Dianthus makes a showing this year, displaying colorful blooms and attracting monarch and...
When replacing cold-senstive plants such as zinnia, look for other nectar sources for monarch butterflies.Right now, the landscape is filled with nectar-producing plants that are especially attractive to butterflies and other pollinators. The top-performing plants include mistflower, porter weed, zinnia, lantana and duranta.
I have not noticed the dianthus in past years, but the plant is making a showing this year. My colleague Jerry Parson and I do the"Gardening South Texas" radio show on the front porch of Milberger’s Nursery, looking west over long tables of perennial and annual blooming plants. This year, one of the tables displays several selections and colors of dianthus.The show of the butterflies on and around this display is amazing.
It is time for me to decide which winter annuals I am going to use to replace my favorite, but cold-sensitive, zinnia when the temperatures drop around Thanksgiving. I usually end up with a mix of alyssum, calendula, snapdragons and stocks to try and fill the void. Dianthus do not replace zinnias as cut flowers, but with all this evidence in the Milberger's gardens, I think they will do a good job of filling the gaps left as nectar sources when zinnias, mistflower, porter weed, lantana and duranta decline from the cold.
Dianthus attracts butterflies such as the giant swallowtail, shown in flight, making it a good addition to a winter garden.Parsons is not as interested in cool weather annuals as a nectar source for winter butterflies, but he likes the dianthus as a bloom source. He explains that by trimming back the blooms several times, the bloom period of the colorful plant can be extended into summer.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Now is the time to plant California natives, herbs and moreLet’s look at ways to keep the garden looking great this week.
Read more »
Austin Restaurants Celebrate World Vegan Month With Plant-Based OptionsAustin is already pretty vegan-friendly, but for the month of November, it’ll be even easier to find plant-based meals around town.
Read more »
Olkaria VI, Kenya: Inside the world's largest single-turbine geothermal plantAn exclusive interview with KenGen's, Frank D. Ochieng, reveals all there is to know about the African giant leading geothermal energy globally. Find out more at 🚀
Read more »
Black residents in Corpus Christi file a civil rights complaint to stop Texas’ first desalination plantSince 2007, Hillcrest residents have sued to challenge plans for a sewage treatment plant in their neighborhood, and then bridge construction.
Read more »
Piñatta conquers Monday Night Foodball with a plant-based, precolonial Mexican Menu - Chicago ReaderBefore the Spaniards showed up, nobody ate carne asada super burritos in this hemisphere. Nobody celebrated their birthday with a sombrero-topped flan. The Aztecs definitely didn’t start off dinner with […]
Read more »