Garden Photo of the Day

Libby’s Backyard Wildlife Habitat

A bee, butterfly, and bird paradise in South Carolina

By GPOD Contributor
yellow bird on a bright pink zinnia flower

I’m Libby Breitenbaugh, and I garden in Zone 8a in Irmo, South Carolina. I’m sharing a few photos from summer 2022. I have been gardening for over 30 years. I previously shared photos of the butterfly garden I started in 2016 (Libby’s Butterfly Garden in South Carolina). When I began gardening for wildlife, my butterfly garden slowly transformed into a bird-, bee-, and butterfly-friendly garden. I also incorporate herbs and vegetables in my garden. I stopped using chemical pesticides and opted for natural alternatives. Since doing so my bee population has doubled. I also compost my kitchen scraps and yard trimmings. My garden consists of natives, perennials, and annual plants. I have both nectar and host plants, and I always include milkweed for the monarchs. You can have a beautiful garden that supports backyard wildlife. My garden supplies shelter, food, and water for my all my visitors. I also enjoy taking photos of my garden and all its visitors.

close up of white clematis flowerClematis ‘Henryi’, Zones 4–8

close up of bumblebee on blue Salvia flowersBumblebee on Salvia farinacea (Zones 7–10 or as annual)

stepping stones in mulched path through gardens with lots of flowersThis garden path is lined with lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina, Zones 4–8), with the rest of the bed filled with colorful flowers including coneflowers (Echinacea hybrids, Zones 4–8) and Salvia ‘Vista’ (Zones 9–11 or as an annual).

close up of container planting with colorful foliage and pink flowersThis garden urn is overflowing with petunias (Petunia hybrids, annual), with an upright spire of Cordyline australis (Zones 9–11) and a trailing curtain of golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 3–9).

yellow bird on a bright pink zinnia flowerA bright male American goldfinch hangs out on a zinnia (Zinnia elegans, annual) flower.

monarch butterfly on a bright purple flowerA monarch butterfly fuels up on at a butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii, Zones 5–9).

gravel and stepping stone path through mulched garden bedsBeautiful pathway through the gardens

pipevine swallowtail butterfly on a pink zinnia flowerA pipevine swallowtail butterfly on a zinnia

hummingbird sipping on pink flowersA female ruby-throated hummingbird gathers nectar from a pentas (Pentas lanceolata, Zones 10–11 or as an annual).

close up of a white and light purple phloxThese phlox look like they might be the ‘Fashionably Early’ (Phlox hybrid, Zones 4–8) hybrid phlox, which bloom earlier and stay shorter than the traditional garden phlox (Phlox paniculata, Zones 4–8).

 

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

Have a mobile phone? Tag your photos on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!

Do you receive the GPOD by email yet? Sign up here.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Morvat Heavy Duty Brass Y-Valve

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

- Instantly create two tap outlets with this ultra-durable Y hose splitter. The dual-valve design features built-in shut-off valves.
- Fitted with US Standard NH 3/4" threads for use with most water source fittings
- Screw the 2 way splitter adapter by hand or wrench with the updated hexagonal top connection. The 360° rotatable swivel connection attaches to any water source.
Buy at Amazon

D&X Garden Sprinkler

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

- The Sprinkler is made of durable ABS Plastic, Base connector: Approx. 1/2" ; Side connector: Approx. 3/4"
- 12 flexible nozzles that you can set in any direction, simply bend hoses to customize new watering patterns - 360 degree coverage of 3000 sq. ft area
- 3.5 x 4 x 6 inches
Buy at Amazon

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade, Trenching Shovel

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Ideal Tool for All Gardeners Use: Our heavy duty trenching shovel is designed by a professional gardening tool designer. Lifetime Durability: This heavy duty drain spade is made of high-quality stainless steel, it is very strong and durable, even if it is used for high-strength work, it will not bend. Ergonomic Wood Handle: The handle of this planting spade is made of ash hardwood harvested from FSC-certified forests and has an ergonomically streamlined design, making it very suitable for everyone's hands. Multi-Use: This digging shovel is generally used for digging trenches, digging holes, transplanting, edging, moving compost, cutting thick turf and furrowing. The sharp blade allows you to cut, scoop, dig, lift and dice in hard soil.
Buy at Amazon
X
View Comments

Comments

  1. avajames 03/02/2023

    Nice post i am glad too see it. Want another article. save with blog

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      Thank you!

  2. paiya 03/02/2023

    Beautiful garden in every aspect… and excellent photos

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      Thank you!

  3. wittyone 03/02/2023

    That urn with the petunias, Cordyline, and creeping Jenny is just gorgeous. I'm going to try that combination but the shape and color of the urn really showcases those flowers, sadly I don't have any urns to use. Maybe a trip to an antique store might remedy that?

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      Thank you so much! I used the thriller-filler-spiller method for arranging the urn. I purchased the urn last spring at our Home Depot. I would try looking on their website searching under urns. I was surprised by how many urns they carry online.

  4. User avater
    simplesue 03/02/2023

    You've really planted a pretty garden that nature just loves!
    Great photos of the creatures on the flowers, and I love the garden arch and bird feeders- they always bring interest to a garden- such a nice space you created!

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      What a wonderful, encouraging comment. Thank you so much!

  5. User avater
    user-7007816 03/02/2023

    What a beautiful garden and natural habitat you have created. Thanks for sharing.
    By the way, my mother was a Breitenbaugh. Related?

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      Thank you! Your mother would almost have to be related to my husband. Very few people with that name and spelling. May I ask what her first name is?

  6. User avater
    bdowen 03/02/2023

    Beautiful photography, especially the creature visitors.

    1. libbysgarden 03/03/2023

      Thank you!

  7. btucker9675 03/02/2023

    All so very pretty!

    1. libbysgarden 03/04/2023

      Thank you!

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Related Articles

The Latest

Design
Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color

When Jeff Lorenz and Kayla Fell purchased this property in the Philadelphia suburbs, they knew they had their work cut out for them. A front and back yard of mostly…
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants
Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer  

Ulrich Lorimer is the director of the Native Plant Tust in Framingham, MA, a conservation organization that manages Garden in the Woods. He has been a longtime advocate for cultivating…
Design
4 Luck® Red Stripes White Variegated Clover Adds a Little Luck to Your Pots

While many gardeners might label white clover as a weed, this fast-filling, variegated selection is cute as a button in containers. With a mix of 3- and 4-palmate leaves, you’ll…

Video

View All Videos
Design

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
Design

4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder's Garden
Design

Garden Tour of a Sustainable Native Plant Oasis Bursting with Fall Color
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 170: High-Impact Native Plants with Uli Lorimer  
Podcast: Let's Argue About Plants

Episode 169: Great Foundation Plants