Category Archives: Butterfly gardening

Wildflower Bonanza-to-be on the San Antonio Mission Reach, Thanks to Above-average Rains

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Monika Maeckle

Wildflowers budding on the San Antonio Mission Reach. Check out the slideshow and a link to better understand the complex collaboration that brought the Mission Reach to life. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Drought, San Antonio Mission Reach, Where to see butterflies, wildflowers | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Timely Rains, Pent-up Seed Bank, and Little Competition Raise Hopes for a Banner 2012 Wildflower Season

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Monika Maeckle

The historic Texas drought continues but recent rains raise hopes and streams for a banner 2012 wildflower season. And that means more butterflies. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Butterflybeat, Drought, San Antonio Museum Reach, seeds, Texas Hill Country, wildflowers | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Plant Lady” Lee Marlowe, Guardian of San Antonio River Riparian Restoration, Names Top 10 Troublesome Plants

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Monika Maeckle

A talk with “the Plant Lady,” Lee Marlowe, of the San Antonio River Authority and Guaurdian of its restoration. Lee shares her Top 10 Most Troublesome plants. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Milkweed, San Antonio Mission Reach, San Antonio Museum Reach, San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio Riverwalk, Where to see butterflies | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Butterfly FAQ: Pros and Cons of Tropical Milkweed and What to do with a Winter Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar or Chrysalis

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Monika Maeckle

Butterfly FAQs today: What to do with late season Monarch caterpillars you find this winter? And, some thoughts on the pros and cons of Tropical milkweed, that hearty, ubiquitous Monarch butterfly host plant. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Butterflybeat, Milkweed, Monarch Butterfly, Monarch caterpillar, Monarch Migration, San Antonio River Walk | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Happy Winter Solstice! Celebrate with Seedballs, a Recipe, and Step-by-Step Directions on How to Make them

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

Celebrate the Winter Solstice by making seed balls! It’s easy, fun, and good for the planet. Plus, it reminds us of making mudd pies. Included in this post: the Texas Butterfly Ranch Seedball Recipe and step-by-step directions on how to make them. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Seedballs, seeds, Solstice and Equinox | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

San Antonio River Walk Boasts Vibrant “Butterfly City” Along Museum Reach as Butterfly Wildscape Matures

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

The Museum Reach of San Antonio’s famous River Walk sports a vibrant “butterfly city” and well-researched inspiration for those planning a butterfly garden at home or a butterfly wildscape. The improvements bode well for more butterflies flying in San Antonio and South Texas. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Milkweed, Monarch Migration | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

A Year in the Life of A Butterfly Garden: From Turf to a Butterfly Host and Nectar Garden, with Edible Landscape In Between

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

Let’s get busy, people. Your butterfly garden is waiting. Make it happen. Get inspired by this month-by-month slideshow of a year in the life of a butterfly garden. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Butterflybeat, Jimsonweed, Milkweed, Monarch Butterfly, Queen Butterfly, Queen caterpillar, seeds, turf-to-bed-conversion | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

In the Butterfly Garden, Part II: Transplants and Seedlings to Make a Vibrant Butterfly Garden in Downtown San Antonio

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

The turf-to-bed conversion continues as we begin to transform a drought-damaged downtown San Antonio yard into a butterfly garden. Favorite host plants will be transplanted from Austin, we’ll buy several new plants in the spring and plan our seedling strategy for early January. Read all about it, and let us know if you have questions. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Eastern Swallowtail, Jimsonweed, Milkweed, Monarch Butterfly, Monarch caterpillar, seeds, turf-to-bed-conversion | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

In the Butterfly Garden: Use Solarization to Convert a Drought Damaged Lawn into a Vibrant Butterfly Garden

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

Front yard struck by the drought? Grass looking a little dead? Perhaps you should consider solarization, an easy, chemical-free method of converting your dead, water guzzling grass to a glorious butterfly garden. Check out our step-by-step approach for a turf-to-bed-conversion. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterfly Life Cycle, Butterflybeat, turf-to-bed-conversion | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Texas Drought Impact on Wildflower Seed Production Cuts Both Ways, PLUS Five Tips for Collecting Wildflower Seeds

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Monika Maeckle

The Texas drought’s impact on wildflower seed production cuts both ways–some wildflowers produce more seed, others don’t. PLUS: Five tips for collecting wildflower seed for next year’s butterfly garden. Continue reading →

Posted in Butterfly gardening, Butterflybeat, Llano River, seeds, Texas Hill Country, wildflowers | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments