Woods Country Cove

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Canada’s Long weekend

 

This weekend is  our long weekend . It is called the Victoria Day weekend  . Victoria Day is celebrated in honor of the birthdays of both Queen Victoria and the current monarch of Canada  and most communities celebrate by having fireworks , parades and big out door events , Family and friends  get together with garden parties, pot lucks and a BBQ  through out the Country !  This weekend is best known by Canadian's as the May two-four weekend referring to a 24 case of beer lol !  Canadians eh ?  Geesh .. lol !

But for a lot of us  gardeners here in Canada it is  the weekend where we  plant our flowers and veggie gardens as the start of the  summer season  !

               I would like to share a bit of  info about  two well known and loved flower garden creatures .

                                               Summer 2013 (24 of 35)          ATTRACTING BUTTERFLY’S TO YOUR GARDENS !

Butterfly-attracting plants include the Aster, Dianthus, Echinacea, Helenium, Heuchera, Hosta, Lobelia, Lupinus, Phlox, and Verbena.

BUTTERFLY

CATERPILLAR HOST PLANT

BUTTERFLY NECTAR SOURCE

Black Swallowtail

Parsley, Dill, Fennel

Aster, Buddleia, Joe Pye Weed, Alfalfa

Comma

Elm, Hops, Nettle

Butterfly Bush, Dandelion

Common Sulphur

Vetch

Aster, Dogbane, Goldenrod

Monarch

Milkweed

Dogbane, Buddleia

Mourning Cloak

Willow, Elm, Poplar, Birch, Nettle, Wild Rose

Butterfly Bush, Milkweed, Shasta Daisy, Dogbane

Painted Lady

Thistle, Daisy, Mallow/Hollyhock, Burdock

Aster, Zinnia

Question Mark

Hackberry, Elm, Nettle, Basswood

Aster, Milkweed, Sweet Pepperbush

Red Admiral

Nettle

Stonecrop, Clover, Aster, Dandelion, Goldenrod, Mallow

Red-spotted Purple

Black Cherry, Willow, Poplar

Privet, Poplar

Spring Azure

Dogwood, Viburnum, Blueberry, Spirea, Apple

Blackberry, Cherry, Dogwood, Forget-me-not, Holly

Tiger Swallowtail

Black Cherry, Birch, Poplar, Willow

Joe Pye Weed, Buddleia

Variegated Fritillary

Violet, Passion Vine

Joe Pye Weed

Viceroy

Willow, Poplar, Fruit Trees

Thistle, Beggar-tick, Goldenrod, Milkweed

 

Spring 2013 (1 of 1)

ATTRACTING HUMMERS TO YOUR GARDENS !

Everyone loves watching hummingbirds. These amazing little birds zip about here then there, lapping up the nectar from the feeders or flowers with their long tongues. Here are some helpful hints to attract more hummingbirds to your garden.

  • Hummingbirds are attracted to the colour red.
  • Plant tubular shaped flowers, especially red ones that are rich in nectar.
  • Mass the red flowers together as much as possible so that the hummingbirds REALLY see your garden.
  • Keep several feeders filled with fresh nectar. Use only sugar and water when making nectar. Never add red coloring, honey, molasses, or anything else.
  • Have a bush or tree for the hummers to perch when not feeding or bathing.
  • Have a source of fresh water available for drinking and bathing.
  • Hummingbirds are very territorial. If you attract more than one hummingbird, you might have hummer fights on your hands! They are very protective of "their" feeder. To solve this, hang several feeders in different parts of your yard.

         Right now it is torrential rains here but good for us gardeners to have the gardens  watered well   ! Come this long weekend the weather will be cool but sunny , just  perfect for  getting down and dirty hehe   ….  in our gardens  !

                                          Oh Goody !!  “ rubbing hands together with a gleeful cheeky smile “

                                                                         Until next time my friends !

                                                                        Country Gal

13 comments:

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Hope you have a good long weekend too! A good list of host and nectar plants and one I'd suggest is the American Lady that uses native pearly everlasting for a host plant. They are common in our area and do seek out the pearly everlasting in my garden.

Primitive Stars said...

Great post,, good info, very interesting, Thanks Francine.

Jane and Chris said...

Pouring down here! We don't have hummer feeders here as it attracts bears...and I love hummers.
Jane x

Faye Henry said...

You are such a dear for posting this info.. Thanks, Elaine. xo

William Kendall said...

I've heard milkweed's really good for drawing in butterflies.

Last Victoria Day I found out that they fire cannons on Parliament Hill in a twenty one gun salute to Queen Victoria. I'll have to get up there for this year.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Alot of the gardening rules for your corner of the world, also applies to mine -- Thanks for the hummingbird advice too, I hadn't thought of hanging feeders in a couple of places.

Michelle said...

Excellent info for all of us gardeners!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi thanks for post all the information to attract butterflies and hummers.

Amy at love made my home said...

I hope that you enjoy your long weekend! xx

Anvilcloud said...

Thanks for all of the good info.

Anvilcloud said...

Did I just comment or did it get lost? Anyway, useful post.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Hope you have a wonderful celebration weekend, Elaine, with continued great weather too. Thanks for the butterfly info. We gave our hummingbird feeders to a friend who has been putting them to good use.

Willow said...

After May first I think we have a hummingbird farm ~ we have to put feeders all over as we have so many ~ and they still bounce off one another from time to time . Oh I love my hummies .
Very educational about the butterfly and caterpillars I learned a few things for certain.