Eastern Black Swallowtail

Eastern Black Swallowtail on Bee Balm

I posted this picture of a Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly on my For The Love of Gardening facebook page.  It's the first one in my garden this year and was perfect (along the end of the summer they begin to look tattered from attacks and weather.)  

Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar on Sage

I keep a variety of herbs in my yard not only for cooking but for butterflies.  Rue and dill are two butterfly favorites during the caterpillar stages.  Rue isn't a flavor I want to have in food but it is a pretty little plant both to me and the butterflies.

I have to plant dill every few years because it runs it course.  I always need more because the caterpillars will pretty much strip it down to nothing.  This coincides with it being a young plant so I know I'll loose some to these hardy eaters.

Eastern Black Swallowtail 
on Phlox

As I was researching this article, I saw many articles telling readers to use chemicals to kill the caterpillars on their herbs.  WOW, where do these people  think their butterflies come from?  If you need your herbs for other uses, tie a mesh net over these plants until it gets older and plant enough uncovered plants to feed the caterpillars.  I grant you the quick fix is chemical but I question if it's the right fix for the long term benefit.  Not only will these chemicals kill the butterfly caterpillars but other beneficial insects that might wander onto the plants - many needed for pollination purposes   I'm, also, not real good with the chemical residue on these plants if they are to be used for human food purposes.  If you're a herb farmer, using your plants as an income source, I urge you to look at using the least harmful of protection available.  

  Check out the chart on "What butterflies eat" on
 www.joyfulbutterfly.com

The "Yum" Factor

Time to get crackin' and make your way to the local produce sales.  It's a place to get fresh fruit, vegetables and much more all summer.  It helps our local small business producers and it gives you straight from the farm good eats.  Talk with the people selling their wares, they are interesting and can expand upon what their selling - such as how it's grown, what's used on it, when it was picked and most have a wealth of information on how to prepare.  

Often, these markets will have other homemade items - every market is different and every one is fun.  Hard working gardeners and farmers and they're out there waiting for you.  If you don't live in this area, check out the web - most have a listing if you key in farmers' markets and your state.

East Moline:

East Moline Farmers Market aka Skate City Farmers’ Market, 1112 42^nd Ave., E. Moline

            Weds & Saturday        8 am – noon                May 1 – October 30

Galesburg:

Galesburg Farmers Market, Simmons & Kellogg, Galesburg

            Saturday                      8 am – noon                May 4 – October 12

Geneseo:

Geneseo Farmers Market, City Park & Pearl Street, Geneseo

            Saturday                      8 am – noon                June 20 to October 30

Kewanee:

Kewanee Farmers Market, 200 W. Third St., Kewanee

            Weds & Saturday        7:30  am - 11 am                     May 15 to Sept. 28

Moline:

Trinity 7^th St. Moline Farmers Market, 500 John Deere Rd., Moline

            Saturday                      8 am – noon                            May 4 – October 26

Oneida:

Oneida Farmers Market, 221 US Highway 24, Oneida

            Thursdays                   3 – 6 pm                                  July 1 – Sept. 30

Peoria:

Heights Farm Market, 4450 N. Prospect Rd., Peoria Heights

            Wednesday                 3:30 – 6:30 pm                        June 12 – Sept. 18

Metro Center Farmers Market, 4700 N. University, Peoria

            Mon thru Sat.             8 am – 2 pm                            May 1 – October 22

RiverFront Market, 330 SW Water St., Liberty Park, Peoria

Saturday                      8 am to noon               June 1 through September 28

Princeton:

Bureau County Farmers Market, 1023 N. Main St., Princeton  (Darius Miller Park)

            Saturday                      8:30 am – 2 pm           May 26 to Oct. 27

            Tuesday                      3:30  - 6 pm               

                                     Farm Produce and Roadside Stands     

Cambridge:

Jeffries, Tadd, 13100 N 1100 Ave., Cambridge

            --                                 --                                 Mid July (depending when ready)

Galva:

Beagle Creek Farm, 1982 State Route 82, Altona, IL  61414

            Phone (309)299-4574 – www.beaglecreekfarm.com

Geneseo:

Knudtson Potato Farm, Inc., 19998 N 2700 Avenue, Geneseo

            Friday                         8 am – 5 pm                Aug. – November

            Saturday                      8 am – 1 pm

Rogers, Debbie Free Range Eggs, 23204 IL Hwy 82, Geneseo

            Mon – Sat.                  8 am – 4 pm                As available

Lafayette:

Stahl’s Pumpkins and More, RR#1, Box 84, Lafayette

            Summer                       as available

             Mon – Sat.                 9 am – 6 pm                Sept. – Oct.

Neponset:

Miller’s Market, Inc., 640 Kentville Rd., Neponset

            Mon – Sat.                  8:30 am – 5 pm           Sept. – Oct.

Some of this information came from:   www.agri.state.il.us/wherefreshis/listing/php

Busy As A Bee

Isn't this a pretty little bee on daylily "Spiritual Corridor".

Sipping some sweets on daylily "Dad's Best White"

This bee was one of many loading pollen from daylily "Chloe".

I have more bees this year than ever before.  I'm still wondering if the swarm we had in the woods is living either in a dead tree or someone has hives near us.  Not all my bees are honeybees and it's amazing the different sizes and colors.  All busy at work and never bother me.   Sharing a little pollinating heaven.

This wild eyed fly begged for a picture.

Lots of little bees on the salvia

It's the Rule

Independence Day aka July 4^th is for most Americans a day of family, food and fireworks.  Adults and soldiers may reflect on the price of freedom while kids run crazy with sparklers, hotdogs and sunburns.Parades crawl happily by with politicians, tractors and folks dressed in red, white and blue.

I love a good parade: I get teary when local soldiers (past or present) march by with the flag, my heart beats with excitement if there’s a band playing marching songs, and I take pictures of veterans, the Bishop Hill High Society Band, and a float made from a lawn mower, a garden wagon, and kids.  I’ll sit through rain, sun and scorching temperatures with pride in all that’s been assembled to celebrate our country’s independence. 

But, does that independence really translate to the freedom to garden in your own backyard you may ask?  OK, probably no one has ever asked that but I’m going to delve into garden freedoms today.

I’ve written about laws regarding the parking strip, utility regulations and trees.  That’s been covered and now let’s dig a little deeper into your garden freedoms.

Anyone whose read my articles knows I’m on the side of less federal regulations, less local government interference in the daily lives of it’s citizens and the encouragement of personal freedom as long as it doesn’t harm others.  Sounds simple and of course in legal terms it’s never simple.  It’s because the translation of words can be vastly different between people.  My idea of what “government interference in the daily lives of its citizens” may be totally different than your version.

On the flip side, one of the benefits of our freedoms is the ability to debate these issues until someone finally calls “Uncle!”  At some point, we must agree on what or how much government control is needed to protect the citizens and their way of life while still protecting our individual freedoms.  So simple to say – so not simple to do.

We also have what is gently called “internet hysteria” regarding most anything, everything and often nothing.  This applies to laws governing gardening and on a bigger scale the production of food.  Does the Food and Drug Administration have the right to regulate what and how we grow food in our backyard gardens?  Will the farm bills eventually regulate organic gardens out of business?  Will farmers’ markets be outlawed the same as the sale of unprocessed milk?  The list from individual interest groups is endless.

Will the term “food production facility” (used in some legislation applicable to all farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture and confined animal feeding facilities) also include any place that grows food – even a backyard garden?

On a state or local level, there may be weed laws.  Near us, Chicago has one of the most ambiguous and highly enforced weed laws with the sole purpose of generating revenue through fines.  Most states have laws protecting native plants and wildlife.  Other towns prohibit vegetable gardens in the front yard and homeowner associations are often so restrictive a home owner gives up the freedom of individual choices on anything visible outside of the home.  (Granted it’s a choice to live under the rules when you purchase a home governed by these associations.)

Some cities and states have laws governing composting, water use (both restricting or insisting you water), fencing and hedges, height of plants, what consists of “noxious weeds”, and what pesticides and fertilizers a homeowner may apply.  Others have laws regulating the kind and number of animals you may have in your yard, beekeeping, dovecotes, height of turf and what’s considered wildflowers.

Most states prohibit killing birds and some have restrictions on how to handle an injured bird.  Laws prohibiting the use of firearms to kill raccoons, squirrels and other wild critters are in most towns.  Hint:  call your local Animal Control office.

For the sake of the more extroverted gardener, it’s typically against the law to garden in the nude within city limits.  And that piece of gardening law information is my final and most important for the average Galva News reader.

Enjoy your July 4^th Independence Day celebrations and count your Blessings you live in this beautiful land of milk and honey.  May it always stand tall and proud in the way it governs and gardens.

Summer Plus One

Happy Summer Solstice 2013 or Summer plus one day because I was so busy doing non gardening things yesterday.

Had loads of fun staging the wedding reception dinner tables for a nice young couple.  So much is publicized about "bridezillas" and "mother of the bridezillas" but this family was a total pleasure.  Wishing them a lifetime of love and Blessings.

