tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931851604839063572024-03-27T16:39:00.521-05:00clay and limestoneWildflower Gardening In Middle TennesseeGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comBlogger905125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-37320356272923232052024-03-27T05:00:00.083-05:002024-03-27T12:08:56.904-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Enemion biternatum<p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone and the Wildflower Wednesday celebration of a sweet little spring ephemeral wildflower. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oU4ZCWlC2H8/UzIjpenkOzI/AAAAAAAAXv0/FwRUWmfv7gk/s1600/DSCF0876.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oU4ZCWlC2H8/UzIjpenkOzI/AAAAAAAAXv0/FwRUWmfv7gk/s640/DSCF0876.JPG" /></a></div><b>Enemion biternatum </b>is lovely with delicate columbine like leaves and small white flowers. Small bees collect the pollen and flies feed on it, but, they would search fruitlessly for nectar. It hasn't any nectaries.<br />
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It's been growing under an oak tree in my garden since before I moved here (that would be almost 40 years ago). The foliage appears in late winter, carpeting the ground, then the flowers open and the first of the pollinators visit to pollinate. It dies back in mid-summer making it a true spring ephemeral.<br />
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It's also growing in my little pocket wildflower garden under the <i><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/11/wildflower-wednesday-ostrya-virginiana.html" target="_blank">Ostrya virginiana</a></i>, which is a lovely understory and underappreciated native tree. Dutchman's
Breeches was already growing there and I transplanted <i>Trillium</i> from the
way back woodland. I also added toothwort and Spring Beauties that I transplanted from the now
disappeared front lawn. <i>Phacelia bipinnatifida</i>, a delightful lilac flowering biennial was added after a friend gave me seedlings. Their dormant roots are sheltered by a large <i>Carya ovata</i>/shag bark hickory during the hot summer months, but,
they magically reappear each spring.<br />
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Eastern False Rue-anemone, False Rue Anemone or <i>Enemion biternatum</i> is a sweet little <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2014/03/the-spring-ephemerals-are-awake.html" target="_blank">Spring ephemeral</a>
in the Buttercup family (<i>Ranunculaceae</i>). It's native to shady rich or
calcereous woods & thickets; floodplain woods and limestone ledges (slightly alkaline soil) and is native to Middle Tennessee. The delicate looking foliage of False Rue Anemone emerges in late
winter and makes a beautiful leafy mat that grows about 6 inches high.
The flowers, scattered here and there, emerge as the days warm and the
bloom period is at least a month long. It would make a lovely ground
cover, but, like all Spring ephemerals, grows, blooms, gets pollinated,
sets seed in a short period of time before it fades and retreats back
underground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8YuuF8OnBE/UzIw9Sw4QsI/AAAAAAAAXw4/I4EuQ1FDn_w/s1600/DSCF2210.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8YuuF8OnBE/UzIw9Sw4QsI/AAAAAAAAXw4/I4EuQ1FDn_w/s1600/DSCF2210.JPG" width="628" /></a></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><p>The white flowers occur individually or in groups of 2-3. The flower is
small only about ¾" across, and has 5 petal-like sepals that are white,
no petals, several slender stamens with yellow anthers, and a few green
pistils in the center. The blooming period occurs during mid-spring and lasts about 3 weeks and if weather isn't too warm there may be flowers for a month.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cjsI2XNch4237P0hOO0yhW-31eh9nRL9ynEK2q4ESaqdTBhHJCMbQa1bUKOpQ7jS2XhWwi5nXjI_OiGzXGFSrYccxyeaw8ObudZqdGdrLz0H5Wms5Yo5yfMoXSuxZrr6G4_zv1T6pphvuoqNRAf4S5r9pYOEGipDiH1NmoaojolICeEGY5zh5d-C9Fk/s370/falserueanemoneseedv.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="235" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cjsI2XNch4237P0hOO0yhW-31eh9nRL9ynEK2q4ESaqdTBhHJCMbQa1bUKOpQ7jS2XhWwi5nXjI_OiGzXGFSrYccxyeaw8ObudZqdGdrLz0H5Wms5Yo5yfMoXSuxZrr6G4_zv1T6pphvuoqNRAf4S5r9pYOEGipDiH1NmoaojolICeEGY5zh5d-C9Fk/w254-h400/falserueanemoneseedv.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://friendsofeloisebutler.org/pages/plants/falserueanemone.html" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The pistils are replaced by beaked follicles (seedpods that split open along one side) that individually contain several seeds. You'll have to get down on all fours to see them, but, that's often the best view in a wildflower garden.<i> </i><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKsZCJ9TIoc/UzI2aoXbS4I/AAAAAAAAXxE/LOlGkzj8phA/s1600/DSCF1144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKsZCJ9TIoc/UzI2aoXbS4I/AAAAAAAAXxE/LOlGkzj8phA/s1600/DSCF1144.JPG" width="624" /></a></div><p>The lovely five 'petaled' (sepals) flowers with the showy yellow center stamens would look wonderful planted with <i>Mertensia
virginica, Thalictrum thalictroides, Trillium grandiflorum, Trillium
cuneatum, Polemonium reptans, Phloxes, Geranium maculatum, Phacelia bipinnatifida, Euonymus
americanus, Philadelphus inodorus and Aesculus pavia</i>. Plant them in rich loamy soil with full to partial sun and before long you'll have a small colony.</p><p>xoxogail<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The particulars</span> </p><p>Common Name: false rue anemone </p><p>Family: <i>Ranunculaceae</i></p><p><i>AKA:</i> <i>Isopyrum biternatum</i></p><p>Type: Herbaceous perennial, Ephemeral<i> <br /></i></p><br /><p>
<br />
Native Range:<br />
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<p> Zone: 3 to 8 </p><p>Height: 0.50 to 0.75 feet </p><p>Spread: 0.25 to 0.50 feet </p><p>Bloom
Time: March to April </p><p>Bloom: White </p><p>Sun: Part shade </p><p>Water:
Medium, rich soil helps<br /></p><p>Maintenance: Low </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNAYoVuKhKgpXRF01DoxZfEwmd6mEcHZEYE3dPTjRxYd7jjbg2wCOll_CSpBTv_sGSjXZChMaUzgWzPWFJj9iFmWxHGczkbMnFvB45LKUg-gaZ0CdT7uTV5h1sIdmHq7wdfNcAvTQE4LJzmwxzIB3IaQsueYWnKnqkw4OtuITTPQbH8LEtGGxLlTuZFA/s1562/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-25%20at%204.41.36%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1562" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNAYoVuKhKgpXRF01DoxZfEwmd6mEcHZEYE3dPTjRxYd7jjbg2wCOll_CSpBTv_sGSjXZChMaUzgWzPWFJj9iFmWxHGczkbMnFvB45LKUg-gaZ0CdT7uTV5h1sIdmHq7wdfNcAvTQE4LJzmwxzIB3IaQsueYWnKnqkw4OtuITTPQbH8LEtGGxLlTuZFA/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-25%20at%204.41.36%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Flower: Showy. Anemone-like flowers (to 1/2" diameter) with 5 petal-like sepals and showy yellow center stamens</p><p>Foliage: Columbine like leaves<br /></p><p>Habitat: open wooded slopes, river flood plains, rich woods and thickets. Colonizes <br /></p><p>Wildlife value: Bees collect pollen, while fly visitors feed on pollen. Various beetles also feed on the pollen. Some of these insects probably search in vain for nectar, as the flowers lack nectaries. </p><p>Comments: My favorite is from <a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/false-rue-anemone" target="_blank">Missouri Department of Conservation</a>: "This flower is often confused with (true) rue anemone, <i>Thalictrum thalictroides</i>. That species, however, has only bracts on the flowering stems (not complete leaves); it often has more than 5 sepals, which are sometimes pinkish; it is usually only found singly; and it prefers wooded slopes to moist bottomlands. False rue anemone and "true" rue anemone present a bit of difficulty for
the budding naturalist, but meeting the challenge of learning how to
identify the two similar plants helps us understand botany, and our
world, better. Most members of this family are toxic, so be careful and don't eat it.<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniCZLHdjAu4v9dwYKpqNQkz8svSdCR5QLE3Qzvyjr_FEQZIBsNOy2AUNblG4y5jJiyBp_qE8CeUdyvJ6EOmfSe9mQOYFGCpbmaHw_8DdtXN2vU_-Kd6-WsL7tprH63a3D2smkVhq_DsDqse3JdoL-tKL_H74gV9LhzdJ78uYtgGyiV_jQFIAuH4tG4yA/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiniCZLHdjAu4v9dwYKpqNQkz8svSdCR5QLE3Qzvyjr_FEQZIBsNOy2AUNblG4y5jJiyBp_qE8CeUdyvJ6EOmfSe9mQOYFGCpbmaHw_8DdtXN2vU_-Kd6-WsL7tprH63a3D2smkVhq_DsDqse3JdoL-tKL_H74gV9LhzdJ78uYtgGyiV_jQFIAuH4tG4yA/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>
is about sharing wildflowers from your part of the world. Don't worry
if you have nothing in bloom, you can still showcase one of your
favorites. It doesn't matter if we sometimes show the same plants; how
they grow and thrive in your garden is what matters most. I hope you
join the celebration...It's always the fourth Wednesd <br /></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-25945198714000692072024-03-06T05:00:00.094-06:002024-03-06T10:45:01.390-06:00First Wednesday Challenge: Keystone Plants<p>When you plant your garden make sure you include keystone plants. They're the most important plants we should have or be
adding to our gardens. <b><br /></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcBVgDcjPjG1cV9x1K8rquX3kNbumuml_NIrglQAoPiJEg_7MXVOEKt2zRd8NRCb0LvQhedx9gf7o-aZJG0lK6wElYHEUDoceq9mizmXFa9QGSJkWhcjE9ZVCdJZ57qxfRW019oXoIjrlQVNIEvykIZEosjjxhMJiA82vFx35pviQdLf3ubfzw8ndb8M/s640/DSCF2045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHcBVgDcjPjG1cV9x1K8rquX3kNbumuml_NIrglQAoPiJEg_7MXVOEKt2zRd8NRCb0LvQhedx9gf7o-aZJG0lK6wElYHEUDoceq9mizmXFa9QGSJkWhcjE9ZVCdJZ57qxfRW019oXoIjrlQVNIEvykIZEosjjxhMJiA82vFx35pviQdLf3ubfzw8ndb8M/w640-h480/DSCF2045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>When I began a garden here at Clay and Limestone, I knew nothing about native plants. I tried all manner of plants that failed. But I eventually figured out that my garden had wonderful gifts for me. They were just waiting for me to appreciate them and when I did, I fell totally in love with wildflowers and the bees I discovered buzzing around them. How fortunate for this gardener or it would have taken many more years to discover the wonder of native plants and gardening for wildlife. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbxJY3ZOSoKuXoU-gw4n2YunFJrOp96PSeGs5QJuPQDQYQs7cAUKHeya9BbdIX6mB_vCPTKY4uRCM5HiGnlFqVM_0fF-PWLeNikGmSPXZNCrqytnrxLyW9qpUUSJ9ow9K3kGYrj9stoy_I14AkX20BXloJeDeiAKru25dSSuLGiyTKnX_vMUC-FW9V8/s1200/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-05%20at%2010.27.23%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="794" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObbxJY3ZOSoKuXoU-gw4n2YunFJrOp96PSeGs5QJuPQDQYQs7cAUKHeya9BbdIX6mB_vCPTKY4uRCM5HiGnlFqVM_0fF-PWLeNikGmSPXZNCrqytnrxLyW9qpUUSJ9ow9K3kGYrj9stoy_I14AkX20BXloJeDeiAKru25dSSuLGiyTKnX_vMUC-FW9V8/w424-h640/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-05%20at%2010.27.23%20AM.png" width="424" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hypericum frondosum</i> supports 22 <i>Lepidoptera </i>species<i><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I was lucky to make friends with Paul Moore who was probably my first role model for planting natives. Paul owned a garden center and it was the only IGC that offered native plants. What I didn't know at the time was that Paul's garden conditions were vastly different from mine. Many of the plants that he could grow thrived on acid soil, but, they did not thrive in mine. With more failures comes more learning. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQAB23IRshR6M21AUkTx_ufOeQEEACOGsnhyQEvrWNQ0_I6_uHNB4jg2mRizqX5Dfz0w0W-NiOUeorORKE-J1EYKGhzjIwOtKEyMs8qi3q2zk9cIJekTI0AbG2EZ_cduwU5j1fcS3QvlZVLmg3AFe__kknFk4RvpOtMET2fQbB_GdvMrLtFiLIs3dzy8/s1600/P2093099.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1523" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQAB23IRshR6M21AUkTx_ufOeQEEACOGsnhyQEvrWNQ0_I6_uHNB4jg2mRizqX5Dfz0w0W-NiOUeorORKE-J1EYKGhzjIwOtKEyMs8qi3q2zk9cIJekTI0AbG2EZ_cduwU5j1fcS3QvlZVLmg3AFe__kknFk4RvpOtMET2fQbB_GdvMrLtFiLIs3dzy8/w610-h640/P2093099.JPG" width="610" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elm trees supports 201<i> Lepidoptera species<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Around that time I chanced upon Dr Thomas Hemmerley's book, <i>Wildflowers of the Central South</i>. As it turned out, his book introduced me to concepts that I needed to learn if I was going to have any success at gardening in my difficult gardening conditions. I learned about Middle Tennessee micro-climates and about the unique wildflowers that grew only in the cedar glades. I was able to figure out that my garden was a xeric oak-hickory forest plant community with areas of extremely shallow soil and limestone bedrock just under the soil. The shallow, nearly neutral clay soil is hard as concrete during our dry summers and often wet and sticky during our rainy winters. No wonder everything I planted had died! I was planting all the wrong plants.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqYSS0UqG60/V5e_49Wri8I/AAAAAAAAbXo/TaUH8hjNMScMIvec94XGRIZlF45jlrrSwCLcB/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2016-07-26%2Bat%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqYSS0UqG60/V5e_49Wri8I/AAAAAAAAbXo/TaUH8hjNMScMIvec94XGRIZlF45jlrrSwCLcB/s640/Screen%2Bshot%2B2016-07-26%2Bat%2B2.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Joe-pye weed supports 32 species of <i>Lepidoptera</i> larvae</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><p> I mulled over what I learned and concluded this: <i>"My
garden isn't a failure, but, trying to make it something that it isn't
is the true failure. Take a look at what's already growing here.
Appreciate and celebrate what you have."</i><br />
<br />
<b>So I did</b>. I observed my yard throughout the growing season. I say yard because it really wasn't much of a garden back then.<br />
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQeZhGUVaxY/U3UAknj4JHI/AAAAAAAAX6s/5NGD18DXevM/s1600/DSCF8397.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tQeZhGUVaxY/U3UAknj4JHI/AAAAAAAAX6s/5NGD18DXevM/s1600/DSCF8397.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Andrena nothoscordi</i>, is a specialist pollinator of False Garlic (<i>Nothoscordum bivalve).</i></span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>Early the next spring I noticed wildflowers everywhere. There were Columbines, <i>Trillium,</i> Toothwort, False Garlic, rue anemone, false rue anemone, golden ragwort and <i>Phlox divaricata</i>.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In May, I found dozens of <i>Penstemon calycosus</i> growing in the wayback backyard in both the dry shade <b>and</b> in the the wet weather spring. I fell instantly in love and transplanted it everywhere!
In the lawn I found sedges, Poverty oatgrass and Lyre-leaf sage.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0e4FYHmQwE/U2hBSXpH8TI/AAAAAAAAX4A/7vD21R32sCs/s1600/DSCF5676.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a0e4FYHmQwE/U2hBSXpH8TI/AAAAAAAAX4A/7vD21R32sCs/s1600/DSCF5676.JPG" width="590" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lyre leafed sage/Salvia lyrata~for early visiting pollinators</span><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>Also growing in the lawn were Blue-eyed grasses, Downy Woodmint, the
cutest little <i>Panicums</i> and a tiny daisy with lavender hints that wasn't
even in my wildflower guide.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbLqre7HGPCSZ7wx_T4QwxqvWEE-YQZypdTsS_ereBX6zf9O_nnXNlw8MYMehyphenhyphenbcfdDdSDOniFJv6HZoPEQGP7gvT-HalgLimYnXeP_zydQOmV1OXENyf7PgTry7fUxFiGysEPFBTzQDBq6wdOeVBas9l0f6jcc4Xk9mU0mpvB2cNPpy1Ik7slTCMNnA/s2650/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-05%20at%205.30.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1904" data-original-width="2650" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbLqre7HGPCSZ7wx_T4QwxqvWEE-YQZypdTsS_ereBX6zf9O_nnXNlw8MYMehyphenhyphenbcfdDdSDOniFJv6HZoPEQGP7gvT-HalgLimYnXeP_zydQOmV1OXENyf7PgTry7fUxFiGysEPFBTzQDBq6wdOeVBas9l0f6jcc4Xk9mU0mpvB2cNPpy1Ik7slTCMNnA/w640-h460/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-05%20at%205.30.23%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Symphyotrichum a powerhouse plant<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> When fall arrived so did the woodland asters and the bumbles. They were all over them from sunrise to sunset.<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9YdeR0U7uE/U3UVXsqBcxI/AAAAAAAAX7A/9RffuoVPqns/s1600/DSCF3981.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--9YdeR0U7uE/U3UVXsqBcxI/AAAAAAAAX7A/9RffuoVPqns/s1600/DSCF3981.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Astranthium integrifolium/Entireleaf western daisy<br /></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>It took me a few more years before I realized that wildflowers, as wonderful as they are, weren't the most important plants in my garden. I started adding shrubs and small trees, but it was still years before I truly appreciated that my garden was already blessed with <a href="https://start.askwonder.com/insights/one-single-tree-provides-shelter-species-wildlife-specific-quantities-need-8hzctmt4n" target="_blank">Oaks</a>, Hickories, Eastern Red cedars, Elms, Ashes, Hackberries, Redbuds, Dogwood species, Viburnums, and <span>American hophornbeam trees. I didn't realize at the time that many were keystone plants that supported insects, birds, pollinators, and small mammals.<br /></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-yHDXNHoISr24MDbzIS7bOwoMygP6AMBCYqLa_enAoh0KjKmA8X7IsButaOJdb373GC4pVA2xlFX6j5LAtbIlwkl5g0GN4UwaKQSQigcgVnQ09qy6VjRAu9_fN4bdEieXUhyfwFTNrp12O8OzuTypKnDsclougUtRSqhICchdNqWzJNA24rOEfYLEDw/s640/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%204.14.22%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="528" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-yHDXNHoISr24MDbzIS7bOwoMygP6AMBCYqLa_enAoh0KjKmA8X7IsButaOJdb373GC4pVA2xlFX6j5LAtbIlwkl5g0GN4UwaKQSQigcgVnQ09qy6VjRAu9_fN4bdEieXUhyfwFTNrp12O8OzuTypKnDsclougUtRSqhICchdNqWzJNA24rOEfYLEDw/w528-h640/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%204.14.22%20PM.jpg" width="528" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Ostrya virginiana</i> supports 35 <i>Lepidoptera </i>species<i><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>A keystone plant is a plant that supports
the life cycle of many species. They're trees and perennials that are
crucial to the food web
and necessary for many wildlife species to complete their life cycle. Without keystone plants in the landscape, butterflies, native bees, and
birds will not thrive.<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q6OG9-wkdKfqEfexGx9lzSR1RV4sww0DSjbrH2E3dAFLYTPhq9DQm9YQppbXA1sp2rOhqmKiJt0g9fcmYxwtHQc0li4XNXvStlKoaYZN8uvfoO3-hLmy5Me7lSQg3OjSktOrMh-e-gXr4D2dAo_4UjCpmmHuKt-IsRPJeQFyEdpIwZZ5tSRlXtdrxYs/s640/DSCF0188.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q6OG9-wkdKfqEfexGx9lzSR1RV4sww0DSjbrH2E3dAFLYTPhq9DQm9YQppbXA1sp2rOhqmKiJt0g9fcmYxwtHQc0li4XNXvStlKoaYZN8uvfoO3-hLmy5Me7lSQg3OjSktOrMh-e-gXr4D2dAo_4UjCpmmHuKt-IsRPJeQFyEdpIwZZ5tSRlXtdrxYs/w640-h480/DSCF0188.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Oaks support 521 <i>Lepidoptera </i>species<i><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>Insects, especially caterpillars, are the prime source of food for most birds feeding their young. Keystone plants
like Oaks, cherry, Beeches, Elms, Poplar, Pine and Hickory trees support 90% of caterpillar species. Keystone plants like Asters, perennial sunflowers, and goldenrods support 60% of native bees. Caterpillars and native bees are both
integral parts of nature’s food web.<span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2020/december/doug-tallamy-native-plants-food-web-insects-birds-survival-earth/?fbclid=IwAR2EDPYYUNQ_UKdtoa6opR7pmGT1M8WiUupn9GE4uyIP6EGy9tvYAM4nFoE" target="_blank">source</a></span>) <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgK_fU9LZiCzata2wJD8XDwiNrFSByB1BptRHxuwJJf5tej46x6LZ38noRkU-NQdrtUUqelyoFPHaLpiZ6e7nqh632yPZ8y1bYxMWTB7RmZyL6qCTQoyeQqHj180uH1DGW9klI8t_4I0uvswUfF2OGq3wd6DX4noLueHztp69sf9FeMe8KuttV0A96cg/s640/DSCF6961.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="640" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgK_fU9LZiCzata2wJD8XDwiNrFSByB1BptRHxuwJJf5tej46x6LZ38noRkU-NQdrtUUqelyoFPHaLpiZ6e7nqh632yPZ8y1bYxMWTB7RmZyL6qCTQoyeQqHj180uH1DGW9klI8t_4I0uvswUfF2OGq3wd6DX4noLueHztp69sf9FeMe8KuttV0A96cg/w640-h474/DSCF6961.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Solidago</i> is a powerhouse plant that supports 138 Lepidoptera species</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In my neighborhood developers have been bulldozing entire yards ofmature trees. Recently these beautiful Eastern Cedars were bulldozed along with a shagbark hickory and several oaks to make room for a larger house footprint and a green lawn.<br /><p></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPAOzgQuDYy84cIlqcYpI4Nc99o9gGiqJoCf8Di9l-CrjtMH5Ng00JJg55IPPP6qyOliIciZKQdNEpXDs6RP38ykrcJFy1IKoxuBscZ8tFA6pSJeAlahHPUeUcsUMz5vMcKVCbfp8hdjZ5gtE1-sYd69SgENH1BOiTXO_dTlsnDiVPeROz0YNzT4LdqU/s800/DSCF7328.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="800" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPAOzgQuDYy84cIlqcYpI4Nc99o9gGiqJoCf8Di9l-CrjtMH5Ng00JJg55IPPP6qyOliIciZKQdNEpXDs6RP38ykrcJFy1IKoxuBscZ8tFA6pSJeAlahHPUeUcsUMz5vMcKVCbfp8hdjZ5gtE1-sYd69SgENH1BOiTXO_dTlsnDiVPeROz0YNzT4LdqU/w640-h616/DSCF7328.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Juniperus virginiana</i> 40 <i>Lepidoptera</i> supported</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>They aren't the only trees being cut down. Almost all of the trees bulldozed for new builds in Hillwood were mature native trees that had been producing lots of insect food for birds for decades. In place of the "bee lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane, Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, native grasses (in my neighborhood it's poverty oat grass) and sedges, they're sodded with non-native grasses. Rarely are trees replaced and when they are replaced they are not keystone tree species. The monoculture turf lawns contribute nothing environmentally and neither do the non native trees. Landscapes without powerhouse plants that support
caterpillars and other insects doom the food web.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_pu1X1E4bXxDEsZTcJ0QKPa2Sr8Xac_q9Ntc7lkJoW4btA-vxKymwPlJg8QqV6-XHSnmYnG8oRFvO4gV2q-S-lGHGDSjTfSeVPzCQYPSqPdOYqUiBvYixfanQKWAwDd0N3WbtCPjQzsa9cQMkIXaIPckEM-7YmukZZ8FOFA3YSMneuJQpp0rc5_v2SQ/s640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.07.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC_pu1X1E4bXxDEsZTcJ0QKPa2Sr8Xac_q9Ntc7lkJoW4btA-vxKymwPlJg8QqV6-XHSnmYnG8oRFvO4gV2q-S-lGHGDSjTfSeVPzCQYPSqPdOYqUiBvYixfanQKWAwDd0N3WbtCPjQzsa9cQMkIXaIPckEM-7YmukZZ8FOFA3YSMneuJQpp0rc5_v2SQ/w640-h486/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.07.12%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Carya</i>/Hickory trees are powerhouse plants supporting 248 <i>Lepidoptera species</i></span> <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>That's why it's so important for us to keep planting more natives and make sure more of them are keystone plants. Doug Tallamy says plant the best of the best and then plant more of them. We must also share whenever and where ever we can about the effects that this clear cutting is having on the environment. If we don't make some educational noise the canopy will continue to be devastated and with it the food web.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bBq0a2AXeo/YNCgy3DWG4I/AAAAAAAA5eM/wkm_aPDwYbMhyS4eC8zpcSsBT1d8LLOZACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/DSCF4078.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1600" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bBq0a2AXeo/YNCgy3DWG4I/AAAAAAAA5eM/wkm_aPDwYbMhyS4eC8zpcSsBT1d8LLOZACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h484/DSCF4078.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Rudbeckia fulgida</i> supports 17 <i>Lepidoptera species<br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We may feel alone in our struggle but we aren't. There are gardeners all over my neighborhood and across the US. who are planting smart. Know that our gardens might be a neighborhood haven for all kinds of
critters in the midst of a sea of lawns helps. Our gardens might be one of the few gardens that offers pollinating critters
nectar and pollen from late winter until late fall. It might be a place for all
kinds of critters, including insects, birds, turtles, frogs, toads, and mammals to raise their offspring. It might be a stopping off place for
water and food (seeds and berries) to migrating birds. We need to plant smart knowing that the
more we plant for critters...crawling, flying and even digging ones,
the healthier and more diverse our gardens will be.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzOIO7xZl8kxNiRztPkkncWjuMjiZr1Zr-7FuiE1wjxp5RR7-lx9cczTW5mQS2k0hm-rad8vP0KHbNm6iKX9uYc0_bUtXKN4yPgMSjiAsztRD0dpNIB9lZyuI7DKsa-ZssxaAVzktabwtAJhC-1MwSXgHwWKYUWMlzgUg3s0vlIftnApKgbLyUwPlY7U/s4608/PB050051.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzOIO7xZl8kxNiRztPkkncWjuMjiZr1Zr-7FuiE1wjxp5RR7-lx9cczTW5mQS2k0hm-rad8vP0KHbNm6iKX9uYc0_bUtXKN4yPgMSjiAsztRD0dpNIB9lZyuI7DKsa-ZssxaAVzktabwtAJhC-1MwSXgHwWKYUWMlzgUg3s0vlIftnApKgbLyUwPlY7U/w640-h480/PB050051.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Symphyotrichum </i>are powerhouse plants<i> supporting Lepidoptera <br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>PARTICULARS ABOUT KEYSTONE PLANTS</p><p>If you're not sure what to plant, check out this resource that discusses Keystone Plants by <a href="https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Native-Plants/keystone-plants-by-ecoregion" target="_blank">Ecological regions of North America</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WMN7ulXWp5K38L0A2-qEJJexq0ytmKTBTfGkW6g-K-RV6ilmXEG3JpbyE-xTwUVx2rd0XFPObLXd1Co6kOWjRZiJ0Dxjsi3lRqSc9VLhV9N-mMxdiZTyVqt1Z7IjQMeb6nFPby7ElDLdCuZ8ideyWVLeN4WqsF4-U2xP9jS3A1VcAAVlr_lR7XNAxRY/s3590/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-04%20at%202.34.04%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="3590" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WMN7ulXWp5K38L0A2-qEJJexq0ytmKTBTfGkW6g-K-RV6ilmXEG3JpbyE-xTwUVx2rd0XFPObLXd1Co6kOWjRZiJ0Dxjsi3lRqSc9VLhV9N-mMxdiZTyVqt1Z7IjQMeb6nFPby7ElDLdCuZ8ideyWVLeN4WqsF4-U2xP9jS3A1VcAAVlr_lR7XNAxRY/w640-h406/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-04%20at%202.34.04%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>You can't go wrong adding an oak tree or one of the top keystone trees from the lists. Also, know that on almost every ecological region list you'll probably find these 4 perennials that support pollinators: <i>Solidago</i>, <i>Symphyotrichum, Rudbeckia </i>and<i> </i><i>Helianthus. (</i><a href="https://www.flyingtrillium.com/resources/plant-lists/keystone-plants-for-butterflies-and-moths" target="_blank">source)</a></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKLjSt6OE5H9eNk56dW4wF2zuI-UPWv_S1CKzhzJrZgz6vch6puNvY1jREjWSnIt6NAndwGmHyA40ASLCsxMa-Z_JBbmj6vigYeSoKEVs9Ez8OF6GuqYOeuoOF402gW5nUyfl9yew-3qKqK1aKwwh5Pun11z56LR04uQwfkVA7oF6cL4Zv8AnersLwwQ/s640/IMG_3923.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKLjSt6OE5H9eNk56dW4wF2zuI-UPWv_S1CKzhzJrZgz6vch6puNvY1jREjWSnIt6NAndwGmHyA40ASLCsxMa-Z_JBbmj6vigYeSoKEVs9Ez8OF6GuqYOeuoOF402gW5nUyfl9yew-3qKqK1aKwwh5Pun11z56LR04uQwfkVA7oF6cL4Zv8AnersLwwQ/w640-h480/IMG_3923.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Switchgrass<i>/Panicum virgatum</i></span> – 25 <i>Lepidoptera supported</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> <b>Assess your garden:</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Take
some time to figure out what makes sense for your garden conditions. Get to know your light and soil conditions. I
know that Clay and Limestone is just that, a lot of shallow clay soil
sitting on top of limestone bedrock. It's dry in the summer and often
wet in the winter. My go to plants are almost always from the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2024/02/wildflower-wednesday-necklace.html" target="_blank">central basin</a>, in Middle Tennessee. There are resources to help you figure out what to plant.<br /></li><li>Do a tree and shrub survey of your property. They're far
more important to insects than many other plants. Plant a keystone tree or two if needed.<br /></li><li>Once plants are blooming, notice which plants attract the most pollinators and which ones are just a pretty face.</li><li>Once plants flower and go to seed watch to see which seed heads the birds eat first and which ones they never touch. </li><li>Look
closely at all the plants to see if any of the flowering plants are
hosting caterpillars. Look for eggs, larva or instars. A host plant provides shelter, habitat, breeding
sites or serve as a food source as part of the life cycle of another
organism. </li><li>Do critters have access to fresh water? </li><li>It's okay to have a few pretty faces in the garden, just make sure they aren't the majority of plants. <br /></li><li>Invest in a good wildflower book, a field guide to birds and if you're
really ready to get to know the critters your garden could host,
purchase a good field guide to butterfly and caterpillars. Tennesseans, get a copy of <a href="https://ritavenable.com/?page_id=22" target="_blank">Rita Venable's book <i>Butterflies of Tennessee</i></a><i>.</i><br /></li></ul><p><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nWkRHfMaklqTBh3I_52BS_n2xTmZSMW1tANtiX29fHjkeuoLEKIWl7EzZtAhr4uPu4kOWHX3FnLpLqiTNSMdIIAnNQPnaua1-Aih_ywPa8MU2M2nPmLZajzSHutBkezetS2487LTQwIRmVuPw-fLY8Fmmj8u8OuRTj3iT9lsuwfKsmevCnmBs-jEjsg/s640/DSCF6429.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nWkRHfMaklqTBh3I_52BS_n2xTmZSMW1tANtiX29fHjkeuoLEKIWl7EzZtAhr4uPu4kOWHX3FnLpLqiTNSMdIIAnNQPnaua1-Aih_ywPa8MU2M2nPmLZajzSHutBkezetS2487LTQwIRmVuPw-fLY8Fmmj8u8OuRTj3iT9lsuwfKsmevCnmBs-jEjsg/w640-h480/DSCF6429.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Verbesina</i> species support 7 <i>Lepidoptera </i>species</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>There's just one other thing<i> </i>I need to say before I go. Your garden will support all the critters that live and visit if you never, ever, ever,
ever, ever use pesticides. I mean never! xoxogail</p><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's a recap of what the First Wednesday Monthly Challenge is all about.</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/s640/DSCF6899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/w620-h640/DSCF6899.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;">Want to Take the Taking Care of Wildlife In Our Gardens Challenge?</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
first part</b> of this challenge is to do something, even lots of
things each month that support the critters living in our gardens.
Gardening with native wildflowers, shrubs and trees that make sense for
our ecoregion is a good place to start or continue (as the case may be).
Plants and their pollinators are a classic example of mutualism: they
have coevolved through evolutionary time in a reciprocal beneficial
relationship. This is also true for other critters that visit and live
in our gardens. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The second part</b> of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! <b>Why post
it?</b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals, including humans, that live all around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern
cedar and hackberry trees are cut down. Insects, birds, even mammals
lose their home site and food supplies when we lose trees. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">During construction
soil is compacted by bulldozers, trucks and piles of
debris cause runoff; surface runoff that can carry pollution to
streams and rivers. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It's
important that our neighbors and our community have information about how important trees
are to our ecosystem. Trees contribute to their environment by providing
oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water,
preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>,
fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, native grasses (in my
neighborhood it's poverty oat grass) and sedges, they're being sodded
with non-native grasses. These monoculture turf lawns contribute </span><span style="font-size: medium;">nothing environmentally. Here's what we lose when our diverse lawns are replaced with </span><span style="font-size: medium;">pristine turf grass:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
are the lightening bugs.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
is plant diversity. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is a healthy foodweb.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It breaks my
heart.</span> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We can't stop the <i>progmess</i>, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters and ultimately helping the environment. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>A gardener can hope! </b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>xoxoGail <br /></b></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/s1468/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1468" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/w640-h598/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, and things you can do for and/or in your community. But don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking for ways to get involved go<a href="https://tcwp.org/environmental-organizations/" target="_blank"> here for a list of environmental advocacy groups.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get in the garden with your children and grandchildren.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/s4080/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/w301-h400/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) </span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/s640/P7190018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/w480-h640/P7190018.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
for bloom from late spring to early winter. Bees are most active from
February to November (longer in mild climates) late winter blooming <i>Hamamelis vernalis</i>
and the earliest spring ephemerals (like the toothworts, hepaticas,
spring beauties, and False rue-anemeone) are perfect plants for a
variety of pollinators.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a rain garden in low spots to collect and mitigate runoff. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/s640/DSCF7505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="640" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/w640-h512/DSCF7505.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall and need a soft landing site and a place to live over the winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow
a fallen tree to remain in the garden. Limbs on the ground are a
perfect shelter for small animals such as rabbits, chipmunks and
squirrels and a habitat for beetles, termites and other insects. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/s640/DSCF6027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/w400-h300/DSCF6027.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs". Bugs are also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and they're great bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> You can observe visitors to your water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group you can join the national organization. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>. Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on designing with native plants.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join the <a href="https://www.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Support
trees by joining the effort to make sure developers don't remove more
trees than are necessary for their project. Work to make sure there are
tree removal permits and that they are actually enforced in your
community.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a><p> </p><p> </p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html"></a><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-66235679926105656782024-02-28T05:00:00.226-06:002024-02-28T05:00:00.142-06:00Wildflower Wednesday: Necklace gladecress (Leavenworthia torulosa)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtH7ICrc7pzaSglUlwJY6s-QIkUJRxlFHZLHUnNyQ2_Nf5Tz8yuqZJTa_blzSRwC_buLKjljI28yw_8qtd-PAh-UcugcxW1Y_FlfklMXqIUIcdURlR4WemT4LPCOIf9Jhmt6v2eMuEnAnwvjtXzMrajdHfhzJ6__OXcBOT5T68mOZ3XF9-eTgDpVscWQ/s3051/P2260070.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2943" data-original-width="3051" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWtH7ICrc7pzaSglUlwJY6s-QIkUJRxlFHZLHUnNyQ2_Nf5Tz8yuqZJTa_blzSRwC_buLKjljI28yw_8qtd-PAh-UcugcxW1Y_FlfklMXqIUIcdURlR4WemT4LPCOIf9Jhmt6v2eMuEnAnwvjtXzMrajdHfhzJ6__OXcBOT5T68mOZ3XF9-eTgDpVscWQ/w640-h618/P2260070.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Leavenworthias</i>, generally known as gladecresses, are late winter rosette-forming annuals with the sweetest little flowers. Our Wildflower Wednesday star is <i>Leavenworthia torulosa</i> and could easily be mistaken for another of the <i>Leavenworthia</i> found in middle Tennessee. What made identifying this species from the others was the necklace/chain of beads' pod holding the seeds.<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuNBGqeh7-LfPf6qcPjJhbBJ5NjUx4TpY5gbYv1uoFfVfoyfb8AJAypOJ1AU2C283vxJf2pe-Kn5mT31_6w6aRtaOvVkeoXEBw5V1Y1j0q3PsNVAL2bs75XakbbbS7oV1IAhzrX3OPPMsXEjPjrMP2b6kRDEL8YQez4FpZzrSrhVbx9JVXFgllQbyT5M/s1486/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%206.19.07%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1476" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsuNBGqeh7-LfPf6qcPjJhbBJ5NjUx4TpY5gbYv1uoFfVfoyfb8AJAypOJ1AU2C283vxJf2pe-Kn5mT31_6w6aRtaOvVkeoXEBw5V1Y1j0q3PsNVAL2bs75XakbbbS7oV1IAhzrX3OPPMsXEjPjrMP2b6kRDEL8YQez4FpZzrSrhVbx9JVXFgllQbyT5M/w398-h400/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%206.19.07%20PM.png" width="398" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leavenworthia_torulosa" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">the necklace seed pod for id</span><br /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> Gladecresses are members of the <i>Brassicaceae</i>/Mustard family and have a few iconic features.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Usually herbaceous plants </li><li>4 petals form a cross </li><li>Fruit: a pod or a capsule that is either a long and slender pod (silique) or short and broad pod (silicle)</li><li>Flowers usually have 6 stamens (male flower parts), 4 tall and 2 short </li><li>Flowers are usually yellow, white, orange and lavender <br /></li></ul><br /><p> There are eight species of <i>Leavenworthia</i> native to the southern and southeastern USA. Four are native to Middle Tennessee. <br /></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Leavenworthia alabamica <br /></li><li>Leavenworthia aurea </li><li>Leavenworthia crassa </li><li>Leavenworthia exigua (TN) <br /></li><li>Leavenworthia stylosa(TN)</li><li>Leavenworthia texana </li><li>Leavenworthia torulosa(TN)</li><li>Leavenworthia uniflora(TN)</li></ol><p> Ecologically they are plants that are restricted/endemic to Cedar Glades in middle Tennessee, limestone
glades and other thin-soil areas where limestone bedrock is at or near the surface. </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlXzerjLXJksUv8YQhYm62FIZyvzZ5omaJA1dAkVTRq1w8lqdhdm-fWGS9r8KkpICfVtmojYxNwqSUA63KtfTs2BBaXy2PYyOdS0ARYOtnBqOkWsQ61-O7LYVW7ORJHSLrTG6rYu0AfunJa5dq6o8LGpuiFQvWCLqWhMVIsoSPrh7C6XAldXsic5XSAk/s2224/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-27%20at%209.16.54%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="2224" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlXzerjLXJksUv8YQhYm62FIZyvzZ5omaJA1dAkVTRq1w8lqdhdm-fWGS9r8KkpICfVtmojYxNwqSUA63KtfTs2BBaXy2PYyOdS0ARYOtnBqOkWsQ61-O7LYVW7ORJHSLrTG6rYu0AfunJa5dq6o8LGpuiFQvWCLqWhMVIsoSPrh7C6XAldXsic5XSAk/w640-h501/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-27%20at%209.16.54%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The winter wet seeps are a perfect growing medium for our star and other <i>Leavenworthia</i>. They tolerate growing in standing water and
disappear before the extremely hot and dry summer conditions that you inevitably have where soil is thin and limestone is close to the surface or exposed.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKD7kYYrUKxYN3Oh3UXCraD4UD-rNE6SRE-uDQI8QuQLDn6NhbZwDVDxO44jD-mHnCNI-0vtD7I2EDNei0PpE2DwXcJ97d3OaZ5dFxVLdssFs8NjIuzdbjGHvGE5UkzKVaeZ3Fz_x1r95Uh0u9dS7sFysCrW9qWCKaKIr-vPM3mSmLT3FfTuaWibM5Gc/s4080/PXL_20240226_154944867.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKD7kYYrUKxYN3Oh3UXCraD4UD-rNE6SRE-uDQI8QuQLDn6NhbZwDVDxO44jD-mHnCNI-0vtD7I2EDNei0PpE2DwXcJ97d3OaZ5dFxVLdssFs8NjIuzdbjGHvGE5UkzKVaeZ3Fz_x1r95Uh0u9dS7sFysCrW9qWCKaKIr-vPM3mSmLT3FfTuaWibM5Gc/w482-h640/PXL_20240226_154944867.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><p>I discovered our Wildflower Wednesday star about a dozen years ago growing in a wet depression in a sunny field/lawn not too far from my house. Being wowed doesn't begin to describe how excited I was to discover them. It was late winter/early spring and the ground was incredibly soggy. At first there were one or two flowers but, as the days warmed up more flowers opened and they made a lovely ground cover. </p><p> I am thrilled that the small population hasn't disappeared. They're winter annuals and once the flowers are pollinated and seeds develop in that necklace like pod they get dispersed in late spring/early summer, then germinate in the fall, and individuals overwinter as little rosettes before flowering begins in the early spring (from Baskin and Baskin).</p><p>Fortunately, all that's completed before spring and summer mowing begins.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHeYiGt7hhcYrCphNGUy-vbZKmGKFk5RKJwKNgl-vYEcyath_FcVZgvLICvHppfGU6et4fjXzDCOBBAEB0Xt7FFHdFglWrkaCOKTGVesoAx0G4g3RjTlJwXqmjuvreaunLJsatLcn6lhwKIrIR1t_abwEZmgFcRuwunB4cCpWSeXmlmP6Pii9SupPb0A/s2756/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%2010.10.58%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="2756" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHeYiGt7hhcYrCphNGUy-vbZKmGKFk5RKJwKNgl-vYEcyath_FcVZgvLICvHppfGU6et4fjXzDCOBBAEB0Xt7FFHdFglWrkaCOKTGVesoAx0G4g3RjTlJwXqmjuvreaunLJsatLcn6lhwKIrIR1t_abwEZmgFcRuwunB4cCpWSeXmlmP6Pii9SupPb0A/w640-h306/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%2010.10.58%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Although, Hillwood, my neighborhood in Nashville, is not in a <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2008/03/stark-beauty-of-cedar-glade-in-late.html" target="_blank">cedar glade</a>, it has many areas of shallow
soil and exposed limestone; including my property. Which make it attractive for many plants that would also be found in a glade. Unfortunately, the seepy area in my habitat is in the shade and there are no <i>Leavenworthia.</i><i><br /></i></p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The particulars</span></b><p>Botanical name: <i>Leavenworthia torulosa</i></p><p>Common name: Necklace gladecress</p><p>Family: <i>Brassicaceae</i></p><p>Species description: Annual <br /></p><p>Habitat: <span id="lblTaxonDesc">Cedar glades, pastures, seepy
areas, thin soil over limestone beds, roadsides, old fields Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia (?) and Kentucky. <br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3VNeSJ5_WK1WYy_blpTy1K3n4SyC1kb_EQIG-C6QmDfSe4cX8CMNKkp6LDI2ZSxQjZnD_eWzJg8Il-ifkNGi6OyJCBkLNzmcivO7nXVLKQRM4PnQV7N69XU-GdtjNzLacu_AzmSDP5m5QihTysWBWlwS3RYJ7o-nYAuGwsWVa2T7U0zy4pxFiVlxBok/s2188/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%207.12.08%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1372" data-original-width="2188" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3VNeSJ5_WK1WYy_blpTy1K3n4SyC1kb_EQIG-C6QmDfSe4cX8CMNKkp6LDI2ZSxQjZnD_eWzJg8Il-ifkNGi6OyJCBkLNzmcivO7nXVLKQRM4PnQV7N69XU-GdtjNzLacu_AzmSDP5m5QihTysWBWlwS3RYJ7o-nYAuGwsWVa2T7U0zy4pxFiVlxBok/w400-h251/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%207.12.08%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRB-xLDwTy3G3ShRtVX4DD6IsZsoTOcUJSxLq8NjG8s5VW1Z4G8YcM2YbHg2wzM0ugKrO2CasnMcnHnO6S3Rs0y0IRbXoCPFJ_r9a8ZT-qEUv92GY8SoM4swGqTpK2VsFKGxqkD4feSv1pjslLjV_X8eqDVh2N_20lmkMk3NKEAH8RJGzXRANh8ayEo8/s2292/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%207.12.25%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="2292" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRB-xLDwTy3G3ShRtVX4DD6IsZsoTOcUJSxLq8NjG8s5VW1Z4G8YcM2YbHg2wzM0ugKrO2CasnMcnHnO6S3Rs0y0IRbXoCPFJ_r9a8ZT-qEUv92GY8SoM4swGqTpK2VsFKGxqkD4feSv1pjslLjV_X8eqDVh2N_20lmkMk3NKEAH8RJGzXRANh8ayEo8/w400-h166/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-26%20at%207.12.25%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span id="lblTaxonDesc"><br /></span><p></p><p><span id="lblTaxonDesc"></span>Bloom: Late winter, February through April</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-tlF8ockDHdaAwMq4yAlQZ1Xkte9hi4NBU-ucYV8B6VxLPuMA9_yTQkFbO1bIh5CwyxSs7LgS-W-wzxNre5Hd75GJLHy-Z8JyPi-YNRxaWi9DI2ZmVBKD5u8yG7j_2waefClxH_oJifxIR45ZSZYw9TOraNNMuYvtmiQ42kgcjtbDcEJ42RcMta_bKI/s974/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%2010.31.25%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="946" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-tlF8ockDHdaAwMq4yAlQZ1Xkte9hi4NBU-ucYV8B6VxLPuMA9_yTQkFbO1bIh5CwyxSs7LgS-W-wzxNre5Hd75GJLHy-Z8JyPi-YNRxaWi9DI2ZmVBKD5u8yG7j_2waefClxH_oJifxIR45ZSZYw9TOraNNMuYvtmiQ42kgcjtbDcEJ42RcMta_bKI/w389-h400/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%2010.31.25%20AM.png" width="389" /></a></p><p>Size: About 3-4 inches tall. </p><p>Bloom Color: White, yellow, lavender </p><p>Comments: It's <span id="lblTaxonDesc">considered common in Tennessee because of
the abundance of habitat, but, habitat is disappearing fast with the
growth in middle Tennessee.</span></p><p><span id="lblTaxonDesc">Propagation: </span>Seeds are pollinated and then dispersed during late spring and early
summer, they germinate in the fall, and individuals overwinter as
quiescent rosettes before flowering begins in the early spring (Baskin
and Baskin) <a href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Science%20and%20Conservation/PDFs/REU/2013/Deans-Susan.presentation.pdf" target="_blank">Go here for MOBOT's research on plant adaptability</a>. I don't know of any seed sources.<span id="lblTaxonDesc"> </span></p><p>Wildlife value: I've done a pretty deep dive and have seen a few mentions of small bees and honeybees visiting gladecresses, but, <i>L torulosa</i> is <span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">self-compatible</span></span>/self fertilizes, so it doesn't rely on pollinators. Researchers say that this can mean smaller flowers. Pollinators or not, they are really cute little flowers.<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgnpVAlf77w5QwjEVV0YEq7LbSuEaxIMIAP81RgJSShB9PZzO-GJi9jxnipBygUvmzTUpYJp3Kj7vr2pMHfVIrg060xcH3UkCLofaSoAFCYVR5jImg8xGosAsjS1JKG7VpcfcViyQsWI2pT-C_Hi1x4FjWqmwSsSrz7QOTen7_m2xSgy4hnbAH72gkTE/s1294/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%202.47.26%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1076" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgnpVAlf77w5QwjEVV0YEq7LbSuEaxIMIAP81RgJSShB9PZzO-GJi9jxnipBygUvmzTUpYJp3Kj7vr2pMHfVIrg060xcH3UkCLofaSoAFCYVR5jImg8xGosAsjS1JKG7VpcfcViyQsWI2pT-C_Hi1x4FjWqmwSsSrz7QOTen7_m2xSgy4hnbAH72gkTE/w532-h640/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-24%20at%202.47.26%20PM.png" width="532" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eppcapp.ky.gov/nprareplants/details.aspx?species=Leavenworthia+torulosa" target="_blank">click for source </a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />If you live in Middle Tennessee I urge you to visit a Cedar Glade. <p> I fell in love
with them on my first visit. It has a beauty that can't be easily defined. It
requires one to
look closely at the ground to see small plants like <i>Leavenworthia</i>, <i>Sedum</i>, moss and
lichens; while remembering to look ahead to see the huge expanses of
exposed limestone and to the shrubs and trees at the edges of the
glade. </p><p>Historically they've been unappreciated and used as quarries, parking lots and dumps.<i> <br /></i></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw55SSr5-fR2fiIjE1Zu4I_udSMLKrugTZNPCz12JbG6huM__U3G7AaZ9pejj-mGUdjycJVHqTZqWH1prMUOSes8BG9rccnF0j8LuFRlxWFqcGeixUMLERIqQ6XUSBcEi7FhBj1H87Sw6Tm1fpPdbQ2aV-dtEuEofzs6WmtE41IxjPp2WodESpOOjfKk/s400/IMG_1670.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDw55SSr5-fR2fiIjE1Zu4I_udSMLKrugTZNPCz12JbG6huM__U3G7AaZ9pejj-mGUdjycJVHqTZqWH1prMUOSes8BG9rccnF0j8LuFRlxWFqcGeixUMLERIqQ6XUSBcEi7FhBj1H87Sw6Tm1fpPdbQ2aV-dtEuEofzs6WmtE41IxjPp2WodESpOOjfKk/w640-h480/IMG_1670.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></div><i><br /> </i> <p></p><p></p>They're botanically unique ecosystems with rare and beautiful plants. One of my favorite times to visit is late winter when the seeps, wet swales, or ephemeral streams are flowing and <i>Leavenworthia</i> are blooming in the standing water. But, early summer is another great time to visit when you'll see the Tennessee coneflower following the sun. I think you will be enchanted by the glade's stark beauty. I always feel awe when I'm there.<p></p><p>xoxogail</p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlaWHgSkG27Ad5oTRu7or4cAihoxYBgZkGS-6vS8FETwrHGDKgFtIuXTEVeyNUdbYgZmY6hcLxcyRAHfs1GURkxsPDFBzHbkcXgPb58bHm9L7M7oqtTs5iCr2P_DtqeOOUN5nF_-TV6QYVdiy0As50pTXbw_97NysscjeRHCK1FBAHII-Bc0sS9KgJT8/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlaWHgSkG27Ad5oTRu7or4cAihoxYBgZkGS-6vS8FETwrHGDKgFtIuXTEVeyNUdbYgZmY6hcLxcyRAHfs1GURkxsPDFBzHbkcXgPb58bHm9L7M7oqtTs5iCr2P_DtqeOOUN5nF_-TV6QYVdiy0As50pTXbw_97NysscjeRHCK1FBAHII-Bc0sS9KgJT8/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you
comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-60227632108815383082024-02-07T05:00:00.205-06:002024-02-07T06:13:58.308-06:00First Wednesday Challenge: Gardening Is For The Birds<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2VpLeplbPs4rtoSclOgWSoQnrmkVdQDJLx0P9YmhTx-t0RdhByPKgkfDo3PvuyK0cHda-sQSbelHjy3qa8j-GXh0p-anKLULsaC2MVXGk1VvvKJ3FEHfPWhYXAa_WGs2W2zPgZnfP0-WdASIlGO-S442wWLqxu64GW3ywr4-LSWDQUk4i0wvNpXNgiA/s640/DSC_0034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="547" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2VpLeplbPs4rtoSclOgWSoQnrmkVdQDJLx0P9YmhTx-t0RdhByPKgkfDo3PvuyK0cHda-sQSbelHjy3qa8j-GXh0p-anKLULsaC2MVXGk1VvvKJ3FEHfPWhYXAa_WGs2W2zPgZnfP0-WdASIlGO-S442wWLqxu64GW3ywr4-LSWDQUk4i0wvNpXNgiA/w548-h640/DSC_0034.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> ...and for the bees, beetles, insects, mammals, spiders and other critters that live and visit our gardens. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgif70Ub5dU57gUAJsmNJ5Pp21zaLVN64Axgv9QlIuylxJY2YfUGST_c26IhNeXrqS2CZlMDEqgT8L3VMn-DYWgjoJLT7N_hPpgkD5Kjrqcll-B-eWHvn-PBJmTpw_bLfOWJ2HyGC1IOPAb3r75eqErGapwLgxgTAgMsuUBCRK_eUJFJwG_w435s4K8k/s640/DSCF6431.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgif70Ub5dU57gUAJsmNJ5Pp21zaLVN64Axgv9QlIuylxJY2YfUGST_c26IhNeXrqS2CZlMDEqgT8L3VMn-DYWgjoJLT7N_hPpgkD5Kjrqcll-B-eWHvn-PBJmTpw_bLfOWJ2HyGC1IOPAb3r75eqErGapwLgxgTAgMsuUBCRK_eUJFJwG_w435s4K8k/w510-h640/DSCF6431.JPG" width="510" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This month's challenge is all about birds. February is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Bird-Feeding_Month" target="_blank">National Bird Feeding Month</a>. The month was created to educate the public on the seasonal journeys of birds, and for people to provide some aid at the height of winter when birds need it most. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcvucwPMz6v0dwBUwKUEUxQOjCmnVYjf9UiZATz3Dd1dn_-suGTtRDirskXBC2ElWTECSl-TS817thfb88YNClRfhtafd6-p5VkllhT-Y44AlWH6f93Q3M7QD6uQ01aMJym31S_AFwU6vEwqAsNxmYHXm1BQEynhtId0ZI1h5FLoCKPuySGM1RkCfBis/s640/DSCF6452.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="640" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcvucwPMz6v0dwBUwKUEUxQOjCmnVYjf9UiZATz3Dd1dn_-suGTtRDirskXBC2ElWTECSl-TS817thfb88YNClRfhtafd6-p5VkllhT-Y44AlWH6f93Q3M7QD6uQ01aMJym31S_AFwU6vEwqAsNxmYHXm1BQEynhtId0ZI1h5FLoCKPuySGM1RkCfBis/w640-h562/DSCF6452.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>How and when did this designation begin? Turns out
it all started in February of 1994 when John Porter, a Republican
representative from Illinois, proposed it in the United States House of
Representatives. Go here to read his <a href="https://www.audubonpark.com/blog/national-bird-feeding-month" target="_blank">proclamation</a>.<br /></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVfwaAiGKUooCMF60d_eZzmBDPhYoFOirdXDHlmC3XEFy3IOMl4uit9cl3KYxVN1eJCcZ9oS7XSBjwzp8v-ow-vCAtbvr_dupiKhSAUegQ_WYHzywHSjTmf4WwcUMpjvhbENYqpEGRpp7UlangvR-pi3u5PuZB7bW4ZSNWeKEBmp7NtrHSarbXK9LlGA/s640/DSCF1935.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="640" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLVfwaAiGKUooCMF60d_eZzmBDPhYoFOirdXDHlmC3XEFy3IOMl4uit9cl3KYxVN1eJCcZ9oS7XSBjwzp8v-ow-vCAtbvr_dupiKhSAUegQ_WYHzywHSjTmf4WwcUMpjvhbENYqpEGRpp7UlangvR-pi3u5PuZB7bW4ZSNWeKEBmp7NtrHSarbXK9LlGA/w640-h590/DSCF1935.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div>This year’s theme is “Winter Comforts — Feed the Birds and Keep Them
Happy and Healthy.” I think it's a fabulous theme. Don't you!<br /><p></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRRKwN5l4Lg9MlXMU4PC2H9gm4afqlpJ1sLgEW46E0v3pPyoE3v7pfVLmKwyfHrCXbLhtBa9abVGZf2UDid9PelhQ8SG0g_M369-cGKEHdegU0zFQaYLEMWFeXcFKIjCNRrJDcBBoPPYHx2qv1V0dO7CdXKI_UmCNlhwfE-fLVS5uQ0F9ZYFhYgEAhC4/s640/DSCF6654.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="640" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRRKwN5l4Lg9MlXMU4PC2H9gm4afqlpJ1sLgEW46E0v3pPyoE3v7pfVLmKwyfHrCXbLhtBa9abVGZf2UDid9PelhQ8SG0g_M369-cGKEHdegU0zFQaYLEMWFeXcFKIjCNRrJDcBBoPPYHx2qv1V0dO7CdXKI_UmCNlhwfE-fLVS5uQ0F9ZYFhYgEAhC4/w640-h618/DSCF6654.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Here's an Incomplete list of things we can do to feed the birds and keep them happy and healthy:<br /></b></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Plant native plants that not only provide food for birds, but are also host plants for the insects that most birds need to feed their young.</li><li>Reducing lawns: With more than 63 million acres of lawn and 4 million miles of paved road in the U.S. alone, there is huge potential to support wildlife by replacing lawns with native plants. </li><li>Clean your feeders. Get you hummingbird feeeders cleaned and ready for hummers. </li><li>Keep your feeders filled with food birds prefer. Our bird visitors especially love The best foods include sunflower seeds, thistle, nuts, suet, and millet. Our bluebirds love mealy worms.</li><li>Sweets, bread, popcorn, and potato chips are not healthy for birds.<br /></li><li>Make sure the bird food is fresh and not moldy after sitting in the feeders for long periods of time. <br /></li><li>Always have fresh water...year round. I use a heater for my birdbaths. They work.</li><li>Clean out bird houses and repair them if necessary.</li><li>Get binoculars to observe the birds in your garden and at the feeders</li><li>Take photos and share them on social media and your neighborhood listserves.</li><li>Get your kids/grandkids involved. The Audubon Society has a list of <a href="https://www.audubon.org/news/six-kid-friendly-bird-guides" target="_blank">kid friendly bird id books</a>.</li><li>Learn bird songs</li><li>Use <a href="https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/" target="_blank">Merlin</a> the free Bird Id ap to help you id bird calls and songs. </li><li> Turn lights out at night...This is especially helpful while birds are migrating </li><li>Treat large reflective windows to keep birds from crashing in to them.</li><li>Keep your cat indoors. Cats are estimated to kill more than 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S. </li><li>Cornell Lab suggests we switch to bird friendly coffees. Go <a href="https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/get-involved/10-ways-to-help-birds/">here</a> to find out whys. </li><li>Participate in the<a href="https://www.birdcount.org/" target="_blank"> Great Backyard Bird Count</a> February 16-19th, 2024. <a href="https://www.birdcount.org/webinar/" target="_blank">Sign up for a GBYBC webinar</a></li><li>Be smart and read about how to <a href="https://www.wbfi.org/assets/pdf/WBFI_FeedSmart_Trifold_Draft_Good/" target="_blank">prevent diseases at the feeder</a>. </li><li>Get involved with groups/organizations that are working to protect birds.</li><li>Never use rodenticides. They pose a big threat to birds of prey due to rodents being a primary source of their food.<br /></li><li>Never, ever, ever use pesticides. I mean never.<br /></li></ol><p> xoxogail</p><b>Here's a recap of what the First Wednesday Monthly Challenge</b>is all about.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/s640/DSCF6899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/w620-h640/DSCF6899.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;">Want to Take the Taking Care of Wildlife In Our Gardens Challenge?</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
first part</b> of this challenge is to do something, even lots of
things each month that support the critters living in our gardens.
Gardening with native wildflowers, shrubs and trees that make sense for
our ecoregion is a good place to start or continue (as the case may be).
