Mid June plant update | backyard

Summer is in full swing along the Texas Gulf Coast. We have been getting lots of rain and the temperature has been regularly in the 90s. Plants are growing by leaps and bounds, are looking so healthy, and have wonderful blooms. I would like to go around the garden and give a few plant updates.
Chapters:
00:00 - 01:54 Intro
01:55 - 03:20 Dutchman's Pipevine (Aristolochia Fimbriata)
03:21 - 07:14 El Brighto Coleus and Blair's Witch Coleus with caladiums
07:15 - 08:43 Salvia Madrensis
08:44 - 11:48 Canna Lilies
11:49 - 13:32 Flame Acanthus
13:33 - 15:13 Cuphea (David Verity variety)
15:14 - 16:40 Volunteer Incense passion vine
16:41 - 18:17 Giant Milkweed
18:18 - 19:55 Coral honeysuckle
19:56 - 24:27 Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)
24:28 - 25:04 Ending

[@baneverything5580]

I caught my bunny friend having a look at my garden yesterday. She knows better and pretended she didn`t see it. Ha! I like Bunny though. She`s in no danger.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

LOL! Glad bunny didn't take more than a look in your garden! 😂

[@jennhoff03]

Good GRIEF, that is looking luscious! I LOVE the new garden bed!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much! When I planted the plants I measured and made sure to give the plants enough room to grow. But, I didn't like how sparse it looked. I'm glad I resisted temptation and just left it be because now it is growing into the space. I know this, but sometimes I don't follow my own "rules". 😂 (I'm really glad I didn't overplant in this new bed.)

[@HoustonKeith72]

I love your laugh!! Even in my little garden, I've been seeing skippers and butterflies and I love it.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I am so excited you are seeing butterflies too! I tell you, it never gets old for me. We were out of town again this past weekend, and when we came home, I just walked around in the garden and the butterflies just floated around me. It is so peaceful, especially since we drove the Houston to Dallas I45 crazy highway that is always so busy. 😂

[@GrandmaSandy]

Thanks for another great garden for my dear friend. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You're welcome! And thank you for watching and for your comment! 🥰

[@Susanthebutterflygardener]

I love the Skippers, they have the most adorable little faces. 💛🩵💛🩵💛🩵

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I like the skippers too ... especially the Long-tailed Skippers. The Brazillian skippers are new to my yard this year. They fly loudly, as the flap of their wings is almost as loud as the hummingbird moth. They are not an interesting butterfly to me. (It is the first butterfly I haven't been interested in. Probably because they have decimated my canna lilies in my container. 😂).

[@Susanthebutterflygardener]

I’ll have to look them up. I wonder if they are not native and invasive.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

You know, I'm not sure. They are pretty prevalent here because they are in my butterfly field guide for the SE Texas Coast. I haven't had a butterfly yet that I haven't just loved. But this one is my first one that I wish I didn't have! lol. 😂

[@elsahickman3379]

Thank you for sharing

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you for watching and for your comment! 😊

[@baneverything5580]

I dropped cucumbers in my yard this morning in zone 9a Louisiana. NEVER plant three Beit Alpha cucumber plants unless you have a pickle factory! I only see one fig on my trees this year. Not sure why. But I`m close to planting 20 fruit trees this year. The birds will be happy one day with all the figs and mulberries here. Everything is doing well in my vegetable garden...so far. I`m very worried about the hurricanes this year. Maybe I`m wrong but I can FEEL it! Saving up for another big solar battery for my window AC.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Too funny (pickle factory!) 😂 Oh wow, 20 fruit trees is a lot, but wonderful! I have a yucky feeling about hurricanes too this year.

[@user-sp7zd6en2h]

Hello neighbor! I am in Port Arthur :)

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Good morning neighbor! Have you gotten a lot of rain with this tropical system?

[@ChelsaH]

Hi Crystal from north Texas DFW. I look so forward to your videos. The are so relaxing and informative. Your garden is looking amazing. I’m a bit behind on my salvias. I only have 5 different varieties. You are truly an inspiration for me to go out and create and to care for my rooted friends. In the early morning that is before it gets to be 100 degrees with your humidity. Look forward to your next tour.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Yep, early morning works great when it is "cooler". Lol. It is really humid in the morning here, but I prefer cooler temps when I am working in the garden. I might have already asked you this, but what salvia is working well for you in the DFW area? Do you grow any salvia greggii, as I know they do well in hot and drier conditions?

[@ChelsaH]

I grow the salvia gregii which I added this spring. So far it’s doing very well. I also have the Mystic Spires and the Rockin’ the Blues(?). They are also doing great. Then I have the Black and Blue which I’ve grown for I think 8 or 9 years now. They do spread but when the get too naughty I dig them and move them to another location. I also have another blue and white bloom one but can’t remember the name. Love love the salvias. We’ll see at the end of summer, in November, how the all fared. Tough little guys those salvias.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I agree, they are tough ... and you have nice ones in your garden! 😍

[@lindylou3519]

I deal with leaf roller caterpillars every year in my canna lilies. They ended up looking so bed. So early spring I dug up what I wanted & stuck them in a huge pot & no more leaf rollers. They are so pretty. On the one coleus, could you dig it up & pot it up, maybe raising it up either on a riser or an upside down pot so you could see it better? I envy you getting rain. I’m in middle GA & we haven’t gotten rain in 2 weeks now. Your garden looks so fresh. ❤

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you for your comment! This is my first year having Canna Lilies and therefore my first year dealing with leaf rollers on them. 😕 If the butterfly was gorgeous, I wouldn't mind as much ... but the Brazillian Skipper is a drab and non-descript butterfly. Right now I am just tolerating them, not enjoying them. LOL. I do have the coleus in a container that is raised up, but maybe raising it up a little higher per your suggestion would do the trick! We are supposed to get rain from the Gulf all week this week, they are predicting a lot at the moment, so we shall see. I hope your garden gets some wonderful rain soon. 🥰

[@JosTXGarden]

Ohhhhh, your shade garden is stunning!! I’m still watching my salvia madrensis get bigger and bigger- though one went all drunk uncle on me and started leaning waaaay over! 😂 I swear every time I turn around I find out that something I already have is a butterfly (or moth) host! LOL. The cuphea next to the salvia Amistad is such a pretty combination. You need a gulf fritillary to let her eggs all over that passion vine and help you out! Goodness, your new bed looks incredible!!WOWWWW I am so bad about not giving things enough room! I have been pulling things out of my beds lately that I willynilly threw seeds for EVerywhere. (Ahem, I’m looking at you, coral nymph salvia). 😂 Edit edit edit is my June mantra! Thanks for such a great tour!!

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much! I have had to stake my Salvia Madrensis in the past as it does go "Drunk Uncle" at times! 😂 I haven't had to stake it yet this year though. Too funny ... I have been looking at my seed packets and wonder if I should throw any seeds out!!! 😂 It just seems like I am always looking for new flowers. LOL.

[@barbmurraybabss]

I went to visit my brother in Houston and he took me to a zone 9 garden. I from a zone 5 garden area where dragons breath is an annual

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is great you got to visit here! I hope you could visit when it wasn't too hot and humid! 😉

[@Sonya19781]

I like the coleus. A bit taller and fuller would give a bigger presentation. I think another caladium would be disappointing

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I really like Coleus too! 😀

[@jennifergreene8891]

Hello neighbor! Lake Jackson here 😊 Everything is so lush and beautiful! The Caladiums and Coleus looks AMAZING! Can you just swap out the Coleus and Caladium pots to see? Do the Leaf Rollers like any other plants? On your Giant Milkweed, did you wrap or cover any of it in winter? If they stayed potted and uncovered, that is fantastic and I think I need to add that (spring time?) How many Mexican Sunflowers did you plant? My garden is so small, so for me I can't have anything that wide. Thank you as always for sharing your beautiful garden and the wonderful birds 😊

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Hello neighbor! Thank you! Yes, I was wanting to swap out the pots you mentioned in my shade garden. I started to do it and then realized I couldn't with my bum hand. I also don't want to damage any plants around the container. I waited too long to take action. 😕 I didn't do anything to the giant milkweed - they were uncovered during our freeze this past January. I was so shocked and happy they came back from the roots!!! 🥰 It did take them a long time to come back though, because here it is mid-June and they are now starting to grow. I originally planted 10 Mexican Sunflowers, but I think I lost one in one of our storms as the plant was broken off at the stem from the wind.

[@Sonya19781]

Milkweed is perennial in Maine

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Excellent! 😀👍

[@Pierceb2]

Enjoyed your video once again. Are you a member of the North American Butterfly Association? You might enjoy their website. Also they have their national sanctuary / garden in Texas.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

No I am not, but I have considered becoming a member. (I have looked at their website quite a few times.) I haven't made it down to their national butterfly sanctuary yet, but I will! Thanks for your comment! 😊🦋

[@HoustonKeith72]

Your garden looks amazing! Love that shade garden. Do you find your cuphea drinks a lot of water? I’m finding mine likes to stay moist. Hopefully I’m not watering too much.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you! I love the color of the shade garden. I find that I am always looking at it. Yes, my cuphea drinks a lot of water, and I don't think you can water it too much. 😂

[@pc1189]

I do see what you mean about the coleus that isn’t providing the pop of brightness. Wondering if switching the caladium on the opposite side would be possible? This is my second year with tithonia but I’m so pleased with size of the plants this year and all the blooms. That being said I agree the leaves are so unsightly more time is taken to remove spent leaves than dead heading 😂 How many plants do you have in that group? Btw:The caladium border along the fence has filled out so much since the first time you shared that area they’re beautiful 😍 We’re finally getting beneficial rain in central Florida and the plants have been so grateful. Have a great weekend and happy gardening 🌺🪴

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Thank you so much for your comment! The switch you suggest is one that I was wanting to do. Then I tried to pick up my container and couldn't with my bum hand. 😕 I saw all the gorgeous coleus around it in the ground, and didn't want to damage any of it. I waited too long to take action. I have 10 Tithonia plants in that new garden bed. (I think I may have over planted though.) I just love the statement they bring to a garden space. 😍 And you are so right about having to spend more time removing the dead leaves than deadheading! I'm really glad you are finally receiving beneficial rain. Have a great week! 😊

[@pc1189]

@@ButterfliesNBirds it’s so hard not being able to do things when dealing with bum fingers, feeling your pain (only in my shoulder). Thanks for sharing how many tithonia are in the bed I have a similar size plot and wondered if I under estimated how many to plant. They do look shabby when the leaves turn brown. I’m starting new seedlings for a succession time will tell 😂 Hope no deluge of rains from Alberto.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

We got about 1.5 inches from Alberto. Hope you didn't get deluged!

[@MsRedPontoon]

I am in Zone 8/Arkansas. I grew Canna’s in full sun and had leaf rollers every year. I tried several treatments and nothing worked. I gave up and dug up my Canna’s.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

Oh nooooooo. I haven't decided it I am going to grow Canna Lilies again. If the Brazilian Skipper was a beautiful butterfly, I might be happier. But it isn't. 😕

[@MsRedPontoon]

I also found out that Canna’s were a thug in my garden. They multiplied like crazy. Another reason I dug them up.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

That is good to know - thank you for sharing! I thought my blooms were going to be a little more "spectacular" and I am a tad disappointed. Maybe it is the variety I have. 😊

[@MsRedPontoon]

That was another reason I dug them up. The blooms were not vibrant. Puny for the size of the plant.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

@MsRedPontoon Puny blooms is the PERFECT description of what my Canna Lilies produce. 😕

[@baneverything5580]

Have you tried Ground Cherry or Cape Gooseberry? I want to remind people about these.

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

I have not tired either of these. Can you provide some tips or good points about them?

[@goldengirl65]

I had to rewind the start because I saw something move near your tree. Was it a squirrel that ran down the tree and onto the grass? Then I was about to say my yellow salvia is being eaten by something just as you showed your canna. Made me laugh because I thought my salvia leaves were looking bad but your canna definitely won first prize. I also think it's funny it's the one plant you didn't get for butterflies and yet they seem to love it.😂

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

It was probably a squirrel because they are running down my tree all the time. 😕 Squirrels are a pest in my yard. I know ... my Canna lily foliage looks terrible! Here I am a butterfly and hummingbird gardener, but don't like this Brazilian Skipper butterfly that is laying eggs and its caterpillar is decimating my Canna Lilies! 😂 This is the first ever butterfly I don't want in my yard. LOL.

[@goldengirl65]

I just looked it up online. It's other names Canna leaf roller or canna skipper. Well now I know why it's decimating your canna, it's named after the canna. 😂 They don't look very pretty but I guess it's got to eat something. Hopefully it leaves your others alone and just prefers the one it's on. Are there plants the squirrels prefer that you could or do have to try and keep them away from plants you don't want them near or are they lovers of any and all plants?

[@goldengirl65]

​@@ButterfliesNBirdsI just got my cardinal creeper seeds. Is this the same one as yours Ipomoea quamoclit?

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

No, that is one of the parent plants. Let me see if I can find it ... mine is: Ipomoea × multifida

[@ButterfliesNBirds]

My neighbor grew (the seeds you have) in her garden last year and it was pretty.