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A perennial sunflower ๐ป, when bougies don't bloom ๐ฅฌ, butterfly-saving tip ๐ฆ, & more ๐๐ต
Published 23 days agoย โขย 2 min read
Hi, Desert Gardener,
Have you noticed an increase in butterfly activity in your garden? Many people are reporting swarms of butterflies. I've never seen so many in my yard before! They especially are flocking to my Gregg's mist. However, I was horrified to find 2 queen butterflies tangled in a spider's web on my Gregg's mist. I was able to carefully extricate them and they flew away, but I learned a new gardening lesson:
If you have a plant that's attracting butterflies like crazy, remove spider webs. If you see any spiders, you can move them to another part of your yard.
There's always something new to be learned when you garden.
๐ฆโ๏ธ ๐ฆ
If you love sunflowers, but donโt love having to plant them every year, Maximilian sunflower is a perennial sunflower, that unlike typical annual sunflowers, comes back every year. And it produces a heavy crop of seeds, making it a magnet for wildlife โ bees, butterflies, small mammals, and birds. According to the Audubon Society, it attracts cardinals, finches, mockingbirds, thrashers, and orioles.
๐ป โ๏ธ ๐ป
In this week's newsletter, we cover:
Featured plant: Maximilian sunflower
Why bougainvilleas don't bloom (& what to do)
What to do in the garden in September
Upcoming classes & events
and more!
Maximilian Sunflower: Robust Perennial
This large, shrub-like perennial with golden daisy-like flowers comes back year after year. Itโs easy to grow from seed and is a boon for birds and other wildlife. It's native to much of North America. โLearn more โโ
๐ฆ Fun Butterfly Fact! ๐ฆ
A group of butterflies can be called a swarm, flutter, flight, rabble, wing, or kaleidoscope.
Why Isnโt My Bougainvillea Blooming?
When covered with brilliant flowers, bougainvilleas are a sight to behold! So when they fail to bloom, it can be disappointing. Learn why these "flower machines" can stop flowering, when itโs a problem (and when itโs normal), and how to encourage yours to produce more flowers. โLearn more โโ
Upcoming Tucson Events
There are plenty of garden-related activities happening around Tucson. Upcoming highlights include: * Seed Starting 101 @ Tucson Botanical Garden (9/11) * Growing Veggies with Rainwater @ Watershed Management Group (9/12) * Free Succulent Saturday @ Four Arrows Garden (9/12)
If you live in Tucson, check out TEP's Trees for You program. You can place an order for your $5 trees beginning 9/7.
Not in Tucson? Look for online classes.Anyone can participate in these.
September Gardening Guide
While September may mean fall is coming elsewhere, it's still summer in the desert Southwest. However, the monsoon is winding down, which brings some changes in weather and gardening tasks. Hereโs a look at what you should and shouldnโt do in the garden now, and learn why this is the month to plan, not plant. โGet the details here โโ
Garden Proverb
"All my hurts my garden spade can heal." โ Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher
Be a successful desert gardener. Find everything you need to know to create and maintain a beautiful, carefree desert landscape in our weekly newsletter.
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