ramblings from an arkansas farm girl
Happy August to my Sunday Letter readers.
Last week I was moaning about the heat and humidity. This week I can honestly say I don’t ever remember such a cool, wet beginning to August. Don’t get me wrong, I love the cooler weather, but I know our Arkansas farmers need a few more weeks of sunshine and heat to bring in those crops.
I suppose this crazy year will keep on being crazy.Continue Reading
Two days ago, the best thing happened! The Little Pipevine That Could arrived on our doorstep.
I’d been looking EVERYWHERE to purchase a pipevine plant. Pipevine is the host plant for the Pipevine Swallowtail, and I want to add it to our butterfly garden. Unfortunately, pipevine plants are difficult to locate. This spring, they quickly sold out at all the regular garden places I visit (if they were there to begin with). The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks offered a few starters at its spring sale, but I was a few minutes late to the on-line party and missed out. Continue Reading
I’m super excited to report that we finally have spicebush swallowtail caterpillars in our garden! In early spring, we planted four spicebush shrubs specifically for the butterflies. Then, almost every day since planting them, I’ve been inspecting our spicebushes, hoping to find caterpillars.
Up until last week, nothing. Each time I see a torn leaf, I look more closely hoping to find a hungry, hungry caterpillar. A folded leaf? I look again, hoping to find a hiding caterpillar.
Nope. Nothing.
I worried that our plants were too new. Maybe it takes a few seasons to be discovered? Continue Reading
