Spring Home & Garden (2014)

Spring HOME&GARDEN

Herbs

EASY TO GROW GREAT TO COOK WITH HEALTHY, BENEFICIAL

Gulf Coast gardening tips Go green, grow green, save green Spring cleaning checklist

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

contents 6 Gulf Coast gardening tips

14 Cooking with herbs and spices

8 Spring cleaning checklist

16 Gardening in a tight space

10 Companion planting

18 Go green, grow green, save green

12 Herbs

20 Sensory gardens

tips from local gardener Glenda Lee

refresh your home for spring

easy to grow, bursting with benefits

13 Improve your health

medicinal uses of herbs and spices

bump up the flavor

entice all your senses

22 Hummingbirds, butterflies

how to attract them to your garden

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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Spring Home & Garden

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When to plant

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n This year, I am not going to till the garden. I pulled up the winter weeds and I have put down compost. n I put three or four pages of newspaper down and either leaves or pine straw on top of it in order to keep the weeds out. n This also holds the moisture in the soil so that by next season, it's all disintegrated and your soil is refurbished. It makes for some nice, rich soil. n During late March and early April, it is best to plant green beans, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. n In June, after it gets too hot for the spring plants, you can pull them up and plant okra and field peas that love the hot weather. The okra will produce til frost. n You can set out tomato plants again in June, and the blooms will set when the night time temperatures get below 70 degrees. n During the first of October, I plant collards, cabbage and broccoli plants, plus sow seeds for turnips and radishes. Some people plant onions, kale, rhubarb and mustard.

When to water and how much

n Last year in the summer season, we had four or more inches of rain. It ruined all of the tomato plants. If you water tomatoes too much, they will split open and rot on the bottom. n Okra and peas can tolerate heavy rain and frost.

They're known as hardy plants, along with broccoli, kale, spinach, turnips and leeks. n Generally water a garden once a week. If dry, twice a week.

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n Every year I change where I plant the different plants. You should never plant tomatoes in the same spot because of bugs and worms left in the ground from the year before. The colony of underground pests get used to the same vegetable and can bring trouble for your new crop. n It's common for some gardeners to plant marigolds

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

throughout their gardens to detour the bugs. Welcome to the garden are lady bugs, frogs and lizards, which eat other bugs that are out to sabotage your garden. I have a light I turn on at night so the lizards and frogs will be attracted to the bugs and eat them.

Preserve your leftover harvest

Glenda Lee likes to share the products of her hardworked garden with her neighbors.

“With squash and cucumbers, they just make way more than you need, so we put them up or make pickles,” Lee said. “This is the recipe everyone raved about.”

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Cinnamon Cucumber Pickles Courtesy of Gardener Glenda Lee

Ingredients n 1 cup lime n 3 cups vinegar n 12 cups sugar n 1 box red food coloring n 1 12-ounce package Red Hot candy n 1 tablespoon alum n 1 jar of cinnamon sticks Preparation Select large cucumbers. Peel, core and slice to ½ inch.

Remove all seeds.

In a large stock pot, soak cucumbers in lime and 1 gallon of water for 24 hours. Wash thoroughly and then cover with ice water for three hours.

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Pour off liquid.

In a separate pot, bring 2 cups vinegar, 12 cups sugar, Red Hots and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Stir until Red Hots are dissolved. Pour over cucumbers and let stand for 24 hours.

Remove cucumbers from syrup and bring syrup to a boil. Place cucumbers in jars and pour hot liquid over the cucumbers.

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Spring Cleaning Checklist While spring is in the air, many turn to a spring cleaning checklist to make sure the change from winter to spring is a refreshing transition.

