Out in the Butterfly Garden

Over the years, my butterfly garden has been evolving. At first it was a bare piece of ground with a couple of stumps. It was not pleaseant to look at through my kitchen window, so I decided to turn it into a butterfly garden.

The first year it contained a gorgeous array of wild flowers in a rainbow of hues. I planted three butterfly bushes in the hopes of attracting an assortment of butterflies. They were quite small with only a few blooms.

The next year the butterfly bushes I had planted the first year grew to be big trees with an amazing amount of blooms, while the wild flowers hesitated to grow. Even though I liked the butterfly bushes, I missed the colorful blossoms from the previous year.

The next year a volunteer Harlequin Glory Bower tree began to grow, and I was only able to get a few flowering plants to survive. I was beginning to be disappointed with the garden, and the blackberries started to take over.

I finally gave up with the garden as it was and gave my husband permission to spray everything except the butterfly bushes, Glory Bower and a few select plants that seemed to be doing well. This almost eliminated the weed and blackberry problems, and the garden began to transform itself.

More volunteer Harlequin Glory Bowers began to grow along with another volunteer tree that I still can't identify. The butterfly bushes thrived and grew tall, and the garden became a shaded sanctuary. My husband built a water feature with waterfall, and I began planting a few plants that loved the shade. This summer we added a couple of garden benches to the shadiest part, making what I like to call the secret garden...a place to visit and enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner out of the bright sunlight.

Now the garden is regularly visited by butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and dragon flies. A variety of birds bath in the water fall, and drink the refreshing water.

Even though I loved my garden the first year with all its wonderful color, I am liking it even better now. It has become a sanctuary, a place for a Sabbath moment where the real world seems to drift away. It is a place of peace and beauty.

A small piece of paradise is hidden beneath the canopy of the flowering trees
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Harlequin Glory Bower in bloom. Its sweet scent fills the air attracting the hummingbirds and bumblebees


Unusual planters are conversation pieces for those who wish to linger in the garden



Garden art adds a fun dimension to the garden


The waterfall where the birds like to splash and bathe


My husband relaxing in the "Secret Garden" after dinner one evening


One of the butterflies that visited out garden while we were eating dinner


The entrance to the "Secret Garden"


The water feature has been a sanctuary for a variety of birds. These were my favorites. We had never seen them here before, and they never returned after early summer.


The birds enjoying a cool bath


We have enjoyed watching many swallowtails in the garden this year. The butterfly bushes also attracted bumblebees, honey bees and hummingbirds


I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of my butterfly garden. May the pictures offer you a Sabbath moment of peace.