I felt drawn to this symbol, but seeing as I am in Southeast Africa and not West Africa, I thought I’d add a few Malawian touches. These include the chitenje pattern of the bird and the woven basket behind it.
A No-Fuss Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
Plant this collection of colorful, easy-care perennials and your yard is sure to be filled with beautiful winged visitors.
Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media.
Updated on July 14, 2022
If you’re looking to plant a low-maintenance garden that will bring lots of pollinators buzzing around your landscape, you’ll want to install this design. Tried-and-true favorites, such as catmint, butterfly weed, bee balm, and aster, will produce a ton of color all summer into fall, while providing the nectar, pollen, and seeds that will draw wildlife, including butterflies, bees, and birds. All of these plants thrive in full sun, and keep on blooming through heat, humidity, and drought. Feel free to add a small birdhouse or a water source, like a birdbath, to really roll out the welcome mat for winged visitors and other creatures.
Plants for Creating the Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
- 2 Sedum (Sedum ‘Vera Jameson’): Zones 4-9
- 4 Catmint (Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’): Zones 4-9
- 2 Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa ‘Gay Butterflies’): Zones 4-9
- 2 Bee balm (Monarda ‘Grand Marshall’): Zones 3-9
- 1 Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’): Zones 3-11
- 2 Meadow blazing star (Liatris ligulistylis): Zones 3-8
- 2 Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum ‘Blue Fortune’): Zones 4-10
- 2 New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae ‘Purple Dome’): Zones 4-8
- 2 Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Ruby Giant’): Zones 3-9
- 2 Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum ‘Gateway’): Zones 3-7
If you aren’t able to find the exact cultivars listed above, substitute others with similar colors, shapes, and sizes. And because in certain climates, some plants can become overly aggressive and spread out of control, before planting always check which species are considered invasive in your area. For example, butterfly bush can become problematic in some parts of the country, so you may instead want to plant similarly sized bluebeard, which also has purplish flowers that draw pollinators.
Get the Free No-Fuss Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
Our free Garden Plan for this design includes an illustrated version of the planted garden, a detailed layout diagram, a list of plants for the garden as shown, and complete instructions for installing. Free, one-time registration allows unlimited access to all garden plans, available as printable PDFs.
- Low Water Garden Plan
- Bird and Butterfly Garden Plan
- Butterfly Garden Plan
- Beginner Garden for Full Sun
Watercolor Birds Art Video
My second-grade students completed these simple oil pastel resist birds in one 45-minute class.
It’s a pretty simple lesson… no-fuss bird drawing using oil pastel then paint with liquid watercolors. Perhaps the simplest lessons are the best?
Second Grade Watercolor Birds video
Click the yellow button below to receive a free drawing handout
What do you think? Cancel reply
My girls and I loved the video! So fun to see the kids at work – I’m thinking my own girls would enjoy being videotaped while creating something. Thanks for sharing!
What a cute motivational video. I love to see the way children blend one color into the next. I hope you are able to tell more about how you created the video. Was it easy?
Hi Kathy,
I used imovie. It’s pretty easy. The hard part for me was getting the movie to show up on my blog…which I didn’t quite figure out. I only know how to add the link. Little more learning yet!
Great job on your video – will have to take the plunge & try one myself! I see you use the Big Kid brushes too – I just love ’em and have found they’re pretty indestructible – after 4 years only a handful of the original 48 ordered have gone to ‘paintbrush heaven’!
Hi Nanciekay,
Yes, the brushes are awesome. They really hold up well. A Deep Space Sparkle Seal of Approval!
Jessica White
What company makes those Big Kid brushes? I need to order some!
I’m not sure of the brand but if you check out either Saxs or Nasco online catalogues, they usually have them displayed with the other art brushes. they are the only ones with the rubber finger grips. I bought the classroom packs.
Sharon Bruns
That turned out really nicely. Just love the colors that the students used for their pictures. So vibrant.
Jessica White
Can you describe how to do the project? Is is crayon resist?
Hi Jessica,
The drawing is on watercolor paper and we used oil pastel and liquid watercolors.
Great job on the video! Very good artwork, too.
Gorgeous birds! Love the music that went with your video.
Patty,
(I’m repeating this here because I just read that you don’t check your writing blog very often) Because I used several of your exercises from DeepSppaceSparkle and have so enjoyed reading your blogs I am honoring you as I was honored with the MeMeTastic Blog Award. Since you are a writer I thought it might be a fun creative writing exercise for you. I have put links to your blogs on my Award Post. If you wish to be taken off just let me know and I will do so. This is the post: http://judithwesterfield.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/its-all-about-me-i-am-fantastic-memetastic-award/
Thanks, Judith!
Julia
Could you possibly post this video to teachertube as well? Youtube is blocked at many schools. Thanks!
Hi Julia,
I’ll check into it and if I make more video’s, I’ll consider it. Thanks for the suggestion. Never heard of Teacher Tube!
ailish burke
Hi how do I view these videos? ..do i need to purchase something..have tried clicking on the various links but they keep showing me just the picture of people comments
Hi Ailish,
Click on the post then click on the colored text at the bottom of teh post. It reads Watercolor Jelly Fish. Once you click on that, you will be redirected to YouTube. It’ll play automatically. Enjoy!
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Deep Space Sparkle offers art lesson plans and teaching resources that will help you teach art to kids, even if you aren’t a great artist.
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Current Work in Progress
This week I have a new sacred geometry drawing I am working on. I’ve already attempted to tackle such heady concepts as world peace, a sustainable planet, food security for all, education opportunities for every girl and boy, and even a peaceful and unified South Africa! Yet somehow this new in-progress drawing is turning out to be even more aspirational than those!
As you can see, (*blushes*) it’s still in the awkward early stages, but this will be a meditation on setting and achieving goals.
It uses the ancient fruit of life symbol which is about creation. In the 13 circles and four corners will go humanity’s loftiest goals to date, the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals.
The first circle I started in the center is about clean, renewable energy.
I also started addressing gender equality, an end to hunger, education for all, clean water and sanitation, life underwater, life on land, and sustainable communities.
I love the simple and clean monochromatic icons of the official SDGs that the UN uses on all its communications. However, I am not following the order, color codes, or even choosing the same symbols exactly. I want these to be more “artsy” and beautiful and to not include any text (aside from a few decorative elements.)
I want my representations of the SDGs to evoke strong emotion and have a painterly, almost tarot card-like quality about them. They should look like someone made them with love, time, and effort, similar to an elaborate quilt. And yes, that means there may be slightly weird hand-made looking bits and the occasional mistaken “stitch”. It’s all good!
You can watch me working on it step-by-step on Instagram here.
That’s all for now. If you have any feedback, suggestions, or ideas for future drawings, please feel free to let me know in the comments below.
P.S. Psst. I have a new LIVE and interactive online course coming up in March!
WEB PRESENCE & SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING FOR CREATIVES is a new Mastrius online art course. Join me!
Learn how to make your website, social media, and mailing list harmonized and impactful. Understand how to create and run a digital presence so your “digital artist self” can always be working on your behalf—even while you’re sleeping or doing what you love in the studio!
Geared toward any artist—from beginner to advanced level. LIVE classes! Recordings made available if you can’t make it live or want to re-watch!
Online classes starting March 21, 2023
FOUR Tuesdays from 10am–12noon MST, every other week
Get YOUR SEAT and course info here.
