In the Organic Garden; Birds and Butterflies

Now is the time we start thinking about what we need to clean up in the garden. I can tell you from experience that leaving most of your flowers go to seed and leaving them in the garden is a good thing to do. There are many birds that love to eat those seeds as you can see the finches on my zinnias. The finches also adore cone flower seeds. I will also leave perennial flower plants as they die right where they stand to provide some protection from the frigid winter months. There is plenty of time to clean up any left over plants the bunnies didn't eat in the spring. 

 Now lets talk butterflies. We all know about the migration of monarch butterflies for the winter months, but did you know that leaf litter (fallen leaves) is extremely important to many other butterflies? Yes, it is true! There are some butterflies that over winter in the form of caterpillars, a chrysalis, or even a few leave their eggs in the leaves. I encourage people to leave as much leaf litter in your areas, in, around, and under plants and trees to assist our friends the butterflies.
I also have as many leaves as possible mounded on my raspberry patch area to not only mulch but feed them as well.

http://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/the-butterflies-of-winter

Here is one web site you can check out if you want to learn more about butterflies and how they overwinter. I am sure there are many other places on the web to learn more as well. 

Enjoy our last gasp of warm weather! I saw a flock of geese flying south on Oct. 15th, so we know our winter is not too far away!

Happy gardening!