Western Swallowtail

One of my greatest joys this summer has been reaping the benefits of planting this buddleia last year, for it has emerged as the neighborhood Butterfly Cafe, and I have been there nearly daily to bear witness, to photograph and to share with loved ones, including those I know through social media! What an gratifying adventure, one I highly recommend that you explore!

The actual buddleia is triple the size of what you are seeing above, and is rather rangy at this point of the season. It is flanked by a structural tower of morning glories, by pots and pots of pink and yellow rugosa rosas, and, behind, by purple mallow and an abundance of trumpet vine which wends its way through a nearby tree, and beyond. Way beyond. Such is the nature of trumpet vine, I’m sure so many of you have discovered. So there are several ample blossoms tempting any butterfly or pollinator in the area. That umbrella peeking into view is part of a rather secret vignette bathed in dappled morning light. Four chairs and a round table invite quiet observation or morning meditation. I love this corner of the garden. And so do the bees and butterflies and towhees and scrubjays and an abundance of flickering hummingbirds.

This buddleia is actually one of three, but it is the one that is most mature that receives the most sunlight so for this summer, at least, it is officially the Butterfly Cafe, and I am grateful for it for the sake of all concerned. From the numbers of visitors I am currently getting I’m starting to surmise this might be one of the last Nectar Holes in the neighborhood, as perennials recede and annuals have long ago succumbed to the intense summer heat this year. Triple digits abound. This is even more reason to be grateful for this one buddleia, large enough to feed multiple critters. I have carefully tended it almost every day, being sure to water it in the morning and to keep deadheading so new blossoms, food sources, are generated. My reward has been to be in the company of the most exquisite of beings. All summer long a parade of butterflies have visited, including ample skippers, cabbage whites, swallowtails and even an occasional California sister. California sisters are often harder to spot, even though in abuandance, as they frequently fly quite high, though the males like to puddle. Remembering this I sometimes make little muddy areas below the buddleia as a special treat.

California sister

Most common this year have been the swallowtails and I never tire of being blessed by their presence. Would you?

Tiger Swallowtail

Last week three arrived at the same time and swirled above the buddleia in a delicate and spirited spiral dance, a wonder to behold!

The most special moment this summer however, was a first in this garden, and it’s happened twice. Monarchs! In the many years I’ve been here I have never seen one in this garden! About a month ago one arrived and I was thrilled, thinking this would never happen again. But I was wrong. Last week this beauty arrived and by patiently observing her, careful to give her a wide berth, she eventually allowed me to photograph her up close, definitely the high point of this photography summer season! My first shot I caught on my cell, then ran to get my camera.

Sudden arrival of a Monarch!

“Most North American Monarchs overwinter in the Transvolcanic Range near Mexico City. Ours do not. Monarchs from the Great Basin and West Coast spend the winter along the California coast, from just north of the Bay (not all years) to Santa Barbara.” ~Art Shapiro, UC Davis professor of ecology

She kept hungrily sipping nectar, then departing as I wished her back. She would return and each time she allowed me to get closer.

Monarch

The best part for me was when she seemed to sense she was safe and I was at liberty to examine her closely. I was so amazed her body was perfect polkadots! I think that’s one of the loveliest discoveries I’ve made in my garden ever! I’m posting her a bit larger so you can see more detail.

Monarch
Thank you, dear readers, for the visit. I hope your garden is bringing you great joy this summer, too!

Love and butterfly blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Book News: New reviews and articles are being lined up for fall and winter for Plant Whatever Brings You Joy. I will post here as they are published. And there are several new places where you might purchase a copy. For a full list, please visit Estrella Catarina. Travelers passing through SFO, you can buy a copy of my book at Compass Books in Terminals 2 or 3! This is a great book for a plane ride! You may also purchase the book directly from Estrella Catarina. Shipping within United States is free. More information? Please visit the new Facebook Fan Page!

Posted on September 2nd, 2012 by Kathryn
Filed under: Animals | 8 Comments »

sunflowers and zinnias
Formal garden tours are wonderful and becoming increasingly popular and I’m glad for it. But sometimes all we need to do for a fresh look of inspiration is to walk down the street. Really. At least that’s what happened to me. For just a block away an elderly woman (no other way to say it) secured a small house, gutted it, and proceeded to create the dream house of her Golden Years, replete with solar panels and a grey water system. And being a true and knowledgeable gardener, the space around the house is receiving the full creative benefit of what will likely be her Last Big Garden and what an inspiration! But before showing you what she has done, I want to preface this pictorial with an amazing fact about this inspiring woman of 80 years–she hikes six miles every Saturday morning with a group of friends. Indeed, I happened upon her in town one day and agreed to follow her over the farmer’s market and I could barely keep up. She’s a veritable steam engine of energy! Not an ounce of fat on her body, and eats a diet of fresh veggies from her own garden. (Except, oh, yes. Her true confession: she likes Wonder Bread.) So I was delighted when she gave me permission to do an early morning shoot recently, to share with all of you the garden she has created to live in in this particular chapter of her life. I especially like that this trek around her garden will give those afar an insider view into an extraordinary Northern California summer garden.