Bedrooms

Bathrooms

Vacuum under bed and mattress

Wash shower curtain and liner

Vacuum floor and closets

Sweep and mop floor

Wash bed skirts, covers and pads

Clean bathtub and sinks

Polish furniture

Clean toilet

Kitchen

Wipe down mirrors and counters Clean inside cabinets and drawers

Clean inside drawers

Organize makeup and jewelry

Organize pantry

Flush outdated meds

Clean fronts and inside of cabinets Clean under refrigerator and other

Household

moveable appliances

Organize closets

Clean food trap in dishwasher

Clean windows, blinds and curtains

Sweep

Change lightbulbs

Mop

Remove cobwebs

Clean appliances

Wash baseboards and door frames

Get rid of expired items

Dust and polish wall decor

Living Room Vacuum carpet and rugs Vacuum under furniture Vacuum under sofa cushions

Dust and wash air vents Check smoke alarms and replace batteries Dust light fixtures and fans

Porch/Yard

Wash, wax and polish furniture

Scrub porch ceiling, walls and floors

Clean out fireplace

Clean out any dead plants

Dust TV and other appliances

Outside Power wash exterior Touch up paint Clean out and repair gutters Wash windows Clean outdoor fixtures

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Guidelines for companion planting

By Destiny Brown Some plants work well together when planted in the same pot or in the same plot square. They feed off of each other's nutrients, and chemical reactions between plants can produce even more delicious results.

Companion plants can provide protection from winds and weather, act as shade, be decoys for harmful insects and provide physical support for their fellow plants.

DO

DON'T

n Give each plant enough space to spread its roots. n Companion planting can help repel insects. Insects use wavelengths to determine what vegetables are growing in a garden. Companion planting confuses insects about where to hide, reproduce or eat. n Plant short, shade-tolerant plants, like lettuce, under larger, bushier plants, such as tomatoes and peppers. n Growing an abundance of plant species can guarantee that if one crop takes a beating from pests or disease, there will still be others left.

n Avoid mixing tomatoes or carrots with dill. n Don't plant beans with garlic, chives or onions. n Don't mix fennel with other plants.

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Spring 2014

Companion Planting

Spring Home & Garden

Basil Beans Broccoli Carrots Cauliflower Chives Cilantro Corn Cucumber Dill Garlic Leeks Lettuce Marigold Melon Nasturtium Onion Oregano Parsley Peas Peppers Rosemary Sage Spinach Squash Strawberry Sunflower Swiss Chard Thyme Tomatoes

Courtesy of OneCreativeMommy.com

Basil Beans Broccoli Carrots Cauliflower Chives Cilantro Corn Cucumber Dill Garlic Leeks Lettuce Marigold Melon Nasturtium Onion Oregano Parsley Peas Peppers Rosemary Sage Spinach Squash Strawberry Sunflower Swiss Chard Thyme Tomatoes Plants grow well together

Don’t plant together

Combination helps bug control

Beneficial to garden in general

Carrots will have good flavor, but stunted roots

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Herbs:

easy to grow, bursting with benefits

By Destiny Brown Herbs are an easy way to do some simple gardening.

Herbs can be grown in tight spaces, indoors or outdoors. They offer many health benefits and are full of flavor. Buying fresh herbs at the grocery store is expensive — growing them at home will save money as well as add beautiful greenery to your windowsill, garden or porch.

Growing Herbs

Herbs like damp, moist soil with shade at the roots and the sun on the leaves. Restrict root growth by planting your herbs in pots or other containers. Be sure to give your herbs plenty of warmth.

A quick guide to herbs

Basil:

Used in most Italian cooking, basil is a popular herb that can be easily grown. There are more than 60 varieties of basil, which differ in appearance and taste. Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C. Use with: Tomato dishes, pesto, egg dishes, salads, marinades, fish and compound butters.

Oregano:

A perfect addition to Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines. Oregano is also a good source of fiber, iron, calcium and vitamin K. Use with: Italian and Mexican dishes, tomato sauces, soups, sauces, stews, meats, salads and marinades.

Bay leaves:

Taken from the bay (laurel) tree, bay leaves are used to add flavor to cooking. Bay leaves grow well in containers all year long. Be sure the pot you plant your leaves in doesn’t get too crowded, because bay leaves need air circulation to remain healthy.

Use with: Most soups, stews, many sauteed dishes, especially those with a Mediterranean feel.

