Build Your Own Butterfly Garden: Let Your Goals Evolve
- Amy Bright
- Apr 6
- 2 min read
Your intent and your goals will change with the seasons and as things grow, and that's good!
I define intention as what I want/what I'll do and goals as how I'll achieve the intention.
Here's how it's happening for me.
Last year, my intent was to keep one thing alive. My goals were to check the plants daily, water when needed, and keep excess weeds from choking the zinnias.
My intent changed to "save the butterflies" when the zinnias grew and GREW and the hordes of pollinators came and enjoyed the flowers.
My goals that undergirded "save the butterflies" were to make sure I had the necessary host plants and nectar plants and that I remained consistent with nurturing the flowers.
After listening to a podcast about cool weather crops, I went to my original intent: to keep a few cool weather crops alive and then harvest and eat them. I have done so with arugula and red lettuce!
I also had the desire to use natural dyeing methods for food and cottons, so my goal included growing several flowers that attract pollinators AND are good dyes.
Hopi dye sunflowers
Hopi dye amaranth
Beets
Butterfly peas
My goals are to stay consistent with the tending and nurturing and to make sure I have the time set aside to process everything and store it properly when harvest comes.
In the back of my mind, I also intend to make money with this at some point. I've been given some land, so I should tend it no matter what. However, I need to be fruitful and multiply my cash too!
To that end, my goals are to get started at the local farmers market with my leather working and introduce flowers if I have a good crop this year.
Next year (Lord willing and the creek don't rise), I will have cool weather crops in the ground consistently, so I have enough to sell for specialty markets in the winter and at the start of the season.
I'm not sure what yet: I hope flowers, but I'd like to get some purple potatoes and beans to market.
What intentions and goals are changing for you in this season?
My goal last year after my husband passed away suddenly was to make a quiet corner in the backyard. I completed that along with a sitting area next to my great granddaughter Lia's garden. On the other side of the yard I have my Mom's Memory Garden and just today I cleaned it up to be ready for her to look down and smile on Mother's Day. We always had a small vegetable garden in our yard but this year I'm making that into Rich's garden. My neighbors brought over a Snowball bush and my daughter and son-in-law helped me plant it last week when they visited. So my plans now are to add more flowers and since butterflie…
My garden at this point in my life is a 24" square pot or two. It did great work with the tomatoes and this year I'm looking at marigolds.
From a non-gardener this all sounds so impressive. I hope to follow along to watch as you progress through the season. I'm rather envious of your abilities.
Sure wish I could plant a garden. There are many gardens in Arizona, but my hubby chose to buy a home that is dirt-free. I guess I could plant in individual containers, but I’m not sure he’d be happy about that. It’s really okay, though. I’m not much of a gardener anyway. LOL