In late 2008, I planted a demonstration pollinator garden at Chatham Mills to provide forage from early spring to late fall for pollinators such as honey bees, native bees, butterflies, flower flies, hummingbirds, beetles, and other beneficial insects. The garden features over 235 unique species of perennials, 85% of which are native to North Carolina. The garden is a great teaching tool that I use to conduct workshops and tours for hundreds of folks each year. It has taught me so much and I enjoy sharing this knowledge with others. Below you can see photos of the pollinator garden from early April through mid-May.
Carolina anole on redbud tree in late March. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Monarch butterfly laying an egg on common milkweed in early April. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Monarch egg on milkweed. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Early instar monarch caterpillar on milkweed in mid-April. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Early instar spicebush swallowtail caterpillar on spicebush in late April. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Wild indigo (foreground) with bluestar. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Lady beetle feeding on aphid on milkweed. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Redring milkweed in early May. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Milkweed leaf beetle on milkweed. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Skunk meadowrue (foreground) with white wild indigo. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Close-up of skunk meadowrue blooms. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Virginia sweetspire shrub. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Close-up of Virginia sweetspire blooms. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Small's beardtongue, one of several Penstemon species in the garden. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Bumble bee foraging on small's beardtongue. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Close-up of Adam's needle blooms in early May. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Carolina lupine with garden heliotrope. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Bumble bee foraging on Carolina lupine. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Flower buds of nodding onion. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Downy wood mint with lanceleaf coreopsis. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Bumble bee on downy wood mint. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Purple coneflower before expanding its petals. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Delicate American Ipecac blooms. Photo by Debbie Roos.
Close-up of standing cypress bloom. Photo by Debbie Roos.
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