4th year and I am expecting more from it! 😂

[@user-tj2oh8xs8o]

It's a sauna here, and the pine trees are awful. Yellow and green pollen in the Spring is awful. I love and miss Texas, but family is near. I think Texas weather is easier to deal with. I don't mind the heat as long as it's drier.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

What zone are you in?

[@HoosierDaddy_]

I have to admit, you've not only got a beautiful garden, but your plants are so healthy and vibrant! Also, you have a wonderful selection. Now, if we all had a few more acres, lol.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! Isn't that the truth - lol - my husband has told me I have run out of room. 😂

[@meganramsey2228]

For some reason, my tithonia never blooms until later in the summer every year! Thankfully it's usually in bloom in time for monarch migration! Hummers love it, too!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

This group were volunteers that came up really early in the spring and I potted them up until I could plant them in the new "central garden bed" in April. I think because they got an early head start they are blooming early for me too. Last year mine bloomed a little later. I haven't seen hummers on my tithonia, so that is good to know! 😊

[@HoustonKeith72]

Adding stokes’ aster to my list! What a magical color.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I so agree with you! I saw Stoke's Aster in Jo's yard (Jo has a KZbin channel - @JosTXGarden - and she gardens in Houston). And I knew I wanted to add that to my garden. I now wish I had purchased more than just 2 plants when I found it at the nursery.

[@MindysPlace]

I love the variety of plants in your garden, just beautiful.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you and thanks for your comment! 😊

[@Susanthebutterflygardener]

Your garden is beautiful🩵💛🩵💛

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Awwww, thank you! You are so sweet! LOVE what you are doing in your garden. Do you have a favorite plant yet among your natives? 😍

[@user-tj2oh8xs8o]

Love your yard, it's just beautiful. I lived in Dallas, Tx most of my life, and now we are in Southeast Georgia. I'm learning to deal with 🦌 deer and four-legged visitors eating my plants. So disappointing.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Oh boy, that is a challenge. My mother has to deal with deer. I personally watched a deer from a standing position just easily jump their fence and come into the yard to browse her plants. How are you handling the humidity? (My son lives in DFW now and it much drier there than in Houston. When he visits he always comments on the terrible humidity we have, 😂). I guess I'm assuming SE Georgia is also humid like we are. 😁

[@stanleystone49]

So beautiful your garden is I have lots of gulf caterpillars all over my passion vine plants I love it.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! That is wonderful you have so many gulf fritillary caterpillars all over your passion vine! That means you will have lots of butterflies.

[@stanleystone49]

I have many favorites but I love the orange of the gulf's and the Julia's butterflies

[@stanleystone49]

I have loads of zebra long wings too

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Beautiful! 😍 I haven't had a Julia here yet, but one can always hope. (They aren't common here).

[@stanleystone49]

@@ButterfliesNBirds I'm surprised you don't see Julia's In Texas they love hot temps.

[@nicholasryan5401]

Greetings from Ireland, You have a beautiful garden, Its the bees knees. I have salvia amistad and salvia love and wishes growing in pots. They do ok when they are tall enough I place the pots up against the inside of the front wall and It looks like they are growing in the ground.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

It makes me smile and chuckle every time I read, "its the bees knees" from you! 😊 That is a great way to grow your salvia and then be able to easily overwinter it. I think Amistad is my favorite salvia, although it is tough to pick a favorite.

