The Monarchs Grace Us with Their PresenceRaising Monarchs indoors helps to protect them from predators and assists them in their struggle for survival, increasing their numbers during this difficult time of diminishing habitat.
Cowpen Daisy, Verbesina encelioidesThis lovely flower deserves a place of honor in every butterfly garden.
Agarita, Mahonia trifoliolata (Barberry Family)What surprising qualities this plant has: early nectar for bees and butterflies, plus beautiful flowers and fruit.
Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper Family)This beautiful evergreen vine is disease and insect free, plus the blooms are amazing.
Milkweed Vine, for Those of Us Who Have Trouble Growing Other MilkweedsI have great hope for this plant to provide the abundant Milkweed we need to raise many Monarchs and Queens. This plant is also a powerful magnet for all kinds of pollinators, including bees and many other butterflies.
American Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Phytolacca americanaWhat a beautiful and useful plant this is! This plant is really attractive with its red stems and white flowers that turn into lovely red berries. The leaves also turn gorgeous colors in the fall. It can grow as high as six or eight feet.
Texas Sage, Leucophyllum frutescens 'Lynn Lowrey's Dwarf Everblooming'This Texas Sage variety was discovered by Lynn Lowrey while he was on one of his road trips in search of new and different native plants. He found it by the side of the road and was astonished by its shade of color and beauty. He took a cutting to his greenhouse and propagated it so that everyone could enjoy it.
White Mistflower: What a Magnet for All Kinds of Pollinators!Just at the time when most flowering plants are going to rest for the winter, this plant explodes into gorgeous blooms that cover the entire plant.
All About CoralberryCoralberry is a lovely semi-evergreen shrub suitable both for house foundation plantings and for naturalization.
American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americanaAmerican Beautyberry decorates the fall landscape with lovely cascading color while providing lots of food for birds and small mammals.
Early Milkweed for the MonarchsAsclepias curassavica is not winter hardy here in North Central Texas, so in order to have fresh milkweed ready for the Monarchs as they return from their wintering in Mexico, I keep milkweed in large pots and bring them into the garage during freezing weather and then take them out again when the danger of frost is past. This way, I have plants for them to lay their eggs on in the spring.
All About Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)Frostweed is a lovely perennial plant that is native to Texas and many other states, but has been ignored by commercial nurseries.
Texas Bluebonnet, Lupinus texensisThis beautiful annual of the Fabaceae family is the most recognized Texas Native Wildflower.
