July 20, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Publications
The Summer issue of Butterfly Gardener magazine will be mailed to NABA members starting this week. The contents include:
- An article on planting for Cloudless Sulphurs with Partridge Pea,
- Ideas and suggestions on butterfly (and pollinator) habitat stewardship,
- Methods for growing caterpillar food plants that might be considered weedy by some gardener, and
- News from the North Jersey NABA chapter’s outreach project where they handed out milkweed seeds and information about butterfly gardening.
July 15, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Habitat
Walmart To Kill (About To Be) Federally Endangered Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreaks
Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak
Paving paradise to put up a parking lot? Perhaps so in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Globally imperilled habitat currently home to at least two rare butterflies, Bartram’s Scrub-Hairstreak, which is expected to be named to the endangered species list this summer, and the Atala, which almost went extinct in the middle of the 20th century, might soon become home to Walmart.
The Miami Herald covers the full story.
June 17, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Monarchs and Milkweeds
Here is a group of high school students in Waverly, Iowa who are helping Monarch populations. They have created a nice website with information that is appropriate to share with schools.
In addition to educating through their website, they have been raising funds for various butterfly conservation organizations.
http://wsrmonarchproject.weebly.com
May 13, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Butterfly Garden Plants
Downy Yellow Violet
Warm weather brings incredible insect activity. Armies of ants march to and fro around patio doors, Carpenter Bees drill holes in house siding, Cabbage White caterpillars devour newly planted broccoli.
In the face of so much potential insect damage, it is important to remember that butterflies are also insects, which can be harmed by indiscriminate use of household pesticides. Consider using non-pesticide methods for insect control around the house and garden when possible. If non-pesticide methods are not available, use highly specific pesticides applied directly to the targeted pest or its location. Netting can protect broccoli, Carpenter Bees can be managed with traps and localized treatment of their entry holes, and the legion of ants might surrender with bait applied directly to their nest or trail.
While ants can be a problem inside a house, outside they play an important role in spreading seeds of many beautiful flowering plants, some of which benefit butterflies. Mary Ann Borge explains in “A Carpet of Spring Beauty, Woven by … Ants!” how as many as thirty percent of spring flowering plants in the forests of eastern North American may have their seeds distributed by ants.
Violets, which are a caterpillar food plant of Fritillaries, are just one of the many spring flowering plants that are spread by ants. Violets do spread (by ants!) throughout the garden but are easily managed with a hoe and a bit of patience.
May 12, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Publications
The latest issue of Butterfly Gardener magazine is at the printer and should be in the mail in about a week. NABA members receive both Butterfly Gardener and American Butterflies as part of their annual membership.
April 24, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Promotions
To celebrate Earth Day, North American Butterfly Association is holding a week-long raffle, Monday April 21st through Friday April 25, 2014. There will be a raffle drawing and prize awarded each day!
If every day was Earth Day and we all lived with Earth’s care as a priority, then the Earth would be in much better shape. Of course, April 25th is not really Earth Day– but it is the next best thing, Arbor Day. It is traditional on Arbor Day to plant trees. Did you know that many butterflies rely on trees during part of their life cycle? Hackberry, willow, oak, poplar, and wild cherry trees are all important caterpillar food plants. Next time you plant a tree, consider planting caterpillar food.
Friday’s raffle prize is not a tree but something else that butterflies will love. High Country Gardens has donated a pre-Planned Pollinator Paradise Garden as today’s raffle prize. The flowers in this garden package will benefit butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds!
There are three different ways to win a chance for the daily raffle prize: 1) join NABA, 2) give a gift membership to NABA, or 3) certify your butterfly garden (and buy a certified sign at the same time). Any of these options will enter you for a chance to win the daily raffle prize.
Thinking about joining NABA and certifying your garden? Your name will be entered twice in the daily drawing. The raffle prize winner will be selected at random from all new memberships, gift memberships, and certified butterfly garden applications received online from Friday April 25 at 12:01 AM until Midnight Friday April 25th.
Learn more about North American Butterfly Association and its programs that promote
enjoying butterflies and their habitat, please visit: About NABA
April 23, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Promotions
To celebrate Earth Day, North American Butterfly Association is holding a week-long raffle, Monday April 21st through Friday April 25, 2014. There will be a raffle drawing and prize awarded each day!
You can make Earth Day never end for butterflies by planting regionally native plants in your yard, garden, or even, on your balcony! NABA has regional garden guides that can help you get started selecting plants that are native to your region and preferred by butterflies.
Two raffle prizes will be awarded today to one winner!
Thursday’s raffle prizes can help you as well. American Meadows has donated 1/4 pound of their native wildflower seed mix as today’s raffle prize. The native wildflower seed mixes are geared towards specific regions in the United States. Today’s raffle winner will be sent the native wildflower mix that is appropriate for his or her state.
Thursday has an additional prize, a $25 gift card. It has been generously donated byGardener’s Supply Company, which has a range of products that would suit butterfly gardeners as well as butterfly watchers. We thank Gardener’s Supply Company for supporting NABA!
