Dianthus 'Raspberry Swirl'

Visitors to your garden can't help but stop to admire the riveting display of this sweet Dianthus! Commonly known as 'Pinks' and formerly 'Siskin Clock' this plants double blooms are a delight with their ruffled near white petals and wine dipped edges. As the plant matures the powder pink middles lighten to radiant white while the edges shift from burgundy to an equally pleasing magenta. The numerous flowerheads rush up from that classic blue green foliage that Dianthus wear so well. With this stellar carnation adorning your green space you certainly won't want for butterflies or hummingbirds! You can enjoy its blooms from early spring to early summer and will rebloom in fall is properly deadheaded. Even without its flowers the mounded evergreen foliage serves as attractive ground cover all year long. Sporting firm and reliable stems and showy blossoms makes 'Raspberry Swirl' an excellent cut flower candidate.

This carnation is not at all fussy and its low maintenance requirements are one of its many charms. It thrives in full to part sun and prefers loose, well drained soil ranging from neutral to alkaline. As for watering, it does need more moisture during times of extreme heat, but will require less tending once well established. Zones 5-9

• Butterflies like a lot of sunlight, so locate your garden in a sunny area.
• If you live in a windy location, plant your butterfly-attracting plants near a building, fence, or hedge to protect them.
• Plant a variety of nectar-rich plants, as well as shrubs and evergreens for shelter.
• Since many butterflies and native flowering plants have co-evolved, try to put in some that are native to your area. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center provides lists of plants native to states and regions.
• Certain colors are particularly attracting to butterflies – red, yellow, pink, purple, or orange blooms that are clustered or flat-topped, with a short flower tubes are especially attractive to adult butterflies.
• Avoid using pesticides, especially around nectar-producing plants.
• Provide a shallow source of water – try a birdbath with pebbles lining the bowl.
• Place a rock in a sunny spot for butterfly basking and resting.
• Create a "puddling area" by digging a shallow hole filled with compost or manure where rainwater will collect and release essential salts and minerals.
• If you want butterflies to breed in your garden, put in some caterpillar food plants, such as parsley, milkweeds, asters, thistles, violets, clover, grasses, and Queen Anne’s Lace.
• Since butterflies need nectar throughout the entire adult phase of their lives, try to create a design that will allow for a continuous bloom – when one stops blooming, another starts.

As the deer population has boomed and food has become scarcer, they have become more aggressive. In some areas deer will strip your garden bare, leaving nothing green or flowery behind. While there is no such thing as a completely deer-proof garden, there are some effective things you can do to protect your garden from these hungry animals.

Use physical barriers

A High Fence
Deer can jump pretty high, but a fence higher than eight feet (higher on an up-slope) and flush with the ground will keep any deer out.

Electric Fences
They are a much easier and less expensive solution. Deer generally will not try to jump electric fences, but will rather try to climb through the wires, receiving a deterring shock.

Bird-Netting
An even less extreme physical option is to put bird netting over your larger and more susceptible plants.

Plant Deer-resistant Varieties

Herbs, some conifers, and many flowers are some of the best deer-resistant plants. More fragrant plants will often deter predation. Planting just a few deer-resistant plants will limit grazing of your other plants. Remember, "deer-resistant" does not mean deer-proof. A hungry animal will eat just about anything.

Having a dog In the Family

Owning a dog, especially a big dog will almost always keep deer from approaching your home. Just the scent of the dog will keep most deer away, and if your dog lives outside you will probably never see any deer.

For most gardeners, it is a combination of different solutions that works best. Every gardener has to find the solution that works best in their garden.

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