Six beautiful benches and a great table built by the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama, Troop 9015, for the Outdoor Classroom are great additions to MBG!
Month: February 2021
Garden Volunteers
Ethel Boykin teaching Montgomery Botanical Gardens volunteers about pruning.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Information gathered from Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Advantages of Container Gardening
Gardening in containers is one of the most versatile and creative forms of garden design. Planting a container garden is much like creating a floral arrangement. However, live plants are enjoyed for a whole season. Almost any plant grows in a container when proper conditions are provided and adds a versatile splash of color and art wherever desired. Some other reasons for container gardening are as follows:
- Your backyard or traditional gardening space is limited or unavailable.
- Your time for gardening is limited.
- Your mobility is limited to working in raised beds or containers.
- Your gardening site is unsuitable for growing desired plants due to soil conditions, unsuitable sun or shade, or other environmental factors.
- You have a desire to be a creative garden artist!
These are just some of the advantages with container gardening. The biggest disadvantages to growing plants in containers are the maintenance requirements of watering and fertilizing.
Support the Montgomery Botanical Gardens when you shop on Amazon and a portion of your purchase will go to improve the Gardens.
Garden Volunteers
Ethel Boykin and Cathy Maddox installing some of the first group of signage in the gardens. There are two different types, a pedestal sign and a hanging sign. The signs identify the plant material and recognize donations in memory of or in honor of individuals or groups. We will be placing an order for the next group of signs very soon.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Information gathered from Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Flowers that attract Butterflies
Flowers provide the nectar food adult butterflies need. Butterfly season in Alabama is early spring to late fall. Choose a variety of plants, including annuals, perennials, and woody shrubs, to have flowers continuously through the seasons. This plant diversity also attracts a greater variety of butterfly visitors. Many of Alabama’s native butterflies often visit purple, red, orange, and yellow flowers.
How many insects have you noticed flying in a straight line? Remember, butterflies are insects. Their compound eyes have poor vision for distinguishing tiny details. Large sweeps of each flower are most attractive to these near-sighted creatures.
Also, consider their mouthparts. Butterflies suck liquid food with a strawlike mouth. Tubular-shaped flowers are ideally suited. Butterflies prefer clusters of tubular or flat-topped flowers, but remember to have variety. Different species have different preferences for flower size. Compound flowers, such as verbena, daisies, and butterfly bushes, offer numerous nectar containers for sipping in a single stop.
