Van’s Garden

A garden and a community of gardeners

Today ’s photos come from Linda Kennedy , who is taking us all on a sojourn to her gifted gardening friend in Dallas .

Van Johnson has become the gardening guru here in the Oak Cliff vicinity of Dallas . Several long time ago Van start a Facebook gardening varlet , Oak Cliff Gardeners , and it has grown to more than 3,000 fellow member , most of whom live in the immediate orbit . It is not only an educational page but also a grand seat for all to ask questions , get help , andshare photosof our garden . We spread grace among each other with the goal of nourish and save nature .

Van ’s home is on a relatively small patch of land , coarse to most of us living here , roughly 50 feet by 150 feet . But he has transmute his property into a literal nature corner . He has turned the metropolis alleviation ( alleyway ) behind his house into anAdvanced Certified Wildlife Habitat ; it ’s boo favorable and is amonarchwaystation . He has also , with permission , take over several other neighboring relief , handcrafting about 300 feet or so of otherwise wasted space into a rude landscape painting . He often repurposes what most would debate rubble ( old gemstone , bricks , etc . ) to organise the pathway throughout .

He has been instrumental in arrange seed and plant trade in the area and continually gives away starter plants taken from his garden . He ’s also been implemental in beautifying many public area and ask for unpaid worker to serve . Such projects include an overgrown hospice care deftness , theTexas Theatre , and so many more .

The sovereign migration has arrived in our area . new wave has been update us regularly as to when to bear them . The prediction was that they would arrive September 29 and that harbor true . On September 29 , Van announced on the Facebook page that his beautiful butterfly stroke garden had dozens of Danaus plexippus , and he invited everyone on the Thomas Nelson Page to come celebrate . So many , from toddlers to seniors , come to witness this amazing spectacle .

vanguard is a wealthiness of information and will lief share everything he know with you .

I am golden not only to be a penis of Oak Cliff Gardeners but also to live less than a land mile aside . Each prison term I visit , Van instruct me something new .

These are some pictorial matter I ’ve take in Van ’s garden .

Migrating monarch butterflies stop by to fuel up on Gregg ’s mistflower ( Conoclinumgreggii , Zones 7–10 ) .

A simple path lead through the lushly planted garden , full of beautiful blossom for human and wildlife .

Silver foliageshows off surround flowering flora .

Many different species of butterfly have it off to sip on the nectar of lantana ( Lantanacamara , Zone 8–10 or as annual ) .

The long flight of stairs to the south to Mexico requires lots of vim , so providing amplenectar plantsin late summer and devolve is key to helping monarch butterfly thrive .

The pads of a prickly pear cactus ( Opuntiaspecies ) make a beautiful dividing line to airier plants .

A pair of monarch butterfly butterflies get inner on the ageratum .

A ruby-red moment in the garden , with Mexican butterfly weed ( Asclepiascurassavica , Zones 8–11 or as yearly ) in the front and red salvia ( Salviagreggii , Zones 8–10 or as yearly ) in the back .

Have photos to portion out ? We ’d love to see your garden , a especial assembling of plants you be intimate , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit !

To state , post 5 - 10 photograph to[email protected]along with some info about the plants in the depiction and where you took the pic . We ’d love to hear where you are locate , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are majestic of , failure you learned from , promise for the future , favorite plant , or funny tale from your garden .

If you want to send photos in separate emails to theGPOD electronic mail boxthat is just fine .

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gregg’s mistflower

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