Let’s start with the dahlias, shall we?

dahlia

dahlia

dahlia and penstemon
And that penstemon hiding behind the above dahlia has a nearby sister and deserves her own clear view, so here she is. What a beauty!

penstemon
This rose, called Eye Paint, was a housewarming gift to my friend. She says it offers wave after wave of roses. I think it’s her favorite.

Eye Paint roses

A simple question. A simple answer. What opportunities lie within our reach that hold the power to make a difference in the quality of the lives of others simply by sharing the bounties and blessings that grace our lives? ~Kathryn Hall, in Plant Whatever Brings You Joy: Blessed Wisdom from the Garden

Along the drive were gladiolus for the last month. Now in our intense summer heat only one is left. This one lovely creature.

gladiolus

Nearby is a sweet daylily. (Daylily lovers, I know who you are! I even asked the name of this for YOU! It’s Frans Hals! Heh.)

daylily

So as I’m walking around gingerly picking my way through beds, suddenly this little boy showed up! Turns out he’s my friend’s grandson, who is visiting here from Africa! He was an adorable surprise!

Compounding my surprise, a few minutes later I learned he has a sister, who oblingly posed for me by the sunflowers!

Apparently their father is an African diplomat. I had no idea they were here on vacation, so this was a treat!

And did I mention this is going to be a long post as this gardener has a lot of beautiful plants!

And this is a charming little vignette, as when this garden was first being formed, a stack of old cement and rocks began accumulating off to the side. Then one day I came to visit and my friend said, “See what’s happening in the corner? One of my grandchildren came and put some dirt on top of the pile of rocks in the corner and planted this and that and now it’s become a little rock garden all on its own.” Fast forward to these grasses, which my friend “brought home from the lake.” All manner of things has been added including wild chamomile, several succulents and near the bottom, this:

hoarhound and sedum in the rock garden

As you might begin to imagine, this is not a highly structured garden. I’d call it Permissive Gardening, which I can actually relate to. Along the sidewalk alyssum is spilling out.

purple alyssum

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. ~Desiderata

And apparently my friend is not one for pulling up every weed, especially if it has an endearing flower, like this scarlet pimpernell! I loved that she knew the name of this weed, which I have long admired and only begrudgingly pulled up. Can’t believe such a humble little flower has such a lofty name!

scarlet pimpernell (Anagallis arvensis)

Then there was the gaura…

…and the agastasche…

…and the phlox, offering a fresh vision in the summer sun.

phlox

phlox

One of my favorites was this hybrid of California poppy. I brought home some seeds, which are drying and I look forward to planting them in the spring! My friend says they will cross-pollinate with my wild California poppies.

poppies

Speaking of cross-pollination, can you begin to imagine the numbers of bees that are attracted to this garden? They were everywhere, I’m very happy to report! They especially like the sunflowers.

sunflower
And the zinnias! (As did I!)

zinnia bed

zinnia

zinnia

I am utterly enchanted with those little round circles of teeny flowerettes, as I know that some power much larger than teeny I consciously chose to create and include them and I am humbled and touched at the thought. 🙂

zinnia

zinnia

Are you just filled to the brim with California beauty?? I hope so!

Love and garden blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Book News: Oh! Oh! I did at last start a Facebook Fan Page. Please LIKE if you are inclined. I solemnly promise not to overwhelm you with notices. My intention is to now and then mention something of note, and, mostly, to have a place fans of Plant Whatever Brings You Joy can connect. Thank you.

Also, I’ve been continuing to collect pics of my book on shelves around the country. (Who does this??) I was delighted when I unexpectedly received this photo from Kaitlyn at Copperfield’s Books in Healdsburg, alerting me that they’ve included Plant Whatever Brings You Joy in their new Local Author display. Sweet! I do hope you continue to support your local indie bookstores. They are a treasure.

Posted on August 1st, 2012 by Kathryn
Filed under: Plants | 10 Comments »