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Positive Plants!

Writer's picture: michellejkartsmichellejkarts

Plantable Flora & Fauna!!!


Why we want to plant positive Flora and Fauna.

There are all kinds of flowers and plants that we can enhance our gardens with, but not all of them are plants we should want in our gardens. Some plants are harmful to our pets and to humans, we just don’t realize it. So save on vet bills and protect your furry friends from them. 

Other plants are terrible for the environment, spreading non-native pollens and growing wildly, making you have to work harder to keep your garden from becoming wild and unruly.  

Positive Plants are also important because of the environmental impact that they have. Certain endangered birds, bees and butterflies are heavily impacted by the plants that we choose to incorporate into our gardens. Choosing to plant flora and fauna that promotes your local endangered species can be your way of doing your part in helping the vulnerable critters to survive. 


Being Environmentally conscious in your garden!

Honestly? I do not have a green thumb in my body, so I’m more successful at making garden sculptures than I am at growing … anything. Seriously, everything I try to grow dies, but that doesn’t mean that I’ve given up and there are some things I’ve tried that have worked.


When working in the garden, always read planting labels, like rare legendary creatures, some plants only survive and thrive in the right conditions with the right kinds of soils, shades and nutritional supplements. It can take a lot of work to rear a seedling or young sapling into a monumental success, but, it’s worth it because like all legendary creatures, they become strong and indestructible over time, sharing rewards in unique and mythical ways!


Selecting your plants based on the buffs they provide your garden is part of finding what works for you. Whether it’s a visual effect to help you meditate, an edible reward that provides you with more stamina to keep gardening or even a rare attraction buff that brings local wildlife into your world, each plant has a benefit that can be stacked until you make the perfect garden.


If your choices grow fruit, drop leaves, need pruning or have abundant flowers, it helps to have a compost bin. This is because you’ll have somewhere to throw the fallen fruits and leaves, as well as your household perishables. Coffee drinkers, your used ground coffee dregs make for excellent compost! As a bonus, your garden will have some amazingly healthy nutrients that will level it up!



 


Butterfly Freindly Flora & Fauna!

Here’s a list of some Flora that will bring the butterflies into your garden. I mean, who wouldn’t want their garden to feel like a magical fairy resort? You never know, one of those butterflies might actually be a fairy, you just to look closely and let the magic take you away. There’s a lot of fun to be had in getting butterflies to come to your garden, that’s because specific flowers and plants can actually attract specific butterfly species. If there’s a particular species that you want to attract, cultivating their specific food sources can increase the chances of you actually luring them to be your personal garden pets! The young Australian Scienctist app can help with specific butterfly food identifying, although keep in mind some of the more extinct butterflies are becoming extinct because their food source is very rare, meaning it’s going to be very hard to source its seeds and creating the right conditions in your garden to grow that particular plant. Still, cultivating endangered plants in order to attract endangered butterflies to your garden is a fun challenge, You can use the Butterflies Australia APP to identify species and food sources. You can also contribute to helping the scientists identify new colonies by documenting your butterfly sightings! How cool is that? see the app here Home – Butterflies Australia


The following Fauna & Flora is just a list that attracts butterflies in general. See the app for more specific species targets.



Butterfly Attracting 1

Butterfly Attracting 2

Caterpillar & Larvae Attracting. Host Plants.

Grasses & Shrubs that are Nectar Rich

Asclepias (Butterfly Weed) – Helps protect the endangered Monarch and other breeds. Excellent for butterflies.


Hardenbergia Violacea


Buddleia (butterfly bush) Leafcutter & Red Bees love this. NOTE: Pick Sterile Cultivators as this Can be an environmental weed in Damp River Forrest areas in VIC & SA. Plant with caution. 


Verbena


Joe-Pye Weed


Ironweed


Beebalm (Monarda)


Goodenia Species


Salvias


Snapdragon


Sedum (FrostedFire)


Yellow ConeFlowers


Solidago (GoldenRod)


Leucanthemum (Daisies)


Phlox – Pick the ones that are Mildew Resistant

Achilea


Aster


Echinacea (ConeFlower)


Angelica Dahurica


Stokesia


Rudbeckia (Black-eyes Susan)


Liatris (Blazing Star)


Eupatoriums (Joe-Pye Weed)


Marigold


Vernonia (IronWeed)


Alyssum


Ageratum


Nicotiana


(helianthus) Sunflower


Verbena Bonariensis


Melaleuca


Lantana


Flannel Flower


Pentas


Sedum Spectabile

Native Violets


Milkweed


Asters


Crepe Myrtle


Citrus


Cotton Bushes


Sassafras


Dill


SnapDragons


Baptisia


(Aristolochia) Pipe Vine


Mistletoes – Pick Indegenous Trees as they are exceptional for butterfly egg laying and is a food source for many native butterflies.

Native Grasses – Lomandra, Australis, Tenera, Labillardieri, Gahnia, Carex.


Oranamental Grasses – Muhlenbergia, Schizachyrium, Panicum & Carex


Nettles


Ground Covers – Hardenbergia Violacea (Purple Coral Pea) & Kennedia Prostrata (Running Postman)


Banksias


Callistamon (Bottlebrush)


Grevillea (Spider flowers)


Angophora


Eucalyptus


Kangaroo Paw


Wattle


Tea tree


Mint Family – Agastache, lavender, rosemary, calamintha, pycnanthemum



 

Bee Freindly Info...