Parsley:

Popular as a table garnish, Parsley is also loaded with vitamin A and C. It is a good source of folic acid, one of the most important B vitamins, which among other things ensures good cardiovascular health.

Use with: Soups or stews, tomato sauce, pasta, pesto sauce, green salad, grain salad, seafood, potatoes, rice, poultry, beef, lamb, eggplant and cheese dishes.

Mint:

Closely related to peppermint and spearmint, mint is an easy-togrow herb. Mint leaves are used to add flavor to tea among other recipes. Toothpaste and mouth wash are other popular uses for mint.

Use with: Lamb, fruits, tea, fruit beverages, peas, carrots, potatoes, jellies, soups and sauces.

Rosemary:

Rosemary has a pine-like fragrant flavor. Contains substances that are that are good for the immune system, digestion and blood circulation to the head and brain.

Rosemary is a great source of vitamin A. You can add whole Rosemary sprigs to season soups and meat dishes.

Use with: Lamb, fish, beef, sauces, soups, stews, salads and marinades.

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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Improve your health with herbs and spices Adapted from TheHealingKitchen.ca

herbs and spices Basil Bay Leaf Cardamom Cayenne Cinnamon Cloves Coriander Cumin Dill Fennel Garlic Ginger Marjoram Nutmeg Oregano Paprika Peppermint Rosemary Sage Savory Tarragon Thyme

medicinal Use Antibacterial, antispasmodic, vitamins and minerals Antibacterial, antispasmodic, essential oil, tannins, bitter principles, herbicide (place by books and in corners to repel silverfish) Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, essential oil, mucilage, improving circulation Anti-inflammatory, improving circulation Anti-spasmodic, digestive aid, essential oil for aromatherapy Topical analgesic, anti-viral, expectorant, essential oil, digestive aid Anti-spasmodic, tannins, vitamins, essential oil, digestive aid Anti-spasmodic, mucilage, tannins, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, aids digestion Anti-spasmodic, mucilage, tannins, essential oils, vitamins and minerals, aids digestion Anti-spasmodic, diuretic, carminative, essential oil, vitamins and minerals, digestive aid. Chewed after the meal neutralizes stomach acid, sweetness the breath and helps digest fatty food.

Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial, vitamins and minerals, essential oil, immune boosting Anti-spasmodic, vitamins and minerals, digestive aid, improving circulation, morning sickness Anti-spasmodic, sedative, digestive aid, vitamins and minerals, bitter principles, essential oil, tannins Anti-spasmodic, sedative, digestive aid, vitamins and minerals, bitter principles, essential oil, tannins Anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, sedative, astringent, expectorant, digestive aid, immune boosting, essential oil Anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, sedative, astringent, expectorant, digestive aid, immune boosting, essential oil Anti-spasmodic, analgesic, carminative, expectorant, essential oils, tannins, bitter principles Anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, analgesic, digestive aid, circulation, essential oils, tannins, saponin Anti-fungal, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, diuretic, estrogenic compounds, bitter principles, essential oils, tannins, Anti-spasmodic, carminative, astringent, digestive aid, expectorant, tannins, mucilage, essential oils Bitter principles, tannins, essential oils, liver tonic, cleansing, abortifacient Antiseptic, anti-microbial, expectorant, uterine stimulant, tannins, bitter principles, essential oils, saponins

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Use your spices and herbs to bump up flavors in the kitchen Whether grown at home or bought at the store, spices and herbs can take your cooking to the next level Adapted from FoodAndNutrition.com

Name

Type

Characteristics

Allspice

Spice: whole ground.

Cayenne

Spice: ground, seed.

Celery Seed

Spice: whole seed or ground.

Chili Powder

Spice: ground, blend.

Chives

Herb: fresh, dried, frozen.

Small brown berry, flavor resembles a combination of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Native to West India.

Very powerful, ground hot red pepper. Native of French Guiana.

Tiny brown seed with strong celery flavor. Too much can create a “hot” spice effect.

Blend of ground cumin, chili pepper, oregano, allspice. Can be mild or hot.

