Gardening Guides by Publish Date:
Practical Guides & Getting Started
Practical guidance for building and maintaining gardens.
Practical guidance for building and maintaining butterfly gardens, including planting, timing, seed starting, and early decisions that shape long-term outcomes.
Practical guidance for building and maintaining butterfly gardens, including planting, timing, seed starting, and early decisions that shape long-term outcomes.
Host plants, nectar, and simple habitat structure.
Butterflies, Habitat, & Life Cycles
Butterfly life cycles, host & nectar plants, habitat structure, and how butterflies use gardens throughout the seasons.
Gardening in Texas Heat (Zone 8)
Planting guidance & seasonal strategies for gardening in Texas heat, including region-appropriate plant choices.
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Get a free printable checklist covering the basic elements of a butterfly garden:
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Monarch Migration Tracker
Click the map below to track the current Monarch Butterfly Migration on the official USFWS website.
Find My Planting Zone
Click the map below to find your Plant Hardiness Zone on the official USDA website.
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Where Do Butterflies Go In Winter?
In Texas, butterflies adapt to winter in various ways rather than simply vanishing. Species like Gulf Fritillaries endure cold months by hiding in leaf piles, shrubs, or vines, entering a state of torpor when temperatures drop. Swallowtails overwinter as resilient chrysalises, while monarchs include both migratory and resident populations. Skipper caterpillars find shelter in grass…
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How to Build a Keyhole Garden: A Complete Guide for Texas Gardeners
Keyhole gardens are innovative garden designs ideal for water-scarce areas, especially in Texas. Their unique circular shape, featuring a central compost basket, makes them effective for growing a variety of plants while conserving water and nutrients. This gardening approach is beneficial for both beginners and seasoned gardeners aiming to maximize small spaces. The guide outlines…
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Texas Native Milkweed: The Best Species to Plant for Monarchs (Zone 8 Guide)
Milkweed is essential for creating butterfly-friendly landscapes in Texas, particularly for supporting monarchs and native pollinators. This guide highlights the best native milkweed species for Central and North-Central Texas (Zone 8), emphasizing their resilience to local climatic challenges. Key species include Green Milkweed, Whorled Milkweed, Antelope Horn Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, and Zizotes Milkweed, each with…
Butterfly garden paradise 