BEE Friendly Flora & Fauna!

We all know that when the BEES are gone, the world ends, which is why its important to have pollens in our gardens that promote the local BEE populations. Afraid of these fuzzy cuties that are integral to world survival? Don’t worry, bees like snakes don’t actively hunt humans down, instead these buzzy and slivery creatures are more afraid of us. If you find them in your garden, make a little noise as you move and simply don’t frighten them because they will naturally move on their way while avoiding you. Charging towards them and screaming is just begging to cause pain and mayhem. If you ran up to me screaming and flapping your hands, I’d bite you too! Common sense and a little dignity means that you can protect our bees while having beautiful flowers. Your garden will be healthier and more likely to bloom beautifully with the help of our buzzing friends. 

Seriously, it’s great having bees in your garden, they don’t just randomly attack you because they only have one stinger and without it they die. So planting plants in your yard that bees love isn’t going to be dangerous to you. We can live in harmony with these buzzing critters just by watching where you step and simply enjoying the view together. 


Small Native Bee Hives!

Did you know that you can install a Small Hive of Native stingless bees in your own backyard? Kyaaa HONEY!!!

These stingless bees are native bees that only produce very small amounts of honey and as such, they don’t need to be managed like farm grown honey bees. If you live somewhere with mild winters and have a small area of the garden that can be left undisturbed, this might be something fun to try. It’ll boost your gardens pollination <3 

If you live in colder areas where the stingless native bees can’t survive, local small native bees might take up residence! Solitary rare bee species don’t congregate in hives, but they will still be attracted to your garden if you load it up with pollen and nectar! 


Insect Hotels!

Look online and there are some fun DIY Insect Hotels! So if you’re feeling creative build one. However, know that most polenators will find existing hidey holes in your garden for nesting and sheltering without a fancy custom built hotel. Still, it sounds cute and if made well can attract native solitary bees like a small native DIY hive!!!


 

List of Bee Freindly Flora & Fauna!

Please note that there are so many more than the ones on this list… These are just a few well known ones that I know of… Google Around for more






Annually Blooming

Perennials & Other Blooms

Herbs (When Flowering)

Trees & Shrubs

Allysum



Cosmos



Queen Anne’s Lace



Calendula 



Phacelia



Forget Me Nots



Nasturtiums



Sunflowers



Poppies (Icelandic, Californian & Flanders especially)



Cornflowers



Cosmos



Zinnia

Brachyscome, Bracteantha, Erigeron & Osteospermum (Daisies)



Monarda, Bergamont (BEE BALM) – Also Edible & can be used to help skin irritations



Abelia x Grandiflora (Abella) – Blue banded bees, teddy bear, carpenter bees love the nectar & pollen


Salvias



Crocus – SPRING blooming ones are more attractive to bees. Very easy to look after.



Lilac – said to produce reproductive success in growing bee populations.


Foxgloves – Rumored to be fluorescent at night, these are a favorite because bees can see in ultraviolet light, making this flower a landing strip (cute!) 



Penstemons



Echiums



Banksias

Lavandula (Lavender) – Blue Banded Bee & Bumblebee Food <3



Marjoram – all year round herb for pollination


Chives



Westringia – Native Rosemary – Attracts Blue Banded Bees & Teddy Bear Bees



Blue Borage (Starflower) – honeybees love this. A medicinal herb with edible leaves & flowers. Originally from the UK but has mediterranean roots



Oregano



Borage



Basil



Catmint



Anise Hyssop (mint Family)



Comfrey



Thyme



Lemon Balm



Yarrow



Dill



Parsley



 Raspberries & Blueberries



Citrus – Lemon Trees

Eucalyptus & Angophora (gum Trees) Mature Trees are an important source of resin for Stingless Bees & Resin Bees 



Leptospermum (Tea Tree)



Melaleuca (honey Myrtle)



Grevilleas (Spider Flower) – Native Bees & Birds love this nectar



Pussy Willow – Queen Bumblebees feed on this! Also, it helps bees through pollen-scarce months like March & April



Callistamon (Bottle Brushes) Nectar attracts bees & Birds



Buddleia (butterfly bush) Leafcutter & Red Bees love this. NOTE: Pick Sterile Cultivators as this Can be an environmental weed in Damp River Forrest areas in VIC & SA. Plant with caution. 



Abelia – Attracts honey bees & bumblebees


Tea Trees


 


Bird Freindly Info...


Bird Friendly Flora & Fauna!

Google some Flora that will bring the birds into your garden. Different Pollens can lure some rarer and more colorful creatures into your yard. Of course, a bird bath and bird feeder will also do the trick! Still, some birds rely on certain pollens and bugs that only a few select plants can provide. Into bird watching? You’ll know that patience and the right environment is a must for those cuter and rarer sightings.


Remember, Choosing australian native flora & Fauna can increase All wildlife in your gardens while also keeping our native plant life from becoming endangered. As a bonus native plant and animal life is biologically designed for our gardens natural conditions so they’re more likely to survive and thrive than imported plants. Go Native! 


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