I am finishing the last of my second term as President of the Board of Directors of Freedom House, a women and children's domestic and sexual abuse shelter and services.  I will remain on the Board and have faith our new president will be a valuable asset.  www.freedomhouseillinois.com

Back to summer and the joy of working our way through months of warmth and beauty.  As I was visiting the new president yesterday, we walked through her beautiful yard.  I love seeing the work and imagination involved in another gardener's choices.  Like all of us, she fights garden wars (deer in her case), moves, redesigns, babies and most of all loves her gardens.  We should have had pictures of us because there were two definitely past middle age ladies with umbrellas walking around her yard in a heavy rain.  It was an opportunity and it wasn't to be missed.  For some reason a Patsy Cline song kept running through my head...

Because of the large amounts of rain this spring my yard is growing like crazy and benefiting mightily.  One honeysuckle has become infected (is that the right word?) with mildew and I've noticed some mildew beginning on the old fashioned phlox.  I've heard of the home remedy of milk diluted with water - may try.  The real way to fight mildew is to never plant anything that isn't resistant (which leaves out many older varieties) and to never crowd plants (which leaves out most of my beds.)

I am still fighting apple/rose rust and I think it's spread to other plants.  Calling in the professionals on this one.  We've taken out a large juniper near the orchard area and may need to take out another.  I will never get rid of all the junipers in the area because they seed everywhere there is undisturbed roadsides, fence rows, etc. in the country.   It's a nasty disease and I'm not willing to give up yet.

Yes, every plus of nature brings a minus.  It gives with the right and takes with the left.  It's called gardening.  It changes yearly and often monthly.  I am so glad to have all the resources of other gardeners, professionals and materials to reference.  If nothing else, we support each other by knowing we're all in this together.

What are you fighting and what are you enjoying this year?   

Bi Bi Bi Annuals B.A.B.Y.

There are no ugly hollyhock flowers - they make me sing - they rock and they are b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l!!!!

The petals are so thin the sun shines through them.

Betty Davis eyes.

Lipstick Red

Texture of rice paper.

They pop up here and there.

Prom dress material

Did I mention "BEAUTIFUL"?  
Did I mention "EASY"?
Or beautiful?

No orchid can compare.

Ruffles and frills

Walkin' N' Talkin'

I walked and talked and totally enjoyed visiting Anderson Japanese Gardens and the Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Rockford Illinois.  The conversations were garden based since the entire bus was loaded with seasoned gardeners ("seasoned" as in doing it more years than most people are alive...)

We often talked about how blessed we are to have so many beautiful garden spaces to visit close enough for day trips.  Make it two days and the possibilities are multiplied double.

This is the first time I've been to either of the Rockford gardens and it was worth the trip.  The day was sunny, moderately hot and no rain.  The Geneseo Garden Club hosted to perfection.  One member even invited us to her home to view her beautiful gardens before we left for home.

Anderson is a private estate garden open to the public.  It is maintained to perfection and tries to keep the feel of a Japanese garden while accommodating various physical limitations of their visitors.  If neat and tidy is your thing, this place is perfect.  We saw several workers with hand clippers, precisely trimming the many sculpted evergreens.

It was a massive effort to create this garden:  boulders, waterfalls, lakes, streams, tea house, and shade plants under and around the canopy of large trees.  The only negative (if it's that) is it feels a little contrived.  I suppose it must since this kind of controlled landscape is so far from our native Midwest flora.

Klehm Arboretum has the look and feel of a massive park.  The point is to walk the many large paved paths lined with trees.  These trees are established, look at home in the surroundings and are tagged.  It would be especially useful if you are looking to landscape a new space.  To gauge the mature size of a tree and how it behaves in the landscape is valuable.

The other side of the Klehm experience is it's beautiful and huge.  As was the Anderson experience, the employees are welcoming and informed.  It's quiet in spite of the many visitors allowing contemplation and photos.  Klehm's is an educational mecca for adults and children.

Both places have facilities for large groups (weddings, corporate events, and etc.), visitor centers, gift shops, rest areas and brochures.  Both have web sites, facebook & twitter pages, charge admission and have some rules.


klehm.org
andersongardens.org

So what did I accomplish:  a relaxed and enjoyable day with other gardeners, new garden ideas, made some new friends and experienced two of our beautiful local landscapes.  Try it this summer - it's a great day.

If you're not local to my area, google public gardens and add the area (state, county, or region) and you'll have loads of places to make your summer even more garden fun.

This is Klehm's public gathering space.  All the other photos are from Anderson.