There are three different ways to win a chance for the daily raffle prizes: 1) join NABA, 2) give a gift membership to 
NABA, or 3) certify your butterfly garden (and buy a certified sign at the same time). Any of these options will enter you for a chance to win the daily raffle prizes.
Thinking about joining NABA and certifying your garden? Your name will be entered twice in the daily drawing. The raffle prize winner will be selected at random from all new memberships, gift memberships, and certified butterfly garden applications received online from Thursday April 24 at 12:01 AM until Midnight Thursday April 24th.
Learn more about North American Butterfly Association and its programs that promote
enjoying butterflies and their habitat, please visit: About NABA
April 22, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Promotions
To celebrate Earth Day, North American Butterfly Association is holding a week-long raffle, Monday April 21st through Friday April 25, 2014. There will be a raffle drawing and prize awarded each day!
Butterflies celebrate Earth Day every day, so why should you limit yourself to just April 22nd? By joining NABA, certifying your butterfly garden, or both, you can celebrate Earth Day every day by demonstrating your commitment to protecting butterflies throughout the year. Through NABA membership and garden certification, you are helping promote the planting of native grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs throughout North America, all of which provide valuable habitat for butterflies and pollinators.
Wednesday’s raffle prize is a $25 gift card. It has been generously donated by Gardener’s Supply Company, which has a range of products that would suit butterfly gardeners as well as butterfly watchers. We thank Gardener’s Supply Company for supporting NABA!
There are three different ways to win a chance for the daily raffle prize: 1) join NABA, 2) give a gift membership to NABA, or 3) certify your butterfly garden (and buy a certified sign at the same time). Any of these options will enter you for a chance to win the daily raffle prizes.
Thinking about joining NABA and certifying your garden? Your name will be entered twice in the daily drawing. The raffle prize winner will be selected at random from all new memberships, gift memberships, and certified butterfly garden applications received online from Wednesday April 23 at 12:01 AM until Midnight Wednesday April 23rd.
Learn more about North American Butterfly Association and its programs that promote
enjoying butterflies and their habitat, please visit: About NABA
April 21, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Promotions
To celebrate Earth Day, North American Butterfly Association is holding a week-long raffle, Monday April 21st through Friday April 25, 2014. There will be a raffle drawing and prize awarded each day!
Earth day is held each April 22 to show support for environmental protection and reform. What better way to show your concern for Earth’s finite resources than through the protection and promotion of butterfly and pollinator habitat? Join NABA or certify your butterfly garden to let others know that by saving butterflies, we are taking steps toward saving ourselves.
Two raffle prizes will be awarded today to one winner!
Toadshade Wildflower Farm has graciously donated a plant from their nursery for NABA’s Tuesday raffle. The owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, Dr. Randi Eckel, chose Hollow Joe Pye Weed to donate to NABA’s raffle because “Hollow Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) is a fantastic nectar plant for butterflies and pollinators! Huge domes of thousands of pink/purple flowers from July through September on 6-8’ tall plants make it hard to miss. It is also known as Trumpetweed and Queen-of-the-Meadow.” Toadshade Wildflower Farm grows many other plants that are useful in butterfly gardens in addition to Hollow Joe Pye Weed.
Tuesday’s other raffle prize is a $25 gift card. It has been generously donated by Gardener’s Supply Company, which has a range of products that would suit butterfly gardeners as well as butterfly watchers. We thank Gardener’s Supply Company for supporting NABA!
There are three different ways to win a chance for the daily raffle prize: 1) join NABA, 2) give a gift membership to NABA, or 3) certify your butterfly garden (and buy a certified sign at the same time). Any of these options will enter you for a chance to win the daily raffle prizes.
Thinking about joining NABA and certifying your garden? Your name will be entered twice in the daily drawing. The raffle prize winner will be selected at random from all new memberships, gift memberships, and certified butterfly garden applications received online from Tuesday April 22 at 12:01 AM until Midnight Tuesday April 22nd.
Learn more about North American Butterfly Association and its programs that promote
enjoying butterflies and their habitat, please visit: About NABA
April 20, 2014 /
Naba Butterfly Gardener /
Promotions
To celebrate Earth Day, North American Butterfly Association is holding a week-long raffle, Monday April 21st through Friday April 25, 2014.
There will be a raffle drawing and prize awarded each day!
Monday’s raffle prize is a $25 gift card, which has been generously donated by Gardener’s Supply Company. Their online catalog has a range of products that would suit butterfly gardeners as well as butterfly watchers. We thank Gardener’s Supply Company for supporting NABA!
There are three different ways to win a chance for the daily raffle prize: 1) join NABA, 2) give a gift membership to NABA, or 3) certify your butterfly garden (and buy a certified sign at the same time). Any of these options will enter you for a chance to win the daily raffle prize.
Thinking about joining NABA and certifying your garden? Your name will be entered twice in the daily drawing. The raffle prize winner will be selected at random from all new memberships, gift memberships, and certified butterfly garden applications received online from Monday April 21 at 12:01 AM until Midnight Monday April 21st.
Learn more about North American Butterfly Association and its programs that promote
enjoying butterflies and their habitat, please visit: About NABA
