Butterfly Beautiful
Butterfly fun facts.
Butterflies have superior vision.
Butterflies are too cold to move past 55 degrees fahrenheit.
They only have tongues, no mouths.
However, I believe. If butterflies could talk. I bet they'd say "return my hour"
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Seeds For Monarchs
Fall gardens and the monarch butterfly.
The growing season is about to begin.
However, it’ll continue long into autumn.
The pollinators that you grow during fall are very important to the migrating Monarchs.
Those Monarchs that winter in Mexico are the superstars that get the cycle of life restarted every spring.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Tough Odds
Monarch butterfly reproduction.
Did you know that only about 5% of Monarchs successfully hatch and survive in nature?
You can boost those odds by 90% if you monitor their nurseries in your gardens. Foster them.
As for indoor breeding. I still don't support the idea. Keep a healthy garden and stay natural
Monarch Cycle:
Eggs (4-7days)
Caterpillar (2 weeks)
Chrysalis (8-14 days)
Monarch (Fall migrators over 8 months)
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Salvia's Relationship To Nature
The importance of flowering herbs in early spring.
Salvia or Sage, there's a serious romance of sorts with the pollinator posse.
If you want a Monarch to "super like" your garden. The milkweed/salvia duo will not disappoint.
One of the first blooms in my garden is my blue bedder salvia. It never disappoints.
It's my "calling card" that the garden is open for pollinators
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Monarch’s Need Nectar
A variety of flowers and the monarch butterfly.
The Monarch is on the decline.
Non-native plants are essential to regaining the Monarch population.
Planting native is a great idea and practice.
However, it's not going to help the Monarch if you remove helpful non-native plants. If they are providing a strong nectar supply.
A better solution. Figure out how to add native plants around the non-native plants. If those plants are beneficial to the Monarch.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Bread Eggs & Milkweed
Milkweed and the monarch butterfly.
Planting a variety of milkweed guarantees a viable milkweed leaf is always available for caterpillars who need one.
What kind of milkweed do you want to plant?
Common and Swamp milkweed are a double Ohio delight. All have the nectar for butterflies and their leaves are the perfect nursery for their caterpillar kiddos
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Thinking About Monarchs
Benefiting the Monarch butterfly.
Nothing keeps me warmer than thoughts of the Monarch.
We can help them.
Beginning with planting your garden early.
You've heard that in Ohio you plant, starting Mother's Day weekend. But, you actually have an entire season of other planting before.
The "cool crops" are planted beginning on the 1st day of Spring and throughout the early season. It will be those crops that entice the pollinators and Monarchs to your garden.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A Monarch’s Winter
Where the Monarch migrates in winter.
Did you ever wonder when we discovered where the Monarchs settle in Mexico for winter?
Were you ever curious who brought this haven for the Monarch to the world?
Catalina Trail.
She's the founder of Monarch roosting sites.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Sage Advice
The meaning and history of sage.
Early Romans held the plant as sacred.
It was a representation of wisdom and excellent memory.
Sage prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine which the brain needs to store memory!
So, the folklore tied to sage has some wisdom.
My Sage advice is this herb lives up to it's hype and delicious in stuffing!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Butterfly Colors
Butterfly symbolism.
A black and blue butterfly can mean many things...
Transformation
Hope
Change
New Beginnings
Spiritual Reminders
Then, I think my position on nature is clear. A butterfly means whatever it means to you. Because, there's nobody who can tell another how they should interpret nature!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Celebrating Soul
Reflection through nature.
Today is a day to celebrate the soul.
Who you are.
Where you’ve been.
Where you’re going.
Who you will be thankful to...when you get there!
Feed your soul with lots of extra love today.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A Sunflower Love Story
Sunflower mythology.
Are sunflowers really a symbol for unrequited love?
So, The story goes...
Clytie, a water nymph fell madly in love with Apollo. The Greek Sun God.
Apollo made all the girls mad, as he drove his golden chariot around!
Being rejected by the sun god. Clytie became obsessed.
Forgetting to eat or drink for days of searching for the god.
She was transformed into a sunflower.
Destined for eternity to follow the sun as it ran across the sky each day!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Butterfly Seeks Zinnia
Butterflies and zinnias.
Did you know that butterflies adore the Zinnias?
What does a butterfly look for in a Zinnia?
The bright yellow center of the tallest flowers.
Zinnias are the perfect flower for butterflies to munch.
Do you notice how clear the ring of nectar?
Butterflies like easy access to the flower's nectar.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Scarlett Flame’s
Red zinnia meaning.
What does a red zinnia mean?
Stead beating of a heart.
Steadfastness which is the quality of being unwavering.
"No side wins without steadfastness in the face of adversity."
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
A Touch Of Green
Green flower meaning.
What do green flowers symbolize?
Perfect harmony with Nature.
Strong health!
Their message is optimism and renewal!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
What’s in A Name?
How the zinnia got it’s name.
Where does the Zinnia get its name?
Johann Gottfried Zinn. He was a botany professor from Germany.
He "discovered" them in the Americas and took back to Europe in the 18th century.
There's more to the name, but it gets a little "zinny"!
Mr. Zinn also studied the eye. The zonule of Zinn.
Let's just call them zinnias!!!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Zinnia: An Eyesore?
Where do zinnias come from?
Because It's all about the Zinnia!
Did you know they come from Mexico and Central America?
No scent. The Aztecs' referred to them as "plants that are hard on the eyes".
Based on their bright colors. Or eyesores!!!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Yellow And Remembrance
Meaning of yellow zinnia.
The yellow zinnia means daily remembrance.
What exactly is daily remembrance?
When you wake up in the morning be grateful for your past. Everyone and everything.
Think about where you want your life to be in the future.
Remember to make each day count!
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
Natural Her-Story
A glimpse in 17th Women’s History.
Salem Wouldn't Have Ended Well For Me
Because in 1692, simply being a woman made you a witch.
Too poor, you're a witch.
Financially independent, you're a witch.
If you had friends, if you fought with your friends, if you were a loner, or if you were a healer. You were a witch.
Anytime in history where a woman has shown great courage and great strength. She has been labeled a witch.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
The Gift of The Monarch
The beauty of the Monarch
What is so spectacular about the Monarch butterfly?
They fly into your yard and pick their favorite flower. It feels like you have called the Monarchs just to your garden.
In my opinion. The gift the Monarch is Hope.
Until Tomorrow! Smile On!