Fine, hollow, green top of a very small onion.

Cilantro

Herb: leaf, dried or fresh.

Cinnamon

Spice: stick or ground

Light green aromatic leaf. Shaped like flat parsley, but much more pungent flavor. Leaf from coriander seed.

Reddish brown aromatic bark from cinnamon or cassia tree. Native of East India.

Example Use Sausages, braised meats, poached fish, cooked fruits, puddings, pies and relishes.

Soups, sauces, fish and eggs.

Salads, dressings, pickling, tomato dishes and marinades.

Chili, stews, sauces and ground meats.

Salads, egg and cheese dishes, fish soups and sauces.

Salads, salsa, sauces, soup, eggs and dressings.

Preserves, stewed fruits, breads, pastries, desserts, ham and hot beverages.

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Spring 2014 Clove

Spice: whole or ground

Dried flower bud of tropical clove tree. Pungent, sweet in flavor. Native of Indonesia.

Cumin

Spice: whole or ground seed.

Small seed resembling caraway, but lighter in color. Grown in Mexico and Syria.

Curry

Spice: ground, powder or paste.

Dill

Herb: Leaves, fresh or dried.

Mixture of up to 20 spices including turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, clove and cinnamon.

Peppery, yellow in color. Can vary from mild to very hot.

Herbs and seed with “dill pickle” flavor. Seed more pungent than herb.

Garlic Ginger

Fresh, whole bulb.

Spice: fresh whole, dried powder, candied crystallized, or pickled.

Strong aromatic member of onion family.

Light brown knobby root from tropical plant.

Mustard Seed

Spice: whole and ground seed.

Very pungent white, yellow or brown seed.

Paprika

Spice: ground

Ground from dried sweet, red pepper.

Parsley

Herb: fresh leaf in bunches, dried chopped leaf.

Spice: whole, cracked, medium or fine ground.

Spice: whole.

Green leaf, curly or flat, with delicate sweet flavor. Excellent source of vitamin C. Small hard berry.

Pepper Poppy Seeds Sage Thyme

Herb: whole, rubbed, or ground leaf, fresh or dried.

Herb: fresh or dried leaf, crushed or ground.

Tiny blue black seeds with crunchy nut like flavor. It is a product of the opium poppy, but does not contain opium.

Pungent gray green herb with fuzzy oblong leaves.

Tiny brownish green leaf, very aromatic.

Spring Home & Garden

Seed: pickling, soups, sauerkraut, marinade. Herb: salads, soups, fish & shellfish, vegetables, sauces and vinegar.

Widely used.

Baked goods, desserts, fruits, curry dishes, pickling, and chutney. Chinese, Caribbean, and Japanese cuisine.

Prepared mustard, pickling, sauces and salsa.

Fish, seafood, meats, salads, sauces, dressings and garnish.

Garnish, fried, stews, sauces, salads, vegetables and potatoes.

Widely used.

Breads, rolls, pastry, fillings, cookies, cakes, salsa and dressings.

Stuffing, meat, poultry, soups, stews, salads and fish.

Soups, chowders, stocks, sauces, meats, poultry and salad dressing.

Give Your Home A

Fresh Look

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Whole: Marinades, stocks, sauces, braised meats, hams and pickling. Ground: pastries, fruits and cakes.

Chili and curry powder blends, sausages, salsa, egg and cheese, curry dishes, vegetables, soups, sauces, fish, meat and rice.

Curry dishes, vegetables, soups, sauces, fish, meat and rice.

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Gardening in a

space

By Destiny Brown Sometimes it's hard to accommodate a big backyard garden with no backyard.

Don't let that stop you from cultivating your green thumb. There are many vegetables and plants that can be grown in tight spaces with a little TLC. As long as there is soil, sunlight and surveillance, some plants can flourish in a small pot or other container.

What works

There are plenty of vegetables that are easy to sprout in small spaces.

Upside-down tomato plant

n Bush bean n Eggplant n Cucumber n Lettuce n Pepper n Radish n Scallion n Spinach n Zucchini n Tomato

This planting technique eliminates weeding, caging and staking.

