You have created a wonderful garden for the little beauties. Thank you so much for providing these plantings. I've no doubt you will be amazed at the number of new visitors to your garden and what a treat it will be!

Like you, I have learned and continue to learn so much from the members of this forum. Thank you, all, for sharing your knowledge with us.

Mary

Woo hoo! That's a long list of plants, but they're all good ones!

Here's hoping you get tons of butterflies, bees and hummers!

Sherry

YAY!! A new butterfly garden, and it sounds like you've got a good variety of plants.
I would add a few more host plants, such as Passion Vine, snapdragons and Pipevine.
Certain wild weeds such as Cudweed and Nettles can be transplanted into the garden from the wild.

Here's a link you'll find useful:
Butterflies of Texas.

Here you'll find a list of butterflies native to your area and a list of their host plants.

John

Thank you everyone. Leafhead, how could I possibly forget snapdragons! I will put Passion Vine at the top of my list. I do also have hollyhocks planted.
Debra

Excellent!! Sounds like a complete Butterfly Garden to me...
Wait, I forgot Cassia for Sulfurs.
And do you get Giant Swallowtails and Tigers? Some Wafer Ash and Sweet Gum will attract those. (You'll get COOL moths c Sweet Gum), Sassafrass and Spicebush will attract Spicebush Swallowtails.
And finally, Pearl Crescents and Bordered Patch like Asters and Sunflowers.

John

Thank you leafhead, now you are just exhausting me! :-) I am out of room for any thing larger than Marigolds, snapdragons and yes, asters. I cannot decide which asters to get. They recommend Aster lateriflorus 'Lady in Black' and Aster novi belgii Alert (red), for my area. I did find a great plant list just for the Texas High Plains, so I think I will try their local varieties. They also sell plants, however it is a long drive, but they do have native milkweed, several varieties, I would like to try. Next year I will have time to put in more garden space, as I do away with more lawn, but for now I am full-up! I think I will learn alot this summer, and by next spring I should know more about what is good for me as far as natives, and if I see butterflies I did not expect, I will plant what I can to meet their needs. I am very excited about my first season. I don't think I have a chance of seeing either a Giant or a Tiger Swallowtail. The sulfurs we get are happy with grasses, so I have that covered. I do need Violets! The list never ends.... Thanks again, Debra

Debra,
We don't mean to exhaust you. We're all just so enthusiastic about anyone who is on our team in our efforts to preserve habitat for the butterflies and other beneficial insects. You'll learn that it becomes a way of life and anything you don't have room or time for can be added to the list for later---meaning next year or the year after. You've already accomplished far more than most would expect in one year. One suggestion for future years is to look into winter sowing. There is a forum here on gardenweb that deals with this inexpensive yet amazingly effective method of starting seeds. Check it out, if you have time. And definitely keep us up on how your garden works out for you. Also, don't be surprised if things are a bit slow the first year or two. It can take time for the critters to find you, and time for your plants to mature.

Martha

Thank you Martha,
I love the fact that everyone is so enthusiastic to help. Particularly here in the Butterfly Garden and the Hummingbird garden. It just amazes me and I love it! Without all of the great information sharing I would not have accomplished what I have.
I am enthused about winter sowing. I ran across this great blog, by chance, on a google search for ballon flower, and I did winter sow many seeds. His blog explained it very well, and I had great success with Cilantro, chives, dill, sweet pea, and hollyhocks. Also a few lavender seeds. My mistake was sowing in the flats with pods, many different varieties, some never did sprout, but it is a learning experience. Next year I will plant the herbs together, that worked out well, but I also had Penstemon and other later starting perennials in the same flat. I will chime in on the winter sowing forum later. I love reading your posts.

Here is a link that might be useful: A garden for the house

Well,Debra

I have got those Hummers for you!

I have a pond in my backyard,and in the shallow end
I planted Cattails in the largest green plastic planter
I could find.

If you can find any sort of large tub or container that
Is decorative or appealing to you it just has to hold
Water.

Well started plants will have cattail heads this season
And you only need to leave them on the stalks to dry
So next spring when your birds show up they will
Visit them constantly to pluck soft nesting material
Then they zoom away with beaks full.
They are so cute!!!

This is a long-term project,but well worth it!
Hummingbirds spend a lot of time searching
For the materials they require for their specialised
Nests.

Besides,a small water feature is very neat
As soon as you set it up; you can enjoy it
All summer(tuck some aquatic plant like
Parrots Feather in to spill over the side).

Add a tall slender twist of dry driftwood for
A perch and depending on your location
You might get a visit from a dragonfly!

DD