Magnolia stellata's primitive multi-petaled, milk-white and blush-striped blooms are the first flowers to fully unfurl within our garden shrubberies. Eighteen petals fall free of their furry calyx, multiplied by hundreds, to paint this small tree brightly. She stands along our second terraced garden stretching easterly amongst sentient statues of Apples and Birch yet to exhale their buds at the time these photographs were taken. A gift of Peace from Japan to the United States, Magnolia … [Read more...]
Early Spring ‘Star’ Magnolia Stellata
Magnolia stellata's primitive multi-petaled, milk-white and blush-striped blooms are the first flowers to fully unfurl within our garden shrubberies. Eighteen petals fall free of their furry calyx, multiplied by hundreds, to paint this small tree brightly. She stands along our second terraced garden stretching easterly amongst sentient statues of Apples and Birch yet to exhale their buds at the time these photographs were taken. A gift of Peace from Japan to the United States, Magnolia … [Read more...]
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet and Common Wood Nymph
The more I learn about butterflies, the more I understand just how enchanted our gardens and nature, in general, truly is. With satyrs and wood nymphs all about the grassy meadows and fields who could ever dream of using poisons? We share our gardens and land with a complex and varied living community and we can attract these magical creatures into our lives by learning about their needs and pleasures. By planting the necessary host plants or being sure not to yank them out of our gardens … [Read more...]
Flower Hill Farm Butterflies of 2012 ~ Little Wood Satyr, Common Ringlet and Common Wood Nymph
The more I learn about butterflies, the more I understand just how enchanted our gardens and nature, in general, truly is. With satyrs and wood nymphs all about the grassy meadows and fields who could ever dream of using poisons? We share our gardens and land with a complex and varied living community and we can attract these magical creatures into our lives by learning about their needs and pleasures. By planting the necessary host plants or being sure not to yank them out of our gardens in … [Read more...]
Flower Hill Farm BUTTERFLIES OF 2011 ~ Favorite Viceroy
The Viceroy Limenitis archippus, is a bright orange butterfly with black veins, cleverly mimicking the bad tasting and tummy aching (for the birds) milkweed butterflies. It is classified as a Mullerian mimic of the Monarch butterfly. Therefore upon first sighting the Viceroy, an observer may believe it to be a Monarch butterfly. There are many differences, however . . . such as size and hue intensity . . . but the easiest way to identify the Viceroy, is to note the thick black vein drawn … [Read more...]