Upside down tomato plants are convenient for outside areas such as patios and decks. Planting tomatoes this way makes it easy to grow your own vine-ripe tomatoes without the long vine.

What doesn't work

Strawberries

When planting in a small space, it's important to avoid planting vegetables that require a large amount of space or a long period of time. Avoid planting these plants in containers. n Pumpkins n Squashes n Parsnips n Leeks n Potatoes n Asparagus n Brussels sprouts n Celery

Producing in early summer, strawberry fields begin to pop up all over the South. However, strawberries don’t require a field to give their red ripened goodness.

Strawberries can be grown in a pot, but it’s best to limit the seeds to four or five per pot. Keep plants in the sunlight and out of damaging winds. Keep the soil moist, but not wet, watering once or twice a week. Place plants in a warm sunlit area.

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Go Green, Grow Green and Save Green

By Theresa Corbin

W

ith warmer days upon us, those with green thumbs are itching to get digging. As gardeners sense the time is now for getting back in to the dirt, many will prepare by putting together a list of supplies for their gardens. Pots and gardening tools go on the top of the list for a trip to the hardware store, but gardeners might be surprised to learn that a quick look around the house could produce the items needed to get gardening.

Potting

Keep the green in your wallet and go green by searching the house for items that might be destined for the landfill. A big item on the gardener's list is the pot or planter. Whether it is terracotta, porcelain or wood, planters and pots can quickly run up your gardening budget.

However, many gardeners may be surprised to know that many plants aren’t too picky about the pot in which they are planted. A quick Google or Pinterest search proves this theory with a plethora of examples that creative green thumbs have proven prosperous.

Hanging Garden

Have a set of nesting baskets you aren’t using? Try planting a hanging garden. All it takes is some rope to string the baskets and a few screws to hang them. Creative and crafty bloggers Emma and Elsie have put together a tutorial on ABeautifulMess.com showing how to create a hanging Babylonian wonder in your own backyard.

Spice Rack

Don’t give up on gardening if you haven’t got a lot of space. Pots and planters take up a ton of space, so try a spice rack for your herb garden. Author and suburban farmer Chris McLaughlin recommends lining a vertical hanging spice rack with burlap and planting your favor-

ite herbs. Visit Chris’ website, AsuburbanFarmer.com, to see learn more about this idea.

Window Planter

Some gardeners like to use their empty coffee tins for planting. For larger gardens, some creative folks have used antique claw foot tubs. For tiny plants, some have even found inspiration in their old shoes.

Tools

Something as mundane and disposable as a milk carton can be turned into a vital gardening gadget. Most people wouldn’t think twice about an empty milk jug, but as it turns out, this everyday item is the green gardener’s secret weapon. It can be reused as a watering can by simply poking holes in the cap and filling with water.

With a little more finesse, the innocuous milk jug can be cut into a rust-proof shovel. By cutting at the top of the handle and down the sides to a point, you have will have a brand new shovel. For a quick tutorial, visit MonkeyBunneyShop on Youtube.

Organizing

If you are looking for a place to organize your tools, try an old side table. It is as simple as painting it with outdoor paint and putting a few tiles on top. It has plenty of space for gloves and shovels and other gardening paraphernalia. For further organizing, try ribbons. Hang them in your gardening area and pin packets of seed for planting. Label each packet for the time you want to plant as a reminder.

For the plants you have already started, many labeling options can be found around you. One great way to organize a garden is to take fallen twigs and, using a potato peeler, peel off enough bark to have a space to write on. Write the plant’s name on one side. Sharpen on the other side and poke it in the soil so you don’t lose track of what is what.

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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Spring 2014

Entice all the senses with a spring sensory garden

By Cheryl Dooley Berry The sweet warm days of springtime are finally upon us and are whispering in gardeners' ears everywhere to step out with shovel in hand and get started.

Along with our usual vegetable gardens and perennial beds, which most gardeners try their green thumbs at, consider this year planting a sensory garden or container to absolutely delight gardener and visitor alike.

What are sensory gardens?

All gardens appeal to our senses in one way or another, as each plant has its own individual characteristics that entice the senses. However, it is so pleasant to enjoy a stroll through a garden full of a rainbow of colors and a diversity in textures while, at the same time, inhaling the sweet fragrances that the blooms scatter in the breeze.

You might reach out your hand and enjoy the velvety softness of a lamb's ear or tingle your taste buds with the tart citrus tang of lemon

verbena.

Sensory gardens attempt to enhance and maximize the sensory input that the container or garden has on its visitors. They can have a theme, be divided into sections or designed as a whole. The delight of these gardens beckons everyone to enjoy — to touch, taste, smell, listen and just admire.

Sensory garden benefits

Caregivers of both young and old are learning the value of sensory gardens as a horticultural healing practice.

A sensory plot or large container can be specially designed for use as a teaching tool for small children and grandchildren. A container or small bed would be just right for tiny hands to reach and tiny noses to smell.

Hospitals and therapists are realizing the value of planting welcoming areas that encourage interaction with the plants — feeling the textures of leaves or nibbling on an edible stem or bloom.

Appealing to each sense SIGHT

n Consider the attributes of color, shape and visual texture n Begin with large masses of color, such as a mass planting of bright purple petunias n Then add lighter, more delicate plants, like Queen’s Ann’s Lace or shades of dianthus n Ivy or bougainvillea in a hanging sensory basket display pleasant movement in the breeze n Choose plants that creep, climb, trail, bush or stand upright, such as hollyhocks, the creeping moss rose, ivies or cool ferns n Include plants with multi-colored and shaped blooms, leaves and bark to provide added appeal

TOUCH

n From the baby soft feel of lamb’s ear to the cool sensation of moss on a rock or to the roughness of seedpods, it is possible to incorporate so many textures into our gardens n Classic roses are a good choice — their green glossy leaves, long fibrous stems, sharp thorns (watch out!) and soft, velvety blossoms provide a variety of textures in just one plant n Thistles, with their spiky heads, and the lacy leaves of carrots provide variety

Plant a sensory garden

Beautiful sensory gardens can be adapted for many uses in the home garden. Consider a herb garden, with its variety of textures, tastes and smells, or a flower-enhanced vegetable garden. Plan the garden as you like, remembering to incorporate hardscape elements such as benches, paths, water fountains, bird feeders or garden art to enhance the sensory pleasing effect.

As when planning any garden, choose plants for your sensory plot or container that will thrive in coastal Alabama.

Native plants, such as native azaleas, beauty berry or oakleaf hydrangea are great to use because they are accustomed to our environment, are less susceptible to disease and are generally lower maintenance than non-natives.

Whether choosing a charming container or a sunny corner of the yard, consider delighting all of the senses this year by incorporating a sensory garden into your outdoor space. You, your family and friends will be so glad you did.

HEARING

n Choose plants that rustle as the wind passes through, such as bamboo stems and tall grasses of pampas or purple fountain grass n Include plants that will encourage wildlife into the garden n Honeysuckle or lilac attract bees, sunflowers draw birds n The sounds of water in a fountain or pond can provide peaceful serenity to frazzled ears

SMELL

n Use highly aromatic plants and herbs such as gardenia, lavender, roses, Jasmine, sweet peas, wisteria, honeysuckle, banana magnolia, sweet olive, pineapple sage or any of the mints n Peppermint, spearmint, lemon mint and chocolate mint all release inviting odors when gently crushed between the fingers n Herbs, such as oregano, rosemary, thyme or lemon balm have distinctive smells

TASTE

n Edible fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices provide an opportunity to experience nature’s bounty while tempting the taste buds n Sunflower seeds, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, sweet corn and any of the flavorful mints are good choices n Sage, chives, rosemary, oregano or fennel leaf can add additional layers of taste

Spring 2014

Spring Home & Garden

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22 Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

Luring

hummingbirds and butterflies

to your garden utopia

By Destiny Brown

Each year, gardeners aim to attract tiny, beautiful critters to their gardens — not the critters that will eat their plants, but critters that enjoy the sweet simplicity of a sip of flower nectar. Hummingbirds and butterflies are a delight to watch flitting around a garden. You can attract them to your space by planting certain flowers.

