JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Thought I'd share some photos I've taken over the past week of my native garden. Nearly all plants are native to my specific area, and all are native to the US. I thought it would be a good day to highlight some of my species in bloom.
Black-eyed Susan. You can't have a native garden without these. They're the most popular prairie plant along with Purple Coneflowers.
Spiderwort. It adds much needed blue to the garden. Bees and flies enjoy it most.
Blanket Flower. This is not native to my area, but is a US native and does grow in the wild here in Wisconsin. It also benefits local insects, so it's welcome in my native garden. All kinds of insects use this one!
Orange Milkweed. There aren't many orange-flowered prairie plants. This is one of the brightest orange flowers there is, though some are more towards the red side, and some are more towards the yellow side. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on these.
This next photo is not in my native garden, but over by my pond, where I have another Orange Milkweed tucked behind Blanket Flower. This Monarch Caterpillar has been growing quickly and I expect it'll wander off at any moment to form its chrysalis.
Blazing Star. Bumble Bees are a huge fan of these. Butterflies and Hummingbirds also show up to it. If you don't know what this is, it looks like a large fluffy pink stalk. This was the last healthy group of flowers before the plant's blooming period comes to an end.
Long-headed Coneflower. This is a new addition for me. It's another plant that is US-native but not considered native to Wisconsin, even though it grows in the wild here. It is native to nearby states, so, like Blanket Flower, I gave it a pass. Another welcome addition to my garden.
Hope you enjoy! I'm looking forward to next year when so many more of my prairie plants finally flower! I have about 20 different species and the majority won't bloom until next year. I'm also adding a few more by seed over winter.
Black-eyed Susan. You can't have a native garden without these. They're the most popular prairie plant along with Purple Coneflowers.
Spiderwort. It adds much needed blue to the garden. Bees and flies enjoy it most.
Blanket Flower. This is not native to my area, but is a US native and does grow in the wild here in Wisconsin. It also benefits local insects, so it's welcome in my native garden. All kinds of insects use this one!
Orange Milkweed. There aren't many orange-flowered prairie plants. This is one of the brightest orange flowers there is, though some are more towards the red side, and some are more towards the yellow side. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on these.
This next photo is not in my native garden, but over by my pond, where I have another Orange Milkweed tucked behind Blanket Flower. This Monarch Caterpillar has been growing quickly and I expect it'll wander off at any moment to form its chrysalis.
Blazing Star. Bumble Bees are a huge fan of these. Butterflies and Hummingbirds also show up to it. If you don't know what this is, it looks like a large fluffy pink stalk. This was the last healthy group of flowers before the plant's blooming period comes to an end.
Long-headed Coneflower. This is a new addition for me. It's another plant that is US-native but not considered native to Wisconsin, even though it grows in the wild here. It is native to nearby states, so, like Blanket Flower, I gave it a pass. Another welcome addition to my garden.
Hope you enjoy! I'm looking forward to next year when so many more of my prairie plants finally flower! I have about 20 different species and the majority won't bloom until next year. I'm also adding a few more by seed over winter.
