TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Colorfield Sells Old-Fashioned Varieties

ADVERTISEMENT

By LAURA CONE

The Sun

Published: April 1, 2009

When it comes to attracting butterflies and beneficial insects, old-fashioned flowers stand taller than the dwarf hybrids devoid of nectar.

Anne Pidgeon, the owner of Colorfield Farms in Wimauma, said people may attract butterflies to their yards in Sun City Center in some surprising ways. In addition to planting old-fashioned flowers, they may plant herbs and citrus trees that serve as host plants for butterflies.

"When they bred the dwarf pentas to change the color and size of the plants, they bred the nectar out of them," said Pidgeon, comparing the problem to the way many roses were bred for color and lost their perfume scent.

Elgie Clark of Sun City Center stopped by Colorfield Farms to browse the citrus trees, which are host plants for the giant swallowtail.

"I'm looking for a naval and maybe a honeybell," Clark said. "They eliminated our citrus trees because of the citrus canker. I thought it was time to plant some back in."

Clark said he also lost one of his orange trees to a storm a few years ago.

Pidgeon said citrus trees serve a dual purpose of providing fruit for the gardener as well as food for caterpillars.

"Caterpillars have a bad rap, but it's the larvae for some of the most beautiful butterflies," she said.

Pidgeon said people in Sun City Center are drawn to her container gardens featuring some with butterfly-friendly herbs such as fennel and parsley.

"What's really hot is people buying vegetables, growing their own tomatoes and peppers," she said. "It gives them a sense of satisfaction to grow something themselves."

Another way to attract butterflies while conserving water is to grow ornamental peanut or sunshine mimosa, which are drought tolerant ground covers. However, some homeowner's associations in Sun City Center require St. Augustine grass.

To work with lawn maintenance requirements, sunshine mimosa may be worked within a flower bed or attractively displayed using mulch. Experts say pesticides should always be avoided to protect beneficial insects such as butterflies and bees.

For more information on Colorfield Farms, 8221 S.R. 674 Wimauma, call (813) 672-4121.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT