JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Today, I seeded my newest section of native garden and we're expected to see our first big snowfall of the year over the next two days. Some sources are saying we may see as much as 9 inches, followed by temperatures below 0°F next week. It's safe to say the garden season is long gone now. With that being said, I thought I'd share some of my favorite plant photos I've taken in my native garden throughout 2016. I can hardly wait for next year.
Wild Columbine. A Spring-blooming plant that attracts hummingbirds and bees.
Wild Strawberry. A Spring-blooming plant that also bears edible fruit. Strawberries are fast spreading. This plant helps fill in all the gaps of my native garden.
Penstemon. A bee magnet in June when few other natives are blooming.
Blue Flag Iris. Prefers wetlands but grows in average soil, too. Blooms in late May.
Blue-eyed Grass blooms in late May, June, July, and rarely in August or September. Small but showy plant. The blooms are only about an inch wide. Blue-eyed Grass is in the Iris family.
Black-eyed Susan. Most commonly used native plant along with Purple Coneflower. Blooms all summer long. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Wild Bergamot. Bumble Bees love this Summer-blooming plant.
Nodding Onion. Gets a ball of white-pink flowers that last only a couple weeks.
Bottle Gentian. Blooms in late summer or early autumn. Flowers go from green to blue to purple to yellow. They never open. Bumble Bees are just about the only insect strong enough to pry open the petals to get to the nectar.
Purple Prairie Clover. Small bees and flies like the nectar that this plant produces.
Meadow Blazing Star. The ultimate Monarch magnet. If you want Monarch Butterflies, you need Meadow Blazing Star. It blooms all summer. No other Liatris attracts them the way this one does.
Blanket Flower. One of my favorite flowers. Bees and Butterflies love it. It'll bloom from June though October if deadheaded.
New England Aster. Popular with Monarchs as they migrate in Autumn. One of the latest-blooming native plants. Flowers are naturally purple or pink.
Smooth Oxeye. Summer blooming plant that attracts all sorts of insects. I consider it more appealing than Black-eyed Susans.
Gray-headed Coneflower. A taller native plant that attracts bees and butterflies in mid-late Summer.
Orange Milkweed. My favorite native plant. Necessary for Monarch's survival. Caterpillars eat them for a few weeks before they form a chrysalis and turn into butterflies. Bright orange stands out, even on cloudy days.
Swamp Milkweed. Also necessary for Monarch's survival. Grows a little taller than Orange Milkweed. Attracts Swallowtail butterflies.
And a few other photos of the original garden section in full bloom...
Wild Columbine. A Spring-blooming plant that attracts hummingbirds and bees.
Wild Strawberry. A Spring-blooming plant that also bears edible fruit. Strawberries are fast spreading. This plant helps fill in all the gaps of my native garden.
Penstemon. A bee magnet in June when few other natives are blooming.
Blue Flag Iris. Prefers wetlands but grows in average soil, too. Blooms in late May.
Blue-eyed Grass blooms in late May, June, July, and rarely in August or September. Small but showy plant. The blooms are only about an inch wide. Blue-eyed Grass is in the Iris family.
Black-eyed Susan. Most commonly used native plant along with Purple Coneflower. Blooms all summer long. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Wild Bergamot. Bumble Bees love this Summer-blooming plant.
Nodding Onion. Gets a ball of white-pink flowers that last only a couple weeks.
Bottle Gentian. Blooms in late summer or early autumn. Flowers go from green to blue to purple to yellow. They never open. Bumble Bees are just about the only insect strong enough to pry open the petals to get to the nectar.
Purple Prairie Clover. Small bees and flies like the nectar that this plant produces.
Meadow Blazing Star. The ultimate Monarch magnet. If you want Monarch Butterflies, you need Meadow Blazing Star. It blooms all summer. No other Liatris attracts them the way this one does.
Blanket Flower. One of my favorite flowers. Bees and Butterflies love it. It'll bloom from June though October if deadheaded.
New England Aster. Popular with Monarchs as they migrate in Autumn. One of the latest-blooming native plants. Flowers are naturally purple or pink.
Smooth Oxeye. Summer blooming plant that attracts all sorts of insects. I consider it more appealing than Black-eyed Susans.
Gray-headed Coneflower. A taller native plant that attracts bees and butterflies in mid-late Summer.
Orange Milkweed. My favorite native plant. Necessary for Monarch's survival. Caterpillars eat them for a few weeks before they form a chrysalis and turn into butterflies. Bright orange stands out, even on cloudy days.
Swamp Milkweed. Also necessary for Monarch's survival. Grows a little taller than Orange Milkweed. Attracts Swallowtail butterflies.
And a few other photos of the original garden section in full bloom...
Last edited:
I don't envy you re the upcoming snowfall though!
