Welcome To the Hughes' Page

To the list of information we never had and never thought we'd need let's add one more. Milkweed does not like to grow in pots. Back in late spring we contracted with our friends at UNCC Botanical Gardens to grow 225 milkweed plants for our Monarch Mania event. Just a week ago the plants seemed to be doing well and then....
Yesterday as we were making plans to pick up the plants we were informed that they had virtually all gone dormant. This means they have entered their winter, die back state a… Continue

Monarch Waystation Numero Uno at the University of Kansas Operation Monarch Watch

Everybody in this group knows what the Wildlife Federation Back Yard Habitat program is all about. We provide wildlife with food, water, shelter and a place to raise their young.

A m… Continue

HAWK members Dee Hughes and Carol Buie Jackson discuss plans for the Monarch Waystation with Lee Tillery and Tim Ayers from the Town of Matthews

Have you seen any monarch butterflys around your yard lately? Most of us saw some in June and early July but since then they've gon… Continue

No one will confuse me with Sammy K of Matthews Farmers Market fame but there are a few days each summer when everything seems to come together and make for a very respectable little harvest. Today I managed a nice little handful of beans, a cuke, a narly looking Mortgage Lifter, one… Continue

This is a picture of a German Johnson heirloom tomato growing, well in my neighbors lawn for want of a better description. Now my neighbor is an avid vegetable gardener. We exchange plants and wisdom all the time. If I had to describe his gardening technique I'd say he's a Burpee man.… Continue