The picture was
taken from a window of the Butterfly bedroom and shows a small section of our
formal garden. Plantings include: lavender, thyme, artemisia. salvia, delphinium,
clematis, sweet pea, daylily, butterfly bush, mallow, and a wide variety of
herbs.
I
designed the plantings to offer sanctuary for butterflies and they seem to find
it inviting. They certainly visit in large numbers - monarchs, painted ladies, admirals, yellow sulphurs,
skippers. Butterfly experts tell me that they have observed fairly rare
species, for example, MilbertŐs tortoiseshell. Hummingbirds are also frequent
visitors.
Deer
are numerous, usually arriving in herds of around twenty or so, although a
group of around fifty visited us recently. The elevated white rope running around the perimeter of the garden
gives us an extra foot of protection and is essential to keep out those visitors.