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Welcome to my Garden

 Rose Butman's front yard
Rose Bechard -Butman,  has over 20 years experience working with garden clubs in Alexandria Va., Washington D.C., Cape Cod and Florida.  She is a Past President of Moringa Garden Circle and Chairman for Fort Lauderdale Federation of Garden Circles Civic Improvement and Scholarship Programs.   She is a Master gardener and owner of Longstem Garden Consultation.
Butman garden 2Butman garden 1
My garden is a collector's garden”.  It includes many native plants for wildlife, but also incorporates many rare and unusual exotics as well as unusual tropical fruit trees.  Native plants, water fountains, bird baths and ponds, along with bird feeders and plants to provide shelter, qualify it to be registered with the State of Florida as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

In 2006, my Garden was nominated for a 2006 Emerald Award, the highest environmental award given in Broward County.
 See Photos : Ponds of Pleasure

Fish pond In addition to citrus, avocado, coconuts, star fruit, jaboticaba, asian mangoes, pineapples, bananas of 6 or 7 varieties, mulberries, blackberries and figs,  there are butterfly plants galore and an herb garden.


Bromeliads , orchids and anthiriums, ferns, voodoo lily, roses and day lilies co-exist in this eclectic garden.
and there is always a place to squeeze in another costa , heliconia or ginger among the plantains.

There are well over a dozen varieties of blooming vines, some planted together for alternate color and blooming cycle.

This is not the garden for the faint of heart & heat. It is not a low maintenance garden and is not one that Irecommended to myr landscape design clients. However, anyone could incorporate one or two of these rare plants into their low maintenance landscape as a focal point.
 

Tecomanthe Tecomanthe, native of Brazil

Pink tubular flowers form from wood of vine in spring. This one is planted at the base of a coconut tree. Needs support. A specimen can be seen at Butterfly World and in my garden.




Eastern Black SwallowtailI captured this Black Swallowtail (formerly called the Eastern Black Swallowtail) dabbling in the dill.  The Black Swallowtail  (Papilio polyxenes) ranges from the Rocky Mountains east from S. Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  It prefers open habitats including meadows, weed fields, gardens, parks and ridges.

The Black Swallowtail caterpillar is a common garden pest.  It feeds on plants that are members of the carrot family (parsley, dill, fennel, anise) so, when you plant your herb garden, be sure to plant some for yourself and some for butterfly babies!

The female form of this species as well as the Spice Bush Swallowtail and the female of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, closely resembles the Pipevine Swallowtail.  This effective mimicry helps protect the species.  Once birds have ingested the foul tasting Pipevine Swallowtail they avoid the more palatable species that resemble their "yucky" tasting friends.  Of the approximate 560 species of swallowtails worldwide, Florida is home to 10, more than any other state in the United States.

One of the easiest ways to identify which butterfly your watching is to see which plant it lands on.  For instance, if the butterfly with similar markings as the Black Swallowtail was on the next plant chances are it would be the Pipevine Swallowtail looking for a spot to lay her eggs.    The caterpillars feed on various species of the Pipevine (so called because its flowers resemble a Dutchman's pipe) and the butterflies that emerge are quite distasteful because of the chemicals contained in the leaves of the pipevine the caterpillar ingested.

Here are two varieties of my ARISTOLOCHIA (calico flower)  Where caterpillars are in hog heaven!

Grandiflora Gigantea
  • Native to Brazil. Host plant to the pipevine swallowtail.
  • Leaves are heart shaped on all three. 
  • Likes rich well drained soil. Aggressive vine. Elegans is much less aggressive. 
  • Zones 9-10
  • The butterflies, in my garden, seem to be highly attracted to Gigantea.
    Grandiflora Gigantea
    Elegans = The smaller, more common, variety known as “Dutchman's pipe"  (3" wide flower)
    Gigantea =  large, maroon colored flower 6"- 8" inches
    Grandiflora = super large  white colored flower  12" inches


    Rose Bechard Butman is a garden consultant.  If you wish to ask her any questions regarding the availability of her plants or their care she invites you to email her at labud@comcast.net


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