[@nicholasryan5401]

@@ButterfliesNBirds I keep the two pots of salvias over winter in a glasshouse and my favourite is salvia amistad, Its the bees knees.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Excellent! 👍😊

[@Pierceb2]

Your videos are great and you really give a great narration on what specific plants you grow and why you have selected them etc. Question: Do you ever bait for species of butterflies that prefer fruit or sap using very ripe fruit like peaches, bananas or watermelon? ( I know wasps can be a problem when doing this,) You can also spike the fruit with a little brandy or cognac. Second have you ever tried setting up a dish or old birdbath of sand for the butterflies to “puddle in” to get nitrates for their eggs to develop and mature. There are videos on KZbin on this of course 😁

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! You ask great questions. I baited only one time with overripe bananas and was horrified to see it absolutely covered with Japanese beetles. I have never seen a Japanese beetle in my yard before the baiting, and I haven't seen one since. (I removed that immediately). Hence, no more overripe fruit in my yard. Three years ago I purchased a birdbath specifically for puddling. I got the sand, set it up, got it ready, and was so excited. Not one butterfly used it all summer long. I would observe the butterflies would go down to my heavy clay soil that I would water each day and get their nutrients/water there. Interesting. So, I guess they "puddle" in my yard naturally. After trying all summer to attract butterflies to my specific puddling station I gave up and now use it as a bird bath, which the birds use daily. I also purchased a butterfly feeder ("designed by a butterfly expert") to see if that would work, especially in the cooler months, but butterflies never went to it. They always just feed on my flowers. I try to be very diligent with my flowers in all the seasons because we have such a long growing season down here.

[@Pierceb2]

@@ButterfliesNBirds I just found this post from you. I thought you were going to say yellow jackets or bald faced wasps !!! I have had Japanese Beetles in my garden but strangely not for many years. Anyway never had that happen to me but I was thinking maybe it was the banana and you should try another non citrus fruit and or after Japanese Beetle season is over? I have a link for a great video from University of Georgia Agriculture that shows how to create a “puddle” of sand and bait it with composted cow manure ( just. Little! ) This was a new one to me but it worked great. It is the nitrogen in the manure that allows the butterfly to mature their eggs. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn-TpX6Lgpmeircsi=hrRD38NxXj-5g8QR

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That was a nice, short, and informative video! I did everything he did except I used compost instead of manure. Maybe that was the issue. Thanks for sharing! 😊

[@deborahwade2641]

Hello Crystal, I'm in middle Georgia and I also grow several Salvia. I keep reading about shearing them back after the first flush. I'm curious if you do that. I tend to just deadhead. Have a lovely day, Deborah 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hello Deborah! You know, I have read that too, and I know some gardeners do it. I think it is much easier to do with a nemorosa type than other types of salvia. I don't cut mine back but I do deadhead like you do. I hate to go a long period without blooms because my salvia just continue to bloom and the pollinators are on them every day. Good question by the way. We have such a long growing season which is different from some of our more northern garden friends that really would like to see a second flush of blooms before their growing season ends. I say I am going to cut my salvia back and I never do.

[@deborahwade2641]

Thankyou Crystal, I think I'll just continue to deadhead. It works and I continue to get blooms all season. 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

The good news is we know we can cut it back if we ever need to! 😁

[@deliapeter4517]

I am watching your video and I am admiring your garden. I am wondering, where did you get your seeds for the Tithonus from. I would like to try growing them in my garden.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I purchased them online from Johnny's Seleced Seeds. www.johnnyseeds.com/ It is an annual that grows 7 - 8 ft tall for me. It is an absolute favorite flower for butterflies. 😊

[@davettayoung1495]

Hi Crystal 🌷Absolutely beautiful garden 🪴 Are you seeing alot of hummingbirds in your backyard? My Cardinal Climber is getting tall, but no blooms yet. And my Mexican Sunflower, I just planted, so it had a white to go.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hi Renae - thank you! No, I'm not seeing a lot of hummers now. Last year we had two females with us during the summer and so far this year I am only seeing the one. Most continue on and move north and/or east for the summer breeding season. That is great on your cardinal climber! Mexican sunflower grows fairly fast for me here. I will need to plant another round so I have some for the late summer and fall.

[@davettayoung1495]

@@ButterfliesNBirds Wow, it seems strange this year. Last season they were here May 4- Sept. 29! Yes, I’m going to start a few more seedlings 🌱 We’ve had alot of rain, and more is on the way. Hopefully by the end of summer, my Cardinal Climber will have some blooms 🌺

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I do think I have seen a few less hummers passing through this year. I was also hoping a couple more would stay in the area. Y'all have had a lot of rain and wind up there. I hope you haven't had any damage!

[@davettayoung1495]

@@ButterfliesNBirdsYour right Crystal. We’ve had alot of rain and strong winds. Not really damage, but I’ve lost a few plants. Hopefully we’ll see more hummingbirds in the coming weeks.❤ Have a wonderful weekend 🌷🌷

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I hope to have a few more hummingbirds too. I hope you have a wonderful weekend too! 😊

[@cindyenglish3130]

Isn’t it Tithonia wonderful?! If yours performs like mine here in Florida, it will flop over at some point, but I just have ceilings ready to pop in when it gets ready looking and it will continue all summer long. My butterflies second favorite flower are heirloom Red Pentas

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I so wish I could purchase heirloom red and pink pentas! I have not been able to find them. 😥 What do you use for your Tithonia to prevent flopping? I absolutely love the neon orange blooms and the fact the butterflies can't stay away from them. I wish the foliage didn't die and look bad along the stalk though. No plant is perfect I guess. 😂

[@cindyenglish3130]

@@ButterfliesNBirds I just keep replanting. Once they get really raggedy I don’t think cutting them back helps. The seeds are so inexpensive I just keep an open pack ready to go

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Do you just direct sow them outside? I would like to have them in the same area, so I am thinking on the logistics. Last year I got lucky and mine self sowed in another bed next to the bed they were in, so I had them blooming until our first frost in January.

[@cindyenglish3130]

@@ButterfliesNBirds They start well in little seed cell starters. I know what you are saying. If you pull the big ones it will rip out the babies. I don’t have a big stand, so I just plant one close to the other. The only solution I can think of is for you to have two stands. Maybe you could pull them, plant some starters and put some containers in that area. May direct sew zinnias. They don’t have a big root system. I wish I thought heirloom Pentas would ship safely. I would send you some

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You are so sweet and your suggestions are good ones! Thank you!!! 💖

[@marleneegan-hm7lr]

Good morning! Is it appropriate to pinch back the bloom stalks on porterweed when they seem to be done blooming?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Good morning! It is a good thing to do, as it encourages more blooming and not seed production. I have seen my little Carolina Chickadees on the bloom stalks eating the seeds if I don't deadhead them in a timely manner. Also, you could get volunteer plants if you don't deadhead. I find volunteers easy to pull up, but I prefer to deadhead to get more blooms. (Currently I have a few volunteers that I haven't pulled up because I am dying to know their bloom color. 😁).

[@goldengirl65]

How wide would you say one Mexican sunflower plant grows to? My seeds just arrived and after seeing your big area I'm wondering where I will put some.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

They grow absolutely huge for me in full sun. In the summer they get at least 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall. In the fall they are not as large (if I succession plant).

[@goldengirl65]

I will have to think about where to put one if that's how big only one gets. 😂

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Yeah, I was even surprised with how tall mine got last year. I guess I didn't believe an annual would grow like that. 😂

[@goldengirl65]

​@@ButterfliesNBirdsI was in the only nursery we have now today which is a big hardware chain and I finally found a shrimp plant and two cupheas. I had one cuphea years ago and wasn't keen on the colour but I had no idea back then they were good for pollinators. Well today I got one on the reduced table that is pinky red with lemon and the other one is pink with mauve. They are so pretty. So I was thinking about you and your garden today when I saw them. First time I've seen shrimp plant in the store and these pretty cuphea. I wasn't even looking for them. Just happened to go down all the plant Isles which is something I don't normally do but thought today why not and there they were.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is too fun! 😍 And getting one on the reduced table is an added bonus! 😁 I hope your pollinators in Australia like those choices as much as mine do here in Texas. 💖