Butterflies at Christmas!

I really love butterflies! Even at Christmas! I love seeing them fluttering above the branches of my Christmas tree! I know they're not traditional Christmas decorations, but I just think they are so delicate and beautiful!

I have a few tricks with you to make butterflies a beautiful part of your Christmas decorating. Some of my ideas involve butterfly picks and I thought I'd share some of my favorite butterfly Christmas decorations and ornaments.

One little trick I have is to use butterfly picks. You can find these in the floral section of almost any craft store. I wire them to the branches of the trees so the butterflies look like they're floating just above the branches. It's a gorgeous effect.

Here are some of my butterfly ornaments. I hope you enjoy checking them out.

Merry Christmas!

Todd Tesone Michaels

Owner, Keystone Garden Centre

Butterflies and Deceased Loved Ones: Is there a Connection?

Many people have reported receiving a sign which affirmed that their deceased family member or friend had survived physical death and continues to live in another dimension of existence. These are what's known as symbolic "ADCs" or "ADC signs." It is believed that they are a relatively common type of after-death communication.

It has been said that some people are sent a sign spontaneously as a gift, while others ask or pray to receive one. Depending on their belief system, people may ask their deceased loved one to give them a sign, or they may pray to God or to the “universe” for one.

Butterflies are included in the typical symbolic ADCs, along with rainbows, flowers, many different species of birds and other animals. It doesn't matter whether a sign comes immediately or takes days or weeks to arrive, the fact is that most people intuitively recognize their sign right away and feel it was intended just for them.

ADC signs have been known to provide much hope to those who are grieving deeply, especially bereaved parents and the widowed. However, because they are a symbolic form of communication, the receiver must interpret his or her own experience and assign personal meaning to it.

Have a warm, safe and Happy Holiday season.

Todd Tesone Michaels
Owner, Keystone Garden Centre

The Flowers Attract the Butterfiles!

There’s no need for a butterfly net when have beautiful flowers that attract butterflies into your garden to stay!

By filling your garden with gorgeous blooms and alluring fragrances you will have magnets for monarchs, skippers, swallowtails, and longtails. Flowers that are scented with citrus, spicy, earthy, or sweet floral notes perfume the air as you walk by. This is can be very inviting for you to pause and enjoy the blooms along with the butterflies.  Adding these fragrant flowers will attract butterflies to your sun garden. They’ll bring your garden to life in a whole new way as colorful butterflies flutter from flower to flower and each visit will create a new scene to admire and appreciate.

Some of my favorite flowers that attract butterflies include lavender, coneflower, sage, goldenrod, bee balm, anise hyssop, and of course butterfly bushes. These flowers will definitely make your garden a favorite spot for collecting nectar. Along with these garden classics for attracting butterflies, you can mix and match other sun-loving flowers, shrubs, succulents, and grasses into the collections to add contrast, color, fullness, and fragrance. Choosing the flowers you want to have in your butterfly garden might just be your biggest gardening challenge yet!

There is just no more of a perfect pairing than butterflies and flowers! Soon you will be hooked on adding fragrance and inviting butterflies into your garden just like we are!  Stop by and see us or give us a call to learn more!

Todd T. Michaels, Keystone Garden Centre

The Life Cycle of a Butterfly

 

Butterflies are advanced insects and they have a "complete" life cycle. This means that there are four separate stages of their life. Each stage looks completely different and serves a different purpose in the life of the insect.

Egg

The egg is a tiny, round, oval, object. It usually has fine ribs and other microscopic structures. The females attach the eggs to leaves, stems, or other objects and the location is usually on or near the intended caterpillar food.

Caterpillar

The caterpillar (or larva) is the long, worm-like stage of the butterfly. It usually has an interesting pattern of stripes or patches. It may also have spine-like hairs. This is the feeding and growth stage. As it grows, it will shed its skin four or more times to enclose its rapidly growing body.

Adult

The adult (or imago) is the colorful butterfly which is usually seen. It is the reproductive and mobile stage for the species. The adults undergo courtship, mating, and egg-laying. The adult butterfly is also the stage that migrates or colonizes new habitats. The butterflies pictured here in this blog are Monarchs, which are fairly large in size. The Monarch's wingspan is 3 3/8 - 4 7/8 inches (8.6 - 12.4 cm).