I killed grass back in February to create a new flower bed. I wanted to fill it with lots of nectar and host plants for butterflies, plus some herbs and peppers for eating. I mulched the bed in the end of March, and in May, I’ve planted it:
- 5 Mexican sunflowers (nectar)
- 8-10 dill (host plant for swallowtails, plus herb for us)
- 4 orange milkweed (host plant for monarchs)
- A big patch of zinnia seeds (nectar)
- Red salvia annuals (nectar)
- Parsley (host plant for swallowtails, plus herb for us)
- Cilantro (herb for us)
- Jalapeño (pepper for us)
- Basil (herb for us)
It doesn’t look like much for now, which is why I wanted to photograph it, as a before picture. The wire cages are to keep the rabbits away from the milkweed seedlings. The’ve eaten fresh milkweed in the past, and I don’t want them eating these seeds I’ve carefully cultivated for 10 weeks.
Andrea's Gardening Blog 