Four years ago, I purchased a small St. John's Wort (Hypericum prolificum) and planted it at the back of a bed that gets drowned in spring and roasted in dry summers. It's an extreme area where very few plants survive. Honestly, for the next two years, I forgot it was even there. I assumed it ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalThis Spring, I decided to take a course from the Pollinator Partnership to become a Pollinator Steward. I was familiar with most of the information presented, at least in a general sense, but one concept was completely new to me: pollination syndromes. As a wildlife gardener, or anyone wanting to attract pollinators, it’s a topic ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalWriting this blog is always a learning experience for me. I have no formal training in botany beyond my Master Gardener classes (no surprise there, I'm sure), so I'm continually learning about plants like any other gardener. Today, I thought I'd write about a plant that has done stellar in my garden. It started from ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalIf you've followed this blog for very long, you'll know I'm a fan of easy-care, drought-tolerant, wildlife-beneficial plants. One such gem that adds both ecological value and visual charm to my gardens is Drummond's aster (Symphyotrichum drummondii). This perennial is not only a feast for the eyes with its delightful blooms but also serves as ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalWhen I was first gifted swamp milkweed, I wasn't sure where to put it. I garden without irrigation, so I decided to try it in a large, half-barrel pot in partial shade. To my surprise, the plant actually thrived, and it had more monarch caterpillars on it than all my other milkweeds combined. Swamp milkweed ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalI've always had coreopsis in my yard, that is, until my plants were wiped out by coreopsis beetles a few years ago. I didn't plant any last year, and I hoped without any food during a harsh year for plants and insects, maybe the beetles would die off. So I planted some again this year, ...
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