Hummingbirds

n Hummingbirds can see the color red from a distance.

Planting blooms in red shades will capture their attention. n Flowers that are rich in nectar with tubular blooms, such as petunias, make it easy for the birds to access the nectar with their long tongues. n The more blooms, the better. Hummingbirds are typically lured to flowers with multiple blooms.

Plants that attract and feed hummingbirds Annual flowers Beard Tongue (and other penstemons) Firespike Fuchsia Impatiens Jacobiana Jewelweed Petunia Various Salvia species Shrimp Plant NOTE: Japanese Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds, too, but it’s an invasive and troublesome exotic species that’s no longer recommended.

Vines Coral Honeysuckle Cypress Vine Morning Glory Scarlet Runner Bean Trumpet Creeper

Perennial flowers Bee Balm (Monarda) Canna Cardinal Flower Columbine Coral Bells Four O'Clocks Foxglove Hosta Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) Little Cigar Lupine Penstemon Yucca Trees and Shrubs Azalea Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) Cape Honeysuckle Flame Acanthus Flowering Quince Lantana Manzanita Mimosa Red Buckeye Tree Tobacco Turk’s Cap Weigela

Hummingbird Feeders To imitate the sweet nectar in flowers, hummingbird feeders use sugar water. By mixing one part sugar with four parts water, hummingbirds are lured in. Unlike the effects sugar has on humans, there are no negative effects proven in hummingbirds. It just gives them extra fuel for chasing bugs. It is unnecessary to add any food dye to the sugar water, as it can be harmful to the birds.

Butterflies

n Plant color and type are important in attracting butterflies. Adult butterflies are most attracted to pink, purple, yellow, orange and red blossoms. n Key butterfly nectar flowers receive full sunlight from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Butterflies generally only feed in the sunlight. n Butterflies need nectar throughout their adult life span. Plant your flowers so when one plant stops blooming, another begins. n Remember butterflies come from caterpillars, so feed the caterpillars.

Common butterflies and the plants their caterpillars eat Courtesy of AWF.org Acmon Blue - buckwheat, lupines, milkvetch American Painted Lady - cudweed, everlast Baird’s Swallowtail - dragon sagebrush Black Swallowtail - parsley, dill, fennel, common rue Coral Hairstreak - wild black cherry, American and chickasaw plum, black chokeberry Dun Skipper - sedges, grasses including purpletop Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - wild black cherry, ash, tulip tree, willow, sweetbay, basswood Giant Swallowtail - prickly ash, citrus, common rue, hoptree, gas plant, torchwood Gray Comma - gooseberry, azalea, elm Great Purple Hairstreak - mistletoe Gulf Fritillary - maypops, other passion vines Henry’s Elfin - redbud, dahoon and yaupon hollies, maple-leaved viburnum, blueberries Monarch - milkweeds Painted Lady (Cosmopolite) - thistles, mallows, nievitas, yellow fiddleneck Pygmy Blue - saltbush, lamb’s quarters, pigweed Red Admiral/White Admiral - wild cherries, black oaks, aspens, yellow and black birch Silver-Spotted Skipper - locusts, wisteria, other legumes Spicebush Swallowtail - sassafras, spicebush Sulphurs - clover, peas, vetch, alfalfa, asters Variegated Fritillary - passion flower, maypop, violets, stonecrop, purslane Viceroy - willows, cottonwood, aspen Western Tailed Blue - vetches, milkvetches Western Tiger Swallowtail - willow, plum, alder, sycamore, hoptree, ash Woodland Skipper - grasses Zebra Swallowtail - pawpaw

Spring 2014

413 E. Laurel Ave. Foley, AL 36535

251-943-5001

Spring Home & Garden

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251-626-5000

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24 Spring Home & Garden

Spring 2014

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