When I started killing flowers and having flowers kill themselves in my backyard I never for one moment thought that I’d learn so much about myself during the process and actually fall in love with gardening. Over the years I have learned so much, apart from now having something in common with my mom, these are my top five life lessons from the garden:   Visions, no matter how crazy, can become a reality I wanted lots of butterflies and pretty flowers. I wanted fruit trees and a potting bench with outdoor seating and a hammock for relaxing. Heck, I want a reading nook too! As the years progressed, I was able to check things I thought were impossible in my tiny yard off the list and it makes me feel accomplished because it’s my vision that’s becoming a reality. I am more than enough Through killing countless seedlings and plants, which is part of being a Rogue Gardener, I have learned I have the skill and the patience to make great things happen, after all, the bes...

A backyard photo-shoot with this beauty!  One of my fondest childhood memories was catching a butterfly in a clear plastic bag. I remember watching this orange and black insect closely as it fluttered around gracefully in captivity, I admired it. (...don't ask what happened to that butterfly...) For those of you who don’t know, my Rogue Gardening journey began simply because I wanted to be able to look out my kitchen window and see butterflies, free in all their glory. However, all I knew then was that I needed flowers. Over the years I have learned that attracting a swarm of butterflies requires preparation. You must be able to provide their needs through all the life stages of the butterfly from laying eggs to feeding caterpillars (larvae), and protecting them from predators until they form chrysalides. Attracting Butterflies 1. Plant the right flowers - Butterflies are more attracted to certain flowers such as Asters, Zinnias, Marigolds, Oregano, Laven...