My daffodils are almost done and gone already, but it's a good time to think about replacing or supplementing them with more ecologically beneficial natives. While I have seen European honeybees on daffodils, I rarely, if ever, see early-spring butterflies or native pollinators visiting them. I envision them as a "last resort" for insects, a ...
Read More | Wildlife Gardening JournalFour 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 ...
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