Good Bug -- Bad Bug

Butterflies are basically bugs, so we know there are some good ones as far as we are concerned.  But what about some of those other nasty looking ones that crawl around on our plants?   Here is a link to an informative and useful site that pictures and describes "Insect Predators." Sounds bad, but many of these guys are very beneficial to our plants...  CLICK HERE   

Scroll down a bit and read about this one that is especially helpful to us..  The Milkweed Assassin Bug (Zelus longipes)


Lots of butterflies in the garden yesterday when the ladies held another of their programs for several groups of children from one of the church schools.

Weeds, Weeds, Weeds

Friday was a lovely morning to work in the garden!  Wow...  have the weeds grown. It seems like overnight.  Lots of lovely ladies to help out for this work session: Cathy C, Janet C, Loretta, Kathleen and her friend.  Of course Luv2Plant and Helper #1 were there as well.  Lots of weeding and removing of all the invasive vines that seem to win out each week!  I estimate we created about 8 to 10 bushels of weeds in two piles for the park staff to pick up.  Thanks to all who helped.

The Vitex is so vibrant this year.  We saw a few Monarch caterpillars and Gulf Fritillaries.  At our house we have the Black Swallowtails, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs, and for the first time Question Mark butterflies.  You can see one HERE.  Note what they look like underneath their wings.

Monarch Watch has published their 2012 Plant List.  You can download it by Clicking Here.

Lots of Stuff Today

Three Things   worth covering in today's post, with current pictures as usual.

Here's #1... Hard to say       what is nicer looking in today's pictures in the garden:

 Our two remaining Knock Out Roses










                                     Our beautiful Cassia tree

Or the southern of our two nice
Vitex trees.











Here is Item #2.   Water, Water, Water... Issues with our Water

I believe the automatic irrigation/sprinkler system is back to normal.  The controller has been replaced, as has a bad valve that kept some spots constantly wet.  So most of the time, it keeps things reasonably moist even in the dry periods.  However,  it doesn't cover everything.  It is not the Park Staff;s responsibility to do anything except mow.  And so Luv2Plant and/or Helper #1 try to get to the garden every couple of days or so to water some of the things by hand.   This shows the main area that needs help from all of us.  The two Vitex trees and the small Kumquat bush that are planted by themselves do not get hit with the sprinkler system.  Nor does this area at the south end of the garden.  The Crape Myrtles and around the corner to the Canna Lily does not get watered and the area inside the fence within this corner needs help too. The Passion Vine and some Butterfly Weed are in this area.  So please help out with some hand watering as you can.

  
Here is Item #3...    It is just a bit harder to do that then it was before.  The hoses are in crummy shape (otherwise they walk off) but work ok if not kinked.  But the park guys have been having trouble with kids using the hoses to fill water balloons, make a general mess, etc...   So today I removed the handles from the faucets.   But I "hid" them in an easy place so you can still help out with hand watering.  This is the north end.  The hose is in use by the Park staff to water trees.  They usually hang it back up, but if not, just ask.  See the big rock by the post?  The handle for this end is under it.




And for the south end the handle is just under the front edge of the dog dish which is bolted to the post.

National Public Gardens Day is May 11

National Public Gardens Day may be on the way, but you shouldn't wait until May 11 to enjoy a couple I can recommend. Here is the first one:

  Stop by our Butterfly Garden at Matzke Park.  Things are in full bloom.  I took these pictures this morning

Here is the second stop I recommend:

As you know, we are a great fan of Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens at 22306 Aldine Westfield Road in Humble. The gardens at Mercer are part of the east side of the 325-acre park that includes 5 miles of walking trails.  Mercer shelters more than 24 rare plants and several of the plants are on display to view close-up as guests walk around the trails in the Endangered Species Garden.

Mercer recently had a really nice write up which you can see by CLICKING HERE   It also has a couple of great pictures.

Children's Programs Today

 Today was the second of a number scheduled for this spring with more the fall. The Norchester Garden Club ladies teach and entertain local Day Care Children about the garden with stories of "Catherine the Caterpillar" and butterfly crafts.     What beautiful days to enjoy the garden!  These pictures were taken today.  I hope you will come out as the garden is in full bloom.  Our next work day will be May 11th as "garden maintenance" is a continuing process.    

Two of the "Knock Out" roses are on their death bed and will be removed in the fall in order NOT to leave space next to the fence. They will not be attractive but will tend to prevent the Blyel kids from jumping over (read "breaking") the fence.  The fencing is residential grade and probably won't last for too many more years.  Any contributions to the garden are used only for ongoing maintenance and planting materials. For information on how you can help contact    matzke.garden@sbcglobal.net

    

 

Beautiful April

April is one of the nicest months in the Houston area and this one has started out just fine.  We had a short notice work party at the garden this morning.  Helping and enjoying the Monarchs were Judy R and spouse Richard.  Thank you for your care and love given to the Monarch's.  And Helper #1 certainly appreciated another man to help dig and wheelbarrow the mulch for a change.

Kathleen M joined in this morning with Turk's Cap to plant.  We had purchased 12 bags of garden soil to fill in some of the front berm bed and mulch was added to the all the beds.  Chuck B trimmed the shrubs and fixed the watering system where a couple were leaking and creating a mud hole.

Children are already in the area to hunt the plastic Easter Eggs being set out by parents. I hope they avoid the beds.  It didn't seem to matter that I requested parents not to hide eggs within the beds and to watch for snakes and bees. They were putting them there anyway.  All the beds are looking really good and Spring like!  Lots of caterpillars and Monarch's.

Another first.   We had an inquiry  about the ability to "rent" the garden for some wedding pictures.  They were encouraged to use it as they wish at no charge... but that a donation could be made if they choose.   The garden would be a nice setting for pictures for weddings, proms, birthday, or a Quinceañera celebration also known as "Fiesta de quince años"   (celebration of a young woman turning 15)  See this link for more.    Mercer Arboretum is a very popular venue for such things.

It is very satisfying to see the garden enjoyed by so many people for so many different reasons.

Can't Have Too Many

I've heard it said that one can never be too thin or have too many silk blouses. And if you maintain a butterfly garden you for sure can't have too many milkweed plants.  Monarch lava (caterpillars) are eating machines and they only feed on the leaves of milkweed plants, also known as Butterfly Weed. A few can strip a two foot plant of all its leaves in a couple of days, so keeping the plants replenished in the garden takes some planning and effort.

Here are pictures taken on Friday of seedlings in our greenhouse and of larger plants purchased locally.













 If you look closely at the larger ones you will see they already have caterpillars at work on them as shown in the closeup just below.








Look for the two sets of arrows like this >>>>>>> and <<<<<<<<<<<<

Want to see these guys up close?   I picked these off our plants at home and took them to the park on Saturday afternoon where they can eat their fill without killing our seedlings.

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS COMING SOON... (The "FANS" are gathering)

        One of the main reasons for the butterfly garden is to serve as a learning tool for children.  The Norchester Garden Club ladies put on programs for day care and home schooled 4 and 5 year olds.  In the last two years 267 kids have gone through and over 108 are scheduled for this spring.   Along with educational stories and games, a simple craft is part of the program.  Here butterfly fans are getting their handles applied.  These will be colored by a child to take home as a memento.

If you have an interest in helping out with these 45 min. programs, drop an email to
matzke.garden@sbcglobal.net