Welcoming bees, butterflies, insects and birds in my Garden in Lucknow, North India
Summer is over, and the yellow wasps are gone for now. For me, the seasons in Lucknow seem to be marked by wasps, ants, bees, butterflies, mosquitoes, spiders, lizards, and an equally amazing variety of birds. I counted 52 different birds in my vicinity. My pesticide-free and chemical-fertilizer-free garden seems to attract them all :) I get rich cow-dung manure from a neighbouring dairy to keep my plants healthy.
This September, close to the end of rainy season, I already see butterflies breezing over my rooftop garden. Monarch and cabbage butterflies are happy. The sunbird is enjoying nectar from my oleander and kaner flowers.
Host plants for caterpillars
Milkweed and white crocus rain lilies disappear when the caterpillars feed, but not that I mind!
My Summer and Rainy Season Garden for bees and butterflies
Yellow bhringraj, sunflowers, mint, grass, cypress vine, holy basil, ageratum, hibiscus, oleander, kaner, tecoma, guava, chinese orange flowers, gourd, beans and brinjal flowers keep the bees busy in my garden on sunny days. The bees love to sit for a drink in the bowl of water kept for birds. The butterflies are seen more after the rains set in.
My Winter garden for bees and butterflies
In my winter garden, I find the bees taking to my pots of mixed flowers and herbs. Mustard, saunf (aniseed), holy basil, van tulsi, Black eyed Susan, cosmos, margueritta, cornflower, chrysanthemums, candytuft, pink clover, yellow bhringraj, sunflowers, zinnia, oleander, kaner, brinjal, cockscomb, gourd, poppy, salvia, asters, penta, dahlia and cardinal vine to name a few.
