Last year I discovered how hardy zinnias, those vintage plants that seem to thrive on neglect, are. The huge PLUS for me is that the deer completely ignore them.
Although I planted some zinnia seeds this year (a gift from my friend, Donna), as well as a few plants I purchased, many of the zinnias in our yard are volunteers from last year.
The butterflies have been enjoying them almost as much as, perhaps more than, I have. Last Sunday, they were having a field day (pardon the pun), so I grabbed the camera and went out to stand in the flowerbed in order to get pictures.
There were swallowtails on dark pink zinnias:
And swallowtails on dark pink zinnias:
And monarch butterflies on coral-colored zinnias.
And monarch butterflies on pink zinnias.
And silver-spotted skippers (I googled it) on blooms of a perennial that I can never remember the name of….
One zinnia, in particular, has grown to enormous proportions this year, actually requiring a trellis for support.
So, to recap: zinnias are prolific bloomers, they require very little care, they re-seed, they attract butterflies and they aren’t on the deer menu.
In my book yard , that makes them the perfect plant.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 