Given to the garden by a friend, who may have found it growing on the homestead she moved into within the past decade.
Frog pond
Butterflies in August
…and one in October. Note all butterflies were spotted alighting on anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), which I shall hereafter refer to as the super-nectary.
Swamp Sunflower
Some points for consideration:
- Even though I cut these back in mid-July to promote bushier growth, they still grew tall enough to flop over into the path;
- The flowers died back in November, but, following the advice of a fellow blogger, I opted to be a messy gardener and leave them for the birds and other garden companions.
Hawk in the Henhouse
Canada Milk Vetch
Astragalus canadensis.This native plant was welcomed the first full year (2017) – it attracted insects, suppressed weeds due to its prostrate growth habit, and produced prolific biomass. The second year, its sprawling growth overtook many companions and it crept into the paths, and its growth was not as dense.
It is a beautiful, functional plant, and its garden niche will continue to evolve.
Previously:
Elderberry
The nine plants of Sambucus canadensis exceeded my wildest expectations. After two years, they outgrew their space in the garden this summer. My sense is that they can be as vigorous and prolific as bamboo, but more gentle and forgiving. They, along with the passion vine, turned the garden into a jungle.
The jungle, before culling begins.
Once the shrubs have been sufficiently topped, they must be dug up and transplanted to a more amenable situation.
Thermopsis, seed pods
Thermopsis villosa, aka Blue Ridge Buckbean, Carolina lupine, Aaron’s rod, Bush pea, and other names, all for virtually the same charismatic plant.
Previous posts:
Three sisters
This was the second time we’ve experimented with a traditional three sisters companion plant garden. It was more substantial (60′ x 100′) than the first, and suffered less predation from deer and raccoons and skunks. Its productivity has kept me fed up to the present and beyond. The varieties planted: Ohio blue clarage dent corn, Seminole pumpkin, and Cherokee cornfield pole snap bean. I didn’t realize the blue clarage corn was blue and white instead of pure blue. I may switch to a bluer version, but I was highly impressed with the productivity of this variety.
Daylily
This plant of the Hemerocallis genus has naturalized all over the county. Struck by the quotidian beauty of this rugged flower, I spotted it on the side of the road and snapped a photo.