Plants and their pollinators are a classic example of mutualism: they
have coevolved through evolutionary time in a reciprocal beneficial
relationship. This is also true for other critters that visit and live
in our gardens. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The second part</b> of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! <b>Why post
it?</b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals, including humans, that live all around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern
cedar and hackberry trees are cut down. Insects, birds, even mammals
lose their home site and food supplies when we lose trees. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">During construction
soil is compacted by bulldozers, trucks and piles of
debris cause runoff; surface runoff that can carry pollution to
streams and rivers. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It's
important that our neighbors and our community have information about how important trees
are to our ecosystem. Trees contribute to their environment by providing
oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water,
preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>,
fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, native grasses (in my
neighborhood it's poverty oat grass) and sedges, they're being sodded
with non-native grasses. These monoculture turf lawns contribute </span><span style="font-size: medium;">nothing environmentally. Here's what we lose when our diverse lawns are replaced with </span><span style="font-size: medium;">pristine turf grass:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
are the lightening bugs.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
is plant diversity. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is a healthy foodweb.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It breaks my
heart.</span> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We can't stop the <i>progmess</i>, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters and ultimately helping the environment. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>A gardener can hope! </b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>xoxoGail <br /></b></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/s1468/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1468" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/w640-h598/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, and things you can do for and/or in your community. But don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking for ways to get involved go<a href="https://tcwp.org/environmental-organizations/" target="_blank"> here for a list of environmental advocacy groups.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get in the garden with your children and grandchildren.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/s4080/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/w301-h400/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) </span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/s640/P7190018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/w480-h640/P7190018.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
for bloom from late spring to early winter. Bees are most active from
February to November (longer in mild climates) late winter blooming <i>Hamamelis vernalis</i>
and the earliest spring ephemerals (like the toothworts, hepaticas,
spring beauties, and False rue-anemeone) are perfect plants for a
variety of pollinators.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a rain garden in low spots to collect and mitigate runoff. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/s640/DSCF7505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="640" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/w640-h512/DSCF7505.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall and need a soft landing site and a place to live over the winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow
a fallen tree to remain in the garden. Limbs on the ground are a
perfect shelter for small animals such as rabbits, chipmunks and
squirrels and a habitat for beetles, termites and other insects. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/s640/DSCF6027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/w400-h300/DSCF6027.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs". Bugs are also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and they're great bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> You can observe visitors to your water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group you can join the national organization. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>. Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on designing with native plants.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join the <a href="https://www.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Support
trees by joining the effort to make sure developers don't remove more
trees than are necessary for their project. Work to make sure there are
tree removal permits and that they are actually enforced in your
community.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-23509160808102091512024-01-24T05:00:00.163-06:002024-01-24T19:30:34.874-06:00 Wildflower Wednesday: Winter Sowing For More Wildflowers<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdBhDy7FkIVh7vVjSLKCgFHR3_TM7j3rS89LYGmgX4VuAR-T17j-oJfYRGBz1dI5N8uHHqGhm9PK60b34JbIvzcvyENWXy0WrbjuObKRP9S0ELtM8Eil9LIp5o7f_kIfw57-NWIP3m3sosJZDctT_-X2v7oTHHm2Z5xiPlYY0CGEDYKt36_KMW4Tt84o/s1232/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-21%20at%2010.01.38%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdBhDy7FkIVh7vVjSLKCgFHR3_TM7j3rS89LYGmgX4VuAR-T17j-oJfYRGBz1dI5N8uHHqGhm9PK60b34JbIvzcvyENWXy0WrbjuObKRP9S0ELtM8Eil9LIp5o7f_kIfw57-NWIP3m3sosJZDctT_-X2v7oTHHm2Z5xiPlYY0CGEDYKt36_KMW4Tt84o/w636-h640/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-21%20at%2010.01.38%20AM.png" width="636" /></a></div><br />I am dreaming of spring and thumbing through seed catalogs helps me dream! An actual catalog has corners to fold over and pages to write upon. I love reading the descriptions of the plants, seeing photos of them in natural settings and then imagining them in my garden. <br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX11gZXsXHsVaZHxu7XMddrbGaAmppKcCNnZfQnGzNJqgCti4DJ4kMQpDpIDEsngFnp8Jz4ihMJNAv7n5IWTvGR1X6bzF661RLj8QNUXlRtwxLoDYM1p_3wjir29ZjNEdymLfIst5siYBMXdSsFgnwLb7_ox9Lm9Dkv2dH9aFFxHYjbeFz5i3PCFJ1VTk/s2194/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.13.52%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1418" data-original-width="2194" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX11gZXsXHsVaZHxu7XMddrbGaAmppKcCNnZfQnGzNJqgCti4DJ4kMQpDpIDEsngFnp8Jz4ihMJNAv7n5IWTvGR1X6bzF661RLj8QNUXlRtwxLoDYM1p_3wjir29ZjNEdymLfIst5siYBMXdSsFgnwLb7_ox9Lm9Dkv2dH9aFFxHYjbeFz5i3PCFJ1VTk/w640-h414/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.13.52%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> A great seed catalog is about more than selling pretty flowers. My favorite seed/plant catalogs do a wonderful job of organizing and presenting plants and their cultural information. Every wildflower, grass, or sedge they offer is shown with detailed information including genus, species, common name, germination guide, sun, soil, bloom, color, height and even a few comments. Catalogs that include this kind of detailed information are great teaching tools for gardeners wanting to learn about wildflowers and their cultural requirements. When you find this information included, you know immediately that the nursery owners want you to find the right plants for your prairie restoration, native habitat or new wildflower garden.<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmsfRRLxr9NCEgmEwDwivx3ov77rm6HI9ISiuOfSrz2_dpYcU9E0kEg-KxmyTUavhAls1wcrrbm88iBLMuPdMa66IjFMON8QdgLr2iWPvBTFjNS0qyZL2cBf17DE045NAQcOS5NK2tkcwrX4FKLDowQWPOnpqRz2Cto5Y1sRLUKk_vblWZJfCn_VPRdc/s1924/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.36.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1914" data-original-width="1924" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmsfRRLxr9NCEgmEwDwivx3ov77rm6HI9ISiuOfSrz2_dpYcU9E0kEg-KxmyTUavhAls1wcrrbm88iBLMuPdMa66IjFMON8QdgLr2iWPvBTFjNS0qyZL2cBf17DE045NAQcOS5NK2tkcwrX4FKLDowQWPOnpqRz2Cto5Y1sRLUKk_vblWZJfCn_VPRdc/w640-h636/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.36.39%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dogbane seeds<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>I've been a toss the seeds on the soil in the fall and see if they germinate kind of gardener. But, honestly, I've not had the best success from direct sowing in my sloped garden. Winter rains either rot the seeds or wash them away. Then there are the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/09/wildflower-wednesday-rough-and-tumble.html" target="_blank">rough and tumble wildflowers</a> like <i><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2021/09/another-rough-and-tumble-wildflower.html" target="_blank">Verbesina virginica</a></i>, <i>Symphyotrichum novae-angliae and</i> <i><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/09/whats-wrong-with-goldenrod.html" target="_blank">Solidago</a></i>, that reproduce on their own just fine and have a habit of crowding the garden space making it tough for some plants to get a toe hold in the soil. So, I am going to experiment with winter sowing a few wildflowers and planting them in the spring. I may even transplant them to larger containers for fall planting. <p></p><p>Most perennial wildflower seeds need some kind of stratification to germinate.
Stratification happens naturally over the winter when seeds ripen on the plants and then fall to the
ground where they are covered with leaves or decaying plant matter all winter long. Seeds remain dormant until conditions are favorable for germination. Winter
exposure to cold temperatures (cold/moist stratification occurs around 35-40F.) and moist conditions breaks dormancy and
the seeds germinate (the embryo's cells start to enlarge) when temperatures increase in the spring. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyYAgDPVuCOi65a8LyBESx2VOmJpMBPZvbJfEauJ6_gEyrJ-5ClJxZohdsBcKzMFaxEAQJzTRxHK2poNJXBrxDc512dMCVP9Venq9bWB1ViXJV-tMTyfbAC6O7spizz4N2PNdGrpfPL_k0JooAA7E3MfupYfqIu8-JG0YFG1mlgQZVIWfAv8jb-utLuc/s1898/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.33.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="1898" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyYAgDPVuCOi65a8LyBESx2VOmJpMBPZvbJfEauJ6_gEyrJ-5ClJxZohdsBcKzMFaxEAQJzTRxHK2poNJXBrxDc512dMCVP9Venq9bWB1ViXJV-tMTyfbAC6O7spizz4N2PNdGrpfPL_k0JooAA7E3MfupYfqIu8-JG0YFG1mlgQZVIWfAv8jb-utLuc/w640-h636/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.33.41%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">milkweed fluff caught on Goldenrod </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Winter sowing is the process of planting seeds outdoors in a container during the winter months. The containers get rained on, snowed on and the seeds get both the cold treatment and moisture they need to make them ready to germinate when it gets warm. I use a variety of containers to winter sow, including tall skinny nursery pots (for some trees) and clear plastic gallon jugs, which I am using for this post. In early spring I will sow annuals and perennials that don't need a cold treatment to germinate in seed trays.<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLq-Wearlq_BNbCOgxERvtMRZNWkUic_FKRylwU5ofDDIX-OCYOylhgobtPHI6hqsFohjE3UE3rbEnRLNVNKNeERTHCcdPjugmdmVGIYAx9WXE-Su9CRzdY9A0zYK1ucpsjzrvvNg6znPugDmoMuzSI15f3jCyLTiud9tcQdx-RGs1Zhz4Iq4mI4lhfU/s1192/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.58.28%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="1044" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkLq-Wearlq_BNbCOgxERvtMRZNWkUic_FKRylwU5ofDDIX-OCYOylhgobtPHI6hqsFohjE3UE3rbEnRLNVNKNeERTHCcdPjugmdmVGIYAx9WXE-Su9CRzdY9A0zYK1ucpsjzrvvNg6znPugDmoMuzSI15f3jCyLTiud9tcQdx-RGs1Zhz4Iq4mI4lhfU/w560-h640/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%203.58.28%20PM.png" width="560" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Clematis viorna </i>seeds need 90 days cold stratification</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><br /> <p>Here’s what folks all over the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/917952252613388" target="_blank">internet</a> have suggested and what I did.<br /></p><p>1. Collect a bunch of clear plastic containers. We are a household of two and don't get milk in big gallon containers, but many of my friends and neighbors do and they gladly shared them with me. I am so appreciative of their saving them and in some cases dropping them off at my house!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakVjDgdAZ_ARB64m8DsRBcgsyPCVKhKDIN8_XNzTd4NBVY7iUvDp5qZ8fjTMIuUBRgpODl6B-mdNGPgSWNREzr5beIFV1cn3x9w2wsSCpXzjRVe-QG-MObm224gOu2yk-6S42CsFOw-_Qn6jrwgnmmAiifG-nFskILrwumUE1h1s3AnIi4RDe3AvZrRs/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.17.57%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="888" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakVjDgdAZ_ARB64m8DsRBcgsyPCVKhKDIN8_XNzTd4NBVY7iUvDp5qZ8fjTMIuUBRgpODl6B-mdNGPgSWNREzr5beIFV1cn3x9w2wsSCpXzjRVe-QG-MObm224gOu2yk-6S42CsFOw-_Qn6jrwgnmmAiifG-nFskILrwumUE1h1s3AnIi4RDe3AvZrRs/w278-h400/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.17.57%20PM.png" width="278" /></a></div><br /><p>1b. You can winter sow in almost anything. Opaque milk and water jugs, food containers with clear plastic tops, two-liter soda bottles take-out containers with clear plastic lids and even foil pans with clear lids. The key is to have a container that's at least 4 inches deep.<br /></p><p>2. Clean them. Those generous neighbors and friends gave me clean containers!</p><p>3. Poke holes in the containers on the bottom for drainage and the top for rain/melting snow to enter. </p><p>4. Cut around the jug but leave the handle in place. It functions as a hinge at the handle. I used scissors for cutting most containers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMOAl9unrhVYG0cVqX8BiEVUx80Z21SQWo3rLqxPwCDfTq4N7cgTi8N2OTSXMkUaFLjR3SwOOnahlAYZBw21ruHGaylc_ioKUZFHPTrfC_mUXLG2k3AfYV9PtLnTeEcgcJuqVYdn9TWR0plZxdvB04BPddOVre2M4CLBZ7BhuVKQLcafL89FBIK7R0_U/s1536/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.33.09%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMOAl9unrhVYG0cVqX8BiEVUx80Z21SQWo3rLqxPwCDfTq4N7cgTi8N2OTSXMkUaFLjR3SwOOnahlAYZBw21ruHGaylc_ioKUZFHPTrfC_mUXLG2k3AfYV9PtLnTeEcgcJuqVYdn9TWR0plZxdvB04BPddOVre2M4CLBZ7BhuVKQLcafL89FBIK7R0_U/w331-h400/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.33.09%20PM.png" width="331" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>5. Add about 4 inches of <b>moist</b> potting soil to the container. I let it sit to settle ...</p><p>6. Plant seed. Some seeds need to sit directly on the soil and others need to be lightly covered. Thos great catalogs should give you this info. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ9xnBEzIi-qYhTUz3djEUdCeiOACYT0AjpvGkv_pXMYiHCrpHK8DJUsMVagt9bPnLLpYBOMx6HxjEZK0On3wTLVI5_3Tr3q1lgHR4W36gmleX4zSIQFX3GFhDODyStQNVn1zpBZjvd5c2ii8kjV2FPkXm_sGUCgou0AvuhmWvdtMLHurK-tvfLX0geA/s1754/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.33.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1266" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJ9xnBEzIi-qYhTUz3djEUdCeiOACYT0AjpvGkv_pXMYiHCrpHK8DJUsMVagt9bPnLLpYBOMx6HxjEZK0On3wTLVI5_3Tr3q1lgHR4W36gmleX4zSIQFX3GFhDODyStQNVn1zpBZjvd5c2ii8kjV2FPkXm_sGUCgou0AvuhmWvdtMLHurK-tvfLX0geA/w462-h640/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.33.22%20PM.png" width="462" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>7. Tape the containers closed and toss the lids.</p><p>8. Write on the container the plant name and any other identifying info you want with a permanent marker. I also numbered each of mine and kept a list in case the name washed off.</p><p>9. Place them in shade. I placed mine in a kiddie swimming pool that has many holes punched so it drains.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFjWiJV7fTp1Kq0r5IbpkwSL3qw5jLpnR6YvuoZoC3KLsa9Gde1FLbrfZZGj5OhBA-u5XqVps_ERQky33JqAj9Mkp5rQbiBKUQ-Yamo1cknbXgAEKWWl8yCVT7vBAe82_AghyAmurI1KPBMOrQ63WzmnAu61RYqDmvzGL-naU_sBz3zKuxK5y2OOdCY/s1338/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.49.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1338" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMPFjWiJV7fTp1Kq0r5IbpkwSL3qw5jLpnR6YvuoZoC3KLsa9Gde1FLbrfZZGj5OhBA-u5XqVps_ERQky33JqAj9Mkp5rQbiBKUQ-Yamo1cknbXgAEKWWl8yCVT7vBAe82_AghyAmurI1KPBMOrQ63WzmnAu61RYqDmvzGL-naU_sBz3zKuxK5y2OOdCY/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.49.01%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It snowed before I could finish sowing</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>10. Wait patiently for spring, but, check periodically to see if they need water. I grow in the mid south and this might be necessary.</p><p>11. Plants emerge when they’re ready! Expect a few to sprout when it gets warm, some may take weeks or months longer. </p><p> </p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6FRaRi33cCXoyQ6uLc2l3Cc1STiXTAmGURok03AMJv0G6hhlf29IeRsPkf9lArFFNzjPtbXw7j5e46HGtwzJuVDa9MIum_OeK7QDXTIYnk4UUnMvPeJnUewIHtYbfnGKsNpk62D_YElz5mU5CixGVop-cLH1jF6sdystANm2ZivWa30cvG5DW4wfmrw/s1188/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.18.09%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1006" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6FRaRi33cCXoyQ6uLc2l3Cc1STiXTAmGURok03AMJv0G6hhlf29IeRsPkf9lArFFNzjPtbXw7j5e46HGtwzJuVDa9MIum_OeK7QDXTIYnk4UUnMvPeJnUewIHtYbfnGKsNpk62D_YElz5mU5CixGVop-cLH1jF6sdystANm2ZivWa30cvG5DW4wfmrw/w339-h400/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-22%20at%204.18.09%20PM.png" width="339" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Porteranthus stipulatus</i> seed collection</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>I am winter sowing the seeds I've collected in my garden and ones I've ordered from trusted sources. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPJpYM0279PpFWm-c6UcMyHAdmeNiR0bIQsuV_qWBQJLRdgTmPfJgAOhNYBpGkCQb6mIlD0xzKUrkKDMUkkOkne_fX4VSiTpg6pSk-ivKQYXBLZCYmD5YRHgcMfDmZS7_ZyGjr70it8rsH3_0LA6DzjqGSpGDNJzE7ECo6h18fMBF9-d2EQuMLOAbETw/s640/P9220190-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPJpYM0279PpFWm-c6UcMyHAdmeNiR0bIQsuV_qWBQJLRdgTmPfJgAOhNYBpGkCQb6mIlD0xzKUrkKDMUkkOkne_fX4VSiTpg6pSk-ivKQYXBLZCYmD5YRHgcMfDmZS7_ZyGjr70it8rsH3_0LA6DzjqGSpGDNJzE7ECo6h18fMBF9-d2EQuMLOAbETw/w640-h480/P9220190-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Partridge pea was sown several falls ago and now self seeds </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Here's an incomplete list of plants that you might want to try winter sowing. </p><p><i>Asclepias </i></p><p><i>Rudbeckia</i></p><p>Columbine</p><p><i>Vernonia</i></p><p><i>Hypericum</i></p><p>Perennial sunflowers</p><p><i>Amsonias</i></p><p>Downy Woodmints</p><p><i>Agastache</i></p><p>Mountain Mints</p><p><i>Baptisia</i></p><p><i>Bidens</i></p><p><i>Boltonia</i> (don't cover seeds)</p><p><i>Carex</i></p><p>Seeds that drop earlier in summer may need a warm period followed by a cold period. I usually let them reseed. <br /></p><p><b> Why winter sow</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Seeds are protected. They don't wash away in a heavy rain.They aren't eaten by critters. They don't dry out in the wind. They don't rot in too wet soil. </li><li>Seeds do not need to be hardened off before planting in the garden. </li><li>Winter sowing is ideal for those with limited indoor space for seed starting. </li><li>No special lighting or equipment is required for germination. </li><li>Many container choices for propagating.<br /></li><li>It's fun.</li><li>It's a fun/interesting project with your kids or grandkids. </li><li>You can grow plants that are hard to find at local nurseries.</li><li>It's a great way to increase both the number of plants and the diversity of species in your garden.</li><li>You will feel so good when they germinate.</li><li>Seriously cheaper than buying dozens of plants.<br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>I hope this is inspirational for you. Many of you still have time to winter sow. Plus, there are a lot of perennials and annuals that don't need 60 to 90 days of cold stratification. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUPWAcbQbPyLNqKCEs8j-Yqe24PKfDsQrGpaLBR5AWEvoZU_k_xhN5yJDZ8u6Rk0rZmgzcHUynrQ9igmyV4ALCi1Qa5K6TNjSV6UEreBKQfeDRVBhRz2xrhyArpC8RZiFoxHUKhwbwwP60hp46-882_kVHZ4nbXHgTdon4ghRzUUox4CwWXlQcg6Fn5c/s4608/P9290017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUPWAcbQbPyLNqKCEs8j-Yqe24PKfDsQrGpaLBR5AWEvoZU_k_xhN5yJDZ8u6Rk0rZmgzcHUynrQ9igmyV4ALCi1Qa5K6TNjSV6UEreBKQfeDRVBhRz2xrhyArpC8RZiFoxHUKhwbwwP60hp46-882_kVHZ4nbXHgTdon4ghRzUUox4CwWXlQcg6Fn5c/w640-h480/P9290017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> I sure hope there's room for all the plants I've sown!<br /></p><p>xoxogail</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mHHVKZeF564ysMn2tz5Ns0_ttUfIITgCF3VOJz_02q13B2zrMScP-tdVTiDHfQEE-u4vKoWbc9OF9hbBnO84tyhGM43zMvIDGWI0UlKEU4r0hrZaSNnTBwpTVROLy2j7BTY2u2X6dsNVvSwQxTPhUp-gM-QuJi59UN9UscGLJZINJSyvqqRJmZpOPuA/s1240/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-23%20at%206.57.06%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1240" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mHHVKZeF564ysMn2tz5Ns0_ttUfIITgCF3VOJz_02q13B2zrMScP-tdVTiDHfQEE-u4vKoWbc9OF9hbBnO84tyhGM43zMvIDGWI0UlKEU4r0hrZaSNnTBwpTVROLy2j7BTY2u2X6dsNVvSwQxTPhUp-gM-QuJi59UN9UscGLJZINJSyvqqRJmZpOPuA/w400-h321/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-23%20at%206.57.06%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.w.schaefer" target="_blank">Laura</a> for this quote</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> </p><p>PS Watch for the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2024/01/first-wednesday-taking-care-of-wildlife.html" target="_blank">First Wednesday Taking Care Of Wildlife In Our Gardens Challenge</a>. The First Wednesday of every month.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4u-S47ZIcQXzHdj93uuUP1ylhx1Alaegp-NvxDn1DPETpSACkY1XCOua8NoFUD-cJfYHabVv9Jy7W5gKPpTKBDoshO1rDleSVsY6vd4MzTAS26ZX4aU_SQi0oObTohLKtn6dFFOrUXW04WXB5kRty33dGh-KvXSdmbYAwHP_zvdbbMhOb4fwc8WZ0frY/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4u-S47ZIcQXzHdj93uuUP1ylhx1Alaegp-NvxDn1DPETpSACkY1XCOua8NoFUD-cJfYHabVv9Jy7W5gKPpTKBDoshO1rDleSVsY6vd4MzTAS26ZX4aU_SQi0oObTohLKtn6dFFOrUXW04WXB5kRty33dGh-KvXSdmbYAwHP_zvdbbMhOb4fwc8WZ0frY/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><p><b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you
comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-57949801934322556562024-01-03T05:00:00.204-06:002024-01-05T19:47:10.476-06:00 First Wednesday: Taking Care of Wildlife In Our Gardens Challenge <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/s640/DSCF6899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="619" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVQu_xfXCtzXHKHUM10zopTQQB4lSQrFZz71sDs9DsqWoK4CFnx3iT2OaA31tU0YR1BpzZQZsTalElIfTv_akogMJi55I_h64BmbrJbsodtWLGTy2sr9QltBleISeNQJw777v_73ymsuVllu1dKC5ymCkk5icqM47x6HuPJrZoge5EwBAR7swhFa4_c/w620-h640/DSCF6899.jpg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><span style="font-size: large;">Want to Take the Taking Care of Wildlife In Our Gardens Challenge?</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The
first part</b> of this challenge is to do something or even lots of things each month that supports critters living in our gardens. Gardening with native wildflowers, shrubs and trees that make sense for our ecoregion is a good place to start or continue (as the case may be). Plants and their pollinators are a classic example of mutualism: they have coevolved through evolutionary time in a reciprocal beneficial relationship. This is also true for other critters that visit and live in our gardens. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The second part</b> of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! <b>Why post
it?</b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals, including humans, that live all around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees are cut down. Insects, birds, even mammals lose their home site and food supplies when trees are cut down. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">During construction
soil is compacted by bulldozers, trucks and piles of
debris causing runoff; surface runoff that can carry pollution to
streams and rivers. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">It's important that our neighbors have information about how important trees are to our ecosystem. Trees contribute to their environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, climate amelioration, conserving water, preserving soil, and supporting wildlife. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, native grasses (in my neighborhood it's poverty oat grass) and sedges, they're sodded
with non-native grasses. These monoculture turf lawns contribute </span><span style="font-size: medium;">nothing environmentally. Here's what we lose when our diverse lawns are replaced with </span><span style="font-size: medium;">pristine turf grass:</span></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
are the lightening bugs.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone
is plant diversity. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. </span></li><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Gone is a healthy foodweb.<br /></span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> It breaks my
heart.</span> </p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>We can't stop the <i>progmess</i>, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters and ultimately helping the environment. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>A gardener can hope! </b></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><b>xoxoGail <br /></b></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/s1468/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1468" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3bQvF-7P9ynYf81xxcsveaUFLDLTy0hHdKGxCkbBfnD6Sgg0XIzbNe9hlck7w1RDilP1BCa2J5oge5E7sTVIyxsyqqq_JlWHQAJdfJy0TJlohawgugbKSug-TFU52Vj4dSeZ2C0rTKWBGD6nznhEuHoMHhFe8WMLL6_f51NpsBxY8KbWv8kewH87Ks/w640-h598/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.01.23%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>January: One activity I will be participating in: </b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKhFVH7yDgvHgZC05hJJ1QYjytUPcg1CHv9hel29FtDWerTJmZ-tPJH_cj2aaJC6DdmWrycu_dA-f3iZgAhkqVxbZiVWuWUf4-rdSanq7sx53eP0cGE7Wowxv7n9jNrPdDrcQg3x1gou7AQ9rXqjEcsY7qoFW6SmUjxHtie0KoEAn3LU9Mxaxx5euef8/s1880/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.06.44%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1880" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKhFVH7yDgvHgZC05hJJ1QYjytUPcg1CHv9hel29FtDWerTJmZ-tPJH_cj2aaJC6DdmWrycu_dA-f3iZgAhkqVxbZiVWuWUf4-rdSanq7sx53eP0cGE7Wowxv7n9jNrPdDrcQg3x1gou7AQ9rXqjEcsY7qoFW6SmUjxHtie0KoEAn3LU9Mxaxx5euef8/w640-h309/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-01%20at%203.06.44%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/events/" target="_blank"> to register go here</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, and things you can do for and/or in your community. But don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Looking for ways to get involved go<a href="https://tcwp.org/environmental-organizations/" target="_blank"> here for a list of environmental advocacy groups.</a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get in the garden with your children and grandchildren.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/s4080/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4080" data-original-width="3072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XsCzAK9wyB-C_u4kBcld6emGfQLY7lFccfmCQvV5togDyHl_0sU1dAGVeKfYKj5ARZJfMxmyw2olEZKETEDSIrDVQUlDeWXXhT69QF9lMgJL0EyKVKjXWgIRvww75uK1G254hRAauE3gXX97q-hOpEEb-egZdhYugbZuJ90HAHuS4_JzBiz9vT4Ik2E/w301-h400/PXL_20231001_162903717.MP.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) </span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/s640/P7190018.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKMKuKQGhUvoE0bPX4yT58wpqOlsBVTUksmgwpyukioV8VyRVPXP0F8BjMY3gTal1kbqnWvlATDzUyJBYPi7vPOWxRpQGbMpIxbjGAVIjd5RTTJ3cNmqRCXF0V329lkbA8r7UZvU0lg5lgIXcGAXJYO_jNKW7DTT6NpE-ldq58mzTV5O51DYk8u8ZyOQ/w480-h640/P7190018.JPG" width="480" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant for bloom from late spring to early winter. Bees are most active from February to November (longer in mild climates) late winter blooming <i>Hamamelis vernalis</i> and the earliest spring ephemerals (like the toothworts, hepaticas, spring beauties, and False rue-anemeone) are perfect plants for a variety of pollinators.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a rain garden in low spots to collect and mitigate runoff. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/s640/DSCF7505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="640" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM563uMgETTa89QDO0QJB9ikP3TlHRVGqDkpaMADB06YAjqWS-0vF-kBKK2m-kGhNSHUA3xIXKVXVqdR7XFOgmFClWIDrWL6jxB-u6rurVfE2jQLu7aiq0DuryrjATChSNu-zNDgtxpUFJotsrWuYMk4mKepNGszM48FlNZaTc5I4PBveB4BV2YTXYy_Y/w640-h512/DSCF7505.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall and need a soft landing site and a place to live over the winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Allow a fallen tree to remain in the garden. Limbs on the ground are a perfect shelter for small animals such as rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels and a habitat for beetles, termites and other insects. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/s640/DSCF6027.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuaqGpL82vWWG7Y4q_ZgaalR6kK2FEkcbjijTeMoPzEhQWuO_RFO9yEEUlNFhFcqQi_VuoKvvD8xFrX2waDjMYxuEr8Xbr6wJvD2VsOPgloJAv5j3fdy0RmiryiTcHnK7mK3V_scGzo3pzKm8KmUAzez0WT7SkHQan2HeHAB6yBxwruxEGPxp8zpHfABY/w400-h300/DSCF6027.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs". Bugs are also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and they're great bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> You can observe visitors to your water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group you can join the national organization. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>. Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on designing with native plants.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join the <a href="https://www.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Support trees by joining the effort to make sure developers don't remove more trees than are necessary for their project. Work to make sure there are tree removal permits and that they are actually enforced in your community.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-9430142949272510902023-12-27T05:00:00.034-06:002023-12-27T05:00:00.134-06:002023 Wildflower Wednesday Roundup<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUX48AWZ6qE8XiO_bPugLuzWIDDbzAgFPjlaMGpFs6lZ1nWGxmoASxC_WuQJreOgpZAXZpk1240OJfVdiDRiRgt7V95wufUZWmgu2REQkc4WT7k-wK8ECgwH06Q1J2e4XnxgSiwZDaeJamfFazga_w8kX5OznMb2gj5L7LxBgmSrdNrgx5ivS4cNFk90/s640/Screen%20shot%202015-12-04%20at%207.53.54%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="640" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUX48AWZ6qE8XiO_bPugLuzWIDDbzAgFPjlaMGpFs6lZ1nWGxmoASxC_WuQJreOgpZAXZpk1240OJfVdiDRiRgt7V95wufUZWmgu2REQkc4WT7k-wK8ECgwH06Q1J2e4XnxgSiwZDaeJamfFazga_w8kX5OznMb2gj5L7LxBgmSrdNrgx5ivS4cNFk90/w640-h494/Screen%20shot%202015-12-04%20at%207.53.54%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hypericum frondosum's </i></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">color is still happening in the garden</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I love gardening in the Middle South, but, this has been an especially challenging year. Droughts are a regular occurrence in Tennessee’s climate, but, the one
we experienced throughout the late summer and fall has been devastating. I
fear for shrubs and trees and wonder if I will see the real loss when spring rolls around in 2024. Climatologists have said, "Expect extreme weather patterns." and we've had them. Fortunately we haven't had an extreme Arctic freeze like December 2022. None the less, we are fortunate to have four seasons in the middle south; a mercifully short winter and a delightful spring and autumn which make up for the steamy hot and often too dry summer weather. The days are starting to lengthen and before long the earliest <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/search/label/spring%20ephemerals" target="_blank">spring ephemerals</a> will break dormancy and the gloriously long bloom of wildflowers will begin. </p><p><b>Here's the Wildflower Wednesday Roundup. Please follow the links to read about our glorious wildflower stars. xoxogail </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RmK_w5Ky3nXEymF34IqJqUtIjn8v2y5QFZ_7DpXGi8t3G-KIol9tk0mmFO2zyuxNTLwdApARQ6BwqGWKSONpwleqio8D6Ti1a0xZccB4yHfEtQptMhxJfPt4fBGEfbfZdSDf1GJHRpK9z8ykqmh3qI7mxsnXulwmH98iFsqQ67loZDroOOPAiivmF60/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RmK_w5Ky3nXEymF34IqJqUtIjn8v2y5QFZ_7DpXGi8t3G-KIol9tk0mmFO2zyuxNTLwdApARQ6BwqGWKSONpwleqio8D6Ti1a0xZccB4yHfEtQptMhxJfPt4fBGEfbfZdSDf1GJHRpK9z8ykqmh3qI7mxsnXulwmH98iFsqQ67loZDroOOPAiivmF60/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b> January 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/01/wildflower-wednesday-hamamelis-vernalis.html" target="_blank">Hamamelis vernalis and A Wildflower Wednesday Challenge</a></b></p><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic566JZ9XNEKRjP1b4juOQ0HnGFonR6U0kx_kyC-b2YBoHgrlGQIkB07HE1YLRCLIp9IxaxjuGEj73PgVyIMhHU_mC8Grk_onqevNjNDt-fF8sCdwpWF9D4x0NOmMH5lD2S7LB92f3jea06Qmrt8i0XeVbaBMMDBCU18972kHsvz5kAFggQj8RplLyQJw/s639/DSCF7137_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="639" height="606" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic566JZ9XNEKRjP1b4juOQ0HnGFonR6U0kx_kyC-b2YBoHgrlGQIkB07HE1YLRCLIp9IxaxjuGEj73PgVyIMhHU_mC8Grk_onqevNjNDt-fF8sCdwpWF9D4x0NOmMH5lD2S7LB92f3jea06Qmrt8i0XeVbaBMMDBCU18972kHsvz5kAFggQj8RplLyQJw/w640-h606/DSCF7137_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p>I've decided to continue the WW Challenge into 2023 and beyond. It's a
call for doing at least one thing a month to support nature/garden
critters/etc. I will include an idea list each month. Long time readers
know that I've been an advocate of gardening with native plants and the
critters that visit and live in our gardens since my early blogging
days. Back then I fell in love with the bumbles that were visiting my
garden and wrote many posts about pollinators of all kinds. I also loved
sharing posts about the native wildflowers that supported those
critters and began Wildflower Wednesday. It's been at least a dozen
years since that first Wildflower Wednesday meme post. I invited others
to share their wildflower star of the month and many did. I continue to
use the Wildflower Wednesday posts to call attention to our native
plants that have co-evolved with critters in a mutually dependent
manner. Co-adaptation is easiest to see with insects/pollinators and
flowering plants in our gardens. Researchers have found <i>at least three traits</i>
that flowering plants have evolved to attract pollinators: (<a href="https://biologydictionary.net/coevolution/" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distinct
visual cues: flowering plants have evolved bright colors, stripes,
patterns, size and colors specific to the pollinator. For example, flowering
plants seeking to attract insect pollinators are typically blue an
ultraviolet, whereas red and orange are designed to attract birds. </li><li>Scent: flowering plants use scents as a means of instructing insects as
to their location. Since scents become stronger closer to the plant, the
insect is able to hone-in and land on that plant to extract its
nectar. </li><li>Some flowers use chemical and tactile means to mimic female
insect species to attract the male species. </li></ul><p><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTNAZjqQfW20W5obRAWJz-2RD_XP_FMeL_slYL8u3SYnpsgBbsXTP92f3NsR-ZHAqo2jR4JwSaFt7CZ56oMO28144-62GpFE7kBztH9pvIPUS0dv1BExn6KkoPeGPz01lusZrF4qtsXehBaGqCKWaHHL0BXGaN-QSTwilIYg-oUoJa4rD9ZlynYIf/s640/DSCF0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTNAZjqQfW20W5obRAWJz-2RD_XP_FMeL_slYL8u3SYnpsgBbsXTP92f3NsR-ZHAqo2jR4JwSaFt7CZ56oMO28144-62GpFE7kBztH9pvIPUS0dv1BExn6KkoPeGPz01lusZrF4qtsXehBaGqCKWaHHL0BXGaN-QSTwilIYg-oUoJa4rD9ZlynYIf/w640-h638/DSCF0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><b>Let's consider our January star with co-evolution in mind.</b></p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><i>Hamamelis vernalis</i>
is a lovely native shrub/small tree that
blooms when you have just about given up hope that winter will end and
warmth will return to the world. In my Middle Tennessee garden it began
blooming the first week in January. It's not unusual for it to
continue blooming into February and sometimes March. </p><p class="nitro-offscreen">Ozark witch hazel's flowers are an unusual reddish color with four
yellow/orange crepe paper streaming petals that unfurl as the day warms
and furl back up when the temperature drops. This is a marvelous
<i>adaptive behavior</i> that insures that the spidery blooms will
survive
the fluctuating winter weather and be in bloom for almost two months.
This is super important in ensuring that any pollinating critters that
are out and about on warmer days will find their way to the lovely
flowers.</p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><b> February 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/02/wildflower-wednesday-dirca-palustris.html" target="_blank">Dirca palustris, An Underused/Underappreciated Woodland Beauty </a></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG8HNHDNt-SU_ye0eLj0L__kPy0TYMgycYE2RF5e-AuBwGx2CR_cGTOAjwyJJvC_upULHx_NfTLFgcdYg6o5Pkq8LuabKCM8Dy6DQzGWqaVQEibl4WCGLrzAfPXyHftX6BQ89eQezrz8LfSPkPUJ7jGSxAYZnStrAUIA2LqlYum2M1GzWb8ke_SgT/s640/P2230063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="640" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG8HNHDNt-SU_ye0eLj0L__kPy0TYMgycYE2RF5e-AuBwGx2CR_cGTOAjwyJJvC_upULHx_NfTLFgcdYg6o5Pkq8LuabKCM8Dy6DQzGWqaVQEibl4WCGLrzAfPXyHftX6BQ89eQezrz8LfSPkPUJ7jGSxAYZnStrAUIA2LqlYum2M1GzWb8ke_SgT/w640-h580/P2230063.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />Honestly, I was worried that there would be no flowers on <i>Dirca palustris</i>
this year after the December flash freeze. Also, worrisome was a
friend's loss of his decade old Leatherwood to a fungus. Long time
readers know that I rushed outside to make sure the shrub was okay. Geez
Louis, was I relieved that it was doing fine. <br /></p><p>In case that has you wondering about the shrub's hardiness, it's a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate
temperatures down to around -22°f when fully dormant. The flowers are
produced in early spring, however, and are very likely to be damaged
when the plant is grown in regions with late frosts. (<a href="https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Dirca+palustris" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><p>Despite my worry, it bloomed right on schedule. <i><br /></i></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"></h3><p><b> March 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/03/wildflower-wednesday-few-spring.html" target="_blank">A Few Spring Epemerals from Clay and Limestone </a></b></p><p>Neither rain nor cold, or even more rain and then very cold weather could stop the delightful harbingers of
springtime that are blooming at Clay and Limestone. The delicate
white or pinkish flowers of ephemerals bloom early in spring, set
seed, then disappear until the next spring.</p><p> If you had to choose one of the earliest spring ephemerals as a favorite...Would you? Could you?<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CACoMMHoKs0/TXkCLvpEEsI/AAAAAAAANo8/DBYaLiS-5vY/s1600/DSCF2195.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CACoMMHoKs0/TXkCLvpEEsI/AAAAAAAANo8/DBYaLiS-5vY/s640/DSCF2195.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Claytonia</i> <span style="font-style: italic;"> virginica </span>or Spring Beauty</span><b><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> Would </b>you choose the candy striped Spring Beauty? </p><p> <i>Claytonia virginica's</i>
flowers are about the size of a dime with five petals that spread wide
as the sun warms them. From a distance, the flowers appear white, but,
each petal is suffused with a delicate network of pastel pink veins.
Those pink veins are nectar guides. Spring Beauties are pollinated by
over 100 species of insects. That's a lot of bees, flies and other
winged creatures relying on nectar and pollen. That makes them an
important early food source and extremely important in our garden habitats and near by woodlands. </p><p><b>Perhaps</b>,
you would choose the perfumed flowers of <i>Cardamine concatenata/</i>Cut-leaved toothwort! This is a
common plant in Middle Tennessee, but that would never detract from its
charm. Like many early blooming spring wildflowers this one is low to
the ground (and you can count on getting dirty knees trying to take a
decent photo). While you're crawling around you might notice their sweet
fragrance. It's especially noticeable on sunny warm days. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzdwhS6HSEc/TXj6r5Ckb7I/AAAAAAAANok/FoOQASTtE1c/s1600/DSCF8109.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzdwhS6HSEc/TXj6r5Ckb7I/AAAAAAAANok/FoOQASTtE1c/s640/DSCF8109.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut-leaved toothwort</td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p></p><p><b>April 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/04/wildflower-wednesday-monarda-bradburiana.html" target="_blank">Monarda bradburiana </a></b></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"></h3>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5575470424013562629" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxpiyg0L88KVFy_8OVbnA7kHZZHp40DtNfC7MbN5XxNgr9Platj9ucyTIQj9ykfSKtDhmopLBpUaUFXxLWPgTdOkRvxdZP14X_eXqJB6If_utrSVzfWHTEOpvKePirY4xd7h7x1_orlCVcD2gYGEkOxIj2TBoBB8IEeMxVY2BafV02G64PGBDg0PA/s3004/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%207.42.58%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="3004" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxpiyg0L88KVFy_8OVbnA7kHZZHp40DtNfC7MbN5XxNgr9Platj9ucyTIQj9ykfSKtDhmopLBpUaUFXxLWPgTdOkRvxdZP14X_eXqJB6If_utrSVzfWHTEOpvKePirY4xd7h7x1_orlCVcD2gYGEkOxIj2TBoBB8IEeMxVY2BafV02G64PGBDg0PA/w640-h408/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%207.42.58%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>When
a plant description reads like this: "Monarda bradburiana is an upright
bushy perennial with square green stems" it's hard to get excited! But
when you see the plant in flower and read about its wonderful qualities
you know you want it in your garden. At least that's what happened to
me. </p><p><i>Monarda bradburiana</i> is an exceptional <i>Monarda</i> and worthy to be in your garden.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>it's a compact clumping perennial wildflower</li><li>plants have gray-green aromatic leaves on strong square stems <br /></li><li>it blooms in mid spring in my middle Tennessee garden</li><li>the stems are topped by showy rounded clusters of pale pink tubular flowers speckled with purple <br /></li><li>pollinators flock to the blooms<br /></li><li>it will thrive in sunny or partly shaded gardens with average well drained soils.</li><li>no mildew</li><li>it may self seed...that's a plus for me</li><li>not as aggressive as other <i>Monardas</i><br /></li></ul><p> It's lovely and the fact
that so many pollinators are attracted to it is a major plus. </p><p>Besides all that...who could resist a plant with purple freckles! <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtRlyOHW558Go7N0DRguKyDNGUR53eHYpK6bsUvpewk5yoBXd_fz4_2Hf7ltAyNfE6cTyuCD4x9YZH4sNxuyZDSNW4Q2AVUbUwwyesuAmvqHlhCpfUU5Bv6U_ZcpGaR2980dghNFWE3E43U2TgQb_H9jYDnFvS1CiZyvnYv_p-6VnmAzoDWSqrNLo/s3840/PXL_20230424_221646262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtRlyOHW558Go7N0DRguKyDNGUR53eHYpK6bsUvpewk5yoBXd_fz4_2Hf7ltAyNfE6cTyuCD4x9YZH4sNxuyZDSNW4Q2AVUbUwwyesuAmvqHlhCpfUU5Bv6U_ZcpGaR2980dghNFWE3E43U2TgQb_H9jYDnFvS1CiZyvnYv_p-6VnmAzoDWSqrNLo/w360-h640/PXL_20230424_221646262.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><b> </b></p><p><b> May 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/05/wildflower-wednesday-there-be-dragons.html" target="_blank">There Be Dragons In the Garden</a></b></p><p><b> </b>The Dragons in my garden are the best kind to have. They're dramatic
and elegant looking, growing over three foot tall with a two foot "wingspan". </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlsMRwFbn4OWPXAWgS2UIFW--_2U145GUkCPNqrLXupEoatwmKwIQQkATb2Ye3pxVo8RymobMFA5-OgvN5eaPQ-Nbon6v_hJMjrmSc6MoSxvQixOIrP_5pwSvWfg7K45JYTaQtzs4SoADIzjgBAwlb3kA5BkoNbPHQkOHQkU5EaKMKopHe5eRh9j5/s2710/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.33.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2710" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlsMRwFbn4OWPXAWgS2UIFW--_2U145GUkCPNqrLXupEoatwmKwIQQkATb2Ye3pxVo8RymobMFA5-OgvN5eaPQ-Nbon6v_hJMjrmSc6MoSxvQixOIrP_5pwSvWfg7K45JYTaQtzs4SoADIzjgBAwlb3kA5BkoNbPHQkOHQkU5EaKMKopHe5eRh9j5/w640-h478/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.33.41%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They
mingle well with the denizens of Clay and Limestone, preferring the
dappled sunlight and a moist, rich woodland soil that I have worked to
create. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Green Dragon, aka, <i>Arisaema dracontium</i> is marvelous to behold. The woodland wildflower emerges as one stalk and slowly unfurls its mighty
wings. Or, if you prefer leaf! What looks like two leaves is one leaf
that forks into leaflets of unequal size and uneven numbers. Go ahead and count them...it's always uneven.</div><p><b> </b></p><p><b>June 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/06/wildflower-wednesday.html" target="_blank">Clustered Mountain Mint</a></b></p><p><b> </b><i>Pycnanthemum muticum </i>is quite possibly a perfect pollinator plant<i>.</i><br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dOJuaFWsJs/Wa_tJgarCPI/AAAAAAAAio4/eMI0n1HnANsqNG41TCLDdQaVmMt0hEw9QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF2800.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dOJuaFWsJs/Wa_tJgarCPI/AAAAAAAAio4/eMI0n1HnANsqNG41TCLDdQaVmMt0hEw9QCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF2800.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>But you don't have to take my word for this! Just
google Mountain Mint and every nursery selling it, State Native Plant
Society or blogger who writes about it extols its insect attracting
virtues. Trust me and others, this is the best mountain mint species for
attracting and supporting pollinating insects! </p><p>Here's more! The
researchers at Penn State's <a href="http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/lancaster/pollinator-friendly-garden-certification/2013-pollinator-trial-results" target="_blank">The Pollinator Trial</a> found that Clustered Mountain Mint was the best plant for flowering
longevity; for pollinator visitor diversity; for sheer number of insect
visitors (78); and, for sheer number of bee and syrphid visitors. Wowzer!<br /></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>July 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2020/09/elephantopus-carolinianus.html" target="_blank"> Elephantopus carolinianus </a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UxmIzXBU0/X2ETRGhwH8I/AAAAAAAAzVQ/bP1KX-w5PBI4b177a8lbXn0gWX3TS5vCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P9150209.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1515" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S3UxmIzXBU0/X2ETRGhwH8I/AAAAAAAAzVQ/bP1KX-w5PBI4b177a8lbXn0gWX3TS5vCgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/P9150209.jpg" width="606" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><p> I don't think you would be at all surprised to discover that I've found
another wildflower to love! This one is called Elephant's foot. It's a
very cool flowering plant with large leaves and tiny flowers. When I say
tiny I mean tiny and easily missed unless you're crawling around on the
ground in a woodland setting. Yes, I do spend time crawling around on
the ground looking at plants and I totally recommend it. </p><p>Although, I've seen Elephant's foot in wooded areas near by none have
naturally occurred at Clay and Limestone. But, thanks to my South
Carolina gardening friend <a href="https://thequeenofseaford.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Janet,</a>
I have some in the garden. I planted them in the spring ephemeral bed
along the driveway. They've survived and flowered, but not spread
aggressively as some gardeners have reported. Maybe, I should be careful
about what I wish for, but, I do wish this one would spread about; it
would make an attractive ground cover and massing them would highlight
the pretty flowers so much better.</p><p>On that note, I've discovered three seedlings in the cracks in my asphalt drive; which both amuses and amazes me. <span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">Whenever
I find any plants growing in sidewalk cracks or grooves I conclude that
they're perfect plants for Clay and Limestone! Plants that are able to
adapt to harsh environmental conditions like heat, lack of nutrients and
not much moisture, truly are treasures. It's looking good that Elephant's
foot can survive our summer droughts and shallow soil. It also looks
like I will be collecting seeds this fall since propagation appears to
be easy! (see The Particulars below)</span></span> <br /></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b>August 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/08/wildflower-wednesday-vernonia-gigantea.html" target="_blank">Vernonia gigantea, A Rough and Tumble Wildflower </a></b></p><p><b> </b><br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rxmGoZbdYbRrsJfxdUt6qYxyn_294UVOXvpBGyXTa2QpmeLT6166NmQWcdhhZUC-STTOC54Wx77EFdUXpynVH3iFRcTNRnxFaXMoAxCPwl_iityj4RO_ZDI_RaGy0LUb3KeLIv0-QmOF/s1600/IMG_2328_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rxmGoZbdYbRrsJfxdUt6qYxyn_294UVOXvpBGyXTa2QpmeLT6166NmQWcdhhZUC-STTOC54Wx77EFdUXpynVH3iFRcTNRnxFaXMoAxCPwl_iityj4RO_ZDI_RaGy0LUb3KeLIv0-QmOF/s640/IMG_2328_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>Vernonia gigantea is</i>
one of my favorite of the late summer <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2009/09/rough-and-tumble-wildflower-beauties.html" target="_blank">rough and tumble wildflowers </a>
that make a home in the garden. They make gardening at this time of year
a pleasure. Bees, butterflies, skippers, and various bee flies seek out the nectar and pollen. <b>Deer do not browse it.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMFo6sh_AbMjC64Hnsnn6YSm0SxusmdjzXMn95WJJcgafRzFMnXDUlUGo7A3jOVcu9p_P1UjYun8AlM_rkhyphenhyphenLGg45SOdgpqXTwNC1fmco0aWOnpqjQURuxK2CLc5_x9hlILnU5q862dS2/s1600/DSCF5889.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMFo6sh_AbMjC64Hnsnn6YSm0SxusmdjzXMn95WJJcgafRzFMnXDUlUGo7A3jOVcu9p_P1UjYun8AlM_rkhyphenhyphenLGg45SOdgpqXTwNC1fmco0aWOnpqjQURuxK2CLc5_x9hlILnU5q862dS2/w400-h344/DSCF5889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ironweed
is the common name for this beauty. It's a clump forming perennial with
clusters of fluffy magenta-purple petaled flowers in the <i>Asteraceae</i> family. The flower heads consist of 9 to 30 disc flowers that sit atop stiff, upright stems with lance shaped leaves.<i> </i>It's
another native that doesn't mind wet feet and grows at Clay and
Limestone despite the dry clay soil each summer. I do make sure it gets a
good drink of water during especially droughty times.<p><b> </b></p><p><b>September 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/09/wildflower-wednesday-rough-and-tumble.html" target="_blank"> Rough and Tumble Wildflowers on the Greenway and in My Neighborhood </a></b></p><p>
It's rough and tumble wildflower bloom time in my garden and at the
greenway where I walk most mornings. I am delighted to see so many
different wildflowers in the sea of invasive honeysuckle, Mimosa, <i>Ailanthus</i>, <i>Euonymous fortunae,</i>
Bradford Pears, privet and Rose of Sharon that have almost completely
taken over many of our greenways. I love that these rough and tumble
wildflowers have survived the invasion and are there for wildlife. </p><p>Several
former Wildflower Wednesday stars have a presence on the greenway and
you can click on the highlighted plant names to see that post. I will
introduce you to several new plants.<br /></p><p></p><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-314tZUkQhME/WwR-6iVPKFI/AAAAAAAAnHs/ErZZQEs2E-wLHkCA7BUiM2b99RaShrlAQCLcBGAs/s1600/P8261236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1033" height="476" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-314tZUkQhME/WwR-6iVPKFI/AAAAAAAAnHs/ErZZQEs2E-wLHkCA7BUiM2b99RaShrlAQCLcBGAs/s640/P8261236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/05/wildflower-wednesday-bears-foot-and.html" target="_blank">Hairy leaf cup/Bear's Foot/<i>Smallanthus uvedalius</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b></p><p><b>October 2023: <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/10/wildflower-wednesday-ex-aster-time-is.html" target="_blank">Ex-aster Time is the best time to be in the garden</a></b><br /></p><p>I've said it before and I'll say it again, ex-aster time is the best
time to be in the garden. The days are warm and Autumn angle of the sun
makes everything glow.<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeJfzUh3hJY/ViWvC8P5EPI/AAAAAAAAaes/qRNzBm-haik/s1600/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeJfzUh3hJY/ViWvC8P5EPI/AAAAAAAAaes/qRNzBm-haik/s640/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><i>Symphyotrichum,</i> aka ex-asters<i>,</i> and other <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/11/this-is-place-to-bee.html">Central Basin</a>
natives grew with happy abandon in the forested woodland where this
garden
now stands. Seventy years ago our house was built in a neighborhood carved from the
woodland. Homeowners came and went while the asters and wildflowers grew quietly on the woodland edges. Almost
40 years ago this month my husband and I bought our 1955 ranch. There was a canopy of
oaks, Hickories and Ashes and a old <i>Cersis canadensis</i> that was declining. Along the asphalt driveway was a <i>Ostrya virginica</i> that was being strangled by a white <i>Wisteria</i>
vine. At the edges of the yard were some ephemerals and other native
plants that this new
gardener only discovered later. What I did notice was a cloud of blue
flowers that were dancing in the breeze. The plants were alive with
activity; there were tiny bees,
glowing
metallic copper and green; flies that looked like bees; wasps of all
sizes and many different bumbles. I fell in love with those beautiful
blue flowers that I learned were asters and, of course,
the humming that turned out to be native bumbles and other little bees.<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"></h3><p><b>November 2023 <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2023/11/wildflower-wednesday-so-thankful-for.html" target="_blank">So Thankful for Willowleaf Asters</a></b></p><p>I love everything about Willowleaf aster.
</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mfQjGcSDa17ArNM77Cph_lXKledQL0Rjhek8lZtDIUBCLO5hSNZsPdEwSe8MMJf3zJvmwGLKHVypGZsQ3XkRGEfjBi23vu0sKFwxE1pjKShCXh_u5Cuxbma4kMdKpJWxeTypzqtAE0uzEjTgIq_HDBnfqa-j47zymnizRDd38s568-ieAOU6D5yxtYM/s1648/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="1582" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mfQjGcSDa17ArNM77Cph_lXKledQL0Rjhek8lZtDIUBCLO5hSNZsPdEwSe8MMJf3zJvmwGLKHVypGZsQ3XkRGEfjBi23vu0sKFwxE1pjKShCXh_u5Cuxbma4kMdKpJWxeTypzqtAE0uzEjTgIq_HDBnfqa-j47zymnizRDd38s568-ieAOU6D5yxtYM/w614-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.12%20PM.png" width="614" /></a></p>When I say everything, I mean everything.<ul><li>I love that it can survive frosts. </li><li>I love that it's still
providing food for every bee, butterfly, moth, wasp and critter that's
still up and about on cooler days. </li><li>I love that it has survived droughts in my garden even though it's so much happier in moist soil. </li><li>I love that it's a traveler and moves around the garden via robust rhizomes to form large clonal colonies. </li><li>Seriously, I don't mind that it makes a big presence, because it's easy to transplant and transplants well.</li><li>I love that Willowleaf aster is THE gathering place for all the bumbles at the end
of a hard day! Bumbles are the last to leave my garden at night and it's
not unusual to find them slumbering on the flowers on a cool Autumn
morning. I always thank them and wish them a good day, they are quite
the hardest workers in my garden.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Thanks for stopping by to see our Wildflower Wednesday stars for 2023. They're all favorites and all incredible plants to add to most of your gardens. If you garden in middle Tennessee they are perfect for your garden. </p><p>I love when you visit and leave comments,
especially when you share something about your garden. I hope to see you in 2024
and may your garden give you the joy that mine has given me. xoxogail</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uR8GEUeMGIGTkt-gVoAnNXOsAWzI5bQQvJJzmbY0VixjBb3PKLrcwo9D6ccspHvJAolSBDCcnVV8nyizlxGN2dd0eXkA2ygngCuVsfmq312E_EI8GqRaUvXLMkyrpnVr_jLwRp6FcxyL-HpjS4596VDRlb4145GNpvat8YEjZ2NYUJvIJWbaENsz/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uR8GEUeMGIGTkt-gVoAnNXOsAWzI5bQQvJJzmbY0VixjBb3PKLrcwo9D6ccspHvJAolSBDCcnVV8nyizlxGN2dd0eXkA2ygngCuVsfmq312E_EI8GqRaUvXLMkyrpnVr_jLwRp6FcxyL-HpjS4596VDRlb4145GNpvat8YEjZ2NYUJvIJWbaENsz/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>
celebration. On the fourth Wednesday of each month I share information
about wildflowers and other native plants. Please join in if you like.
You can write a blog post or share your favorite wildflower on social
media. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not, and, it
doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about
celebrating wildflowers. </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-9948852800106948692023-11-22T05:00:00.118-06:002023-11-22T16:29:41.658-06:00Wildflower Wednesday: So Thankful for Willowleaf AstersI love everything about Willowleaf aster.
<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mfQjGcSDa17ArNM77Cph_lXKledQL0Rjhek8lZtDIUBCLO5hSNZsPdEwSe8MMJf3zJvmwGLKHVypGZsQ3XkRGEfjBi23vu0sKFwxE1pjKShCXh_u5Cuxbma4kMdKpJWxeTypzqtAE0uzEjTgIq_HDBnfqa-j47zymnizRDd38s568-ieAOU6D5yxtYM/s1648/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="1582" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mfQjGcSDa17ArNM77Cph_lXKledQL0Rjhek8lZtDIUBCLO5hSNZsPdEwSe8MMJf3zJvmwGLKHVypGZsQ3XkRGEfjBi23vu0sKFwxE1pjKShCXh_u5Cuxbma4kMdKpJWxeTypzqtAE0uzEjTgIq_HDBnfqa-j47zymnizRDd38s568-ieAOU6D5yxtYM/w614-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.12%20PM.png" width="614" /></a></p><p>When I say everything, I mean everything.<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmrd1G__5CQWRVXA5zvCOEcnl54sP2I9ala2KeS3eOhPHrSNSSqB_ojPpd1N_IAtyMDxN7wpTmJcCa4SA8gc-nMz5sRQjBfp6mZdXRKNCr7i3i4hQYw91qKl1r8uEIdEs3ltfijSeWEKVUzXFQrVpXYie0LcZQRGF_n_HOz49T4JLzA4ttJ42HW02cvY/s1600/DSCF4297.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1432" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmrd1G__5CQWRVXA5zvCOEcnl54sP2I9ala2KeS3eOhPHrSNSSqB_ojPpd1N_IAtyMDxN7wpTmJcCa4SA8gc-nMz5sRQjBfp6mZdXRKNCr7i3i4hQYw91qKl1r8uEIdEs3ltfijSeWEKVUzXFQrVpXYie0LcZQRGF_n_HOz49T4JLzA4ttJ42HW02cvY/w572-h640/DSCF4297.JPG" width="572" /></a><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I love that it can survive frosts. </li><li>I love that it's still providing food for every bee, butterfly, moth, wasp and critter that's still up and about on cooler days. </li><li>I love that it has survived droughts in my garden even though it's so much happier in moist soil. </li><li>I love that it's a traveler and moves around the garden via robust rhizomes to form large clonal colonies. </li><li>Seriously, I don't mind that it makes a big presence, because it's easy to transplant and transplants well.</li><li>I love that Willowleaf aster is THE gathering place for all the bumbles at the end
of a hard day! Bumbles are the last to leave my garden at night and it's
not unusual to find them slumbering on the flowers on a cool Autumn
morning. I always thank them and wish them a good day, they are quite
the hardest workers in my garden.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWx0btJi2kshylerD9C3tmlVBKtK_PV0Q-wP6cZb9XL4QtzgLh9-IAyEX4feP2qN3fE3XVhZ5R1DxuK0-VBAXPbpLriL2vle7Gg0imSB_GhyphenhyphenEk1uvKaM9_JDauZ3UOXB1Og8F8Zm3NO6njB07STAjy9ajnlucGS9HOfTsTfU2ytri_ZYSrtYeOXX8kvyA/s1892/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="1652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWx0btJi2kshylerD9C3tmlVBKtK_PV0Q-wP6cZb9XL4QtzgLh9-IAyEX4feP2qN3fE3XVhZ5R1DxuK0-VBAXPbpLriL2vle7Gg0imSB_GhyphenhyphenEk1uvKaM9_JDauZ3UOXB1Og8F8Zm3NO6njB07STAjy9ajnlucGS9HOfTsTfU2ytri_ZYSrtYeOXX8kvyA/w558-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-18%20at%206.03.01%20PM.png" width="558" /></a></li></ul><p>I garden with pollinators in mind, so having flowers in bloom as close to year round as is possible in my
middle Tennessee garden is important. They're active as soon as there are blooming flowers; that means small flies and gnats will be buzzing around the late winter
blooming witch hazels in January and February. Pollinator action gets
busier when the spring ephemerals bloom and the mason bees and honeybees
arrive. From then on, bumbles, green metallic bees, mason bees, big and
tiny carpenter bees, sweat bees, flower flies, beetles, moths,
butterflies, skippers, and Hummingbirds are busy visiting every plant
that offers nectar and/or pollen. Come fall, the rush to get ready for
winter ramps up the activity and the little ex-asters are covered with
every imaginable pollinating critter. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNB_wk3yttM/X7vCrIh0NfI/AAAAAAAA1Mw/EnGARY6uPuMQpZtsMw0KINP2apLWE3cAQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PB060046.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KNB_wk3yttM/X7vCrIh0NfI/AAAAAAAA1Mw/EnGARY6uPuMQpZtsMw0KINP2apLWE3cAQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h490/PB060046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Long-tailed Skipper/<i>Urbanus proteus on Willow-leaf aster</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So you can imagine how thrilled I was to be gifted this delightful aster that blooms in November. My friend referred to it as 'Miss Bessie'. She didn't know
the botanical name and named it after the older gardener who passed it
along to her. It bloomed the first fall after it was planted and every fall for the last dozen years. 'Miss Bessie' opens in late October just as the <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2012/10/wildflower-wednesdaylittle-asters.html">Little ex-asters</a>
are starting to fade and continues to bloom through much of November
and occasionally into December. This fall has been no exception despite challenges from a pretty serious drought. I did have to give her a few big gulps of water from the hose but, nothing stopped 'Miss Bessie' from blooming.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UiyzJRAbNZ-azd4arZm-kXMjfr18xjXsv7h1P_lZ5eBZpZeXItkwO2_uX_4XbcH9MmredRMO-WKCjCe4yxaP-XxQPzP4Yh4FVfTgK66HcpWdohtzKXH0GPDtHrFqVH_1tJoQWhastomQq1fpZso8eR8RH0pZ9Yy0iLJB8217LT-lqZ_tRFGPhXChSVk/s1946/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%202.59.32%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1946" data-original-width="1712" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8UiyzJRAbNZ-azd4arZm-kXMjfr18xjXsv7h1P_lZ5eBZpZeXItkwO2_uX_4XbcH9MmredRMO-WKCjCe4yxaP-XxQPzP4Yh4FVfTgK66HcpWdohtzKXH0GPDtHrFqVH_1tJoQWhastomQq1fpZso8eR8RH0pZ9Yy0iLJB8217LT-lqZ_tRFGPhXChSVk/w564-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%202.59.32%20PM.png" width="564" /></a></div> <i>Symphyotrichum praealtum</i> is the botanical name. It's the only aster with distinctive net/reticulate veins on the undersides of the leaf, which made id-ing her easy.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjx3WaPCS1_7UDVMAJ94C_9viFrnznSHg4Uo-yOl-ZvJPnreSWSlq29edwz0qM2GSHO1-J3_adTHrRhmVXU5fF7Kl9eFpU-gFKWeP06yzVeGl1STN76ZBNnHI3g8_MtMYiOdQ_w_NbBm4/s1600/DSCF8953.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjx3WaPCS1_7UDVMAJ94C_9viFrnznSHg4Uo-yOl-ZvJPnreSWSlq29edwz0qM2GSHO1-J3_adTHrRhmVXU5fF7Kl9eFpU-gFKWeP06yzVeGl1STN76ZBNnHI3g8_MtMYiOdQ_w_NbBm4/s640/DSCF8953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/11/this-is-place-to-bee.html">Symphyotrichum praealtum</a> with its telltale prominent veining</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>I hope you don't mind that I showcase this important pollinator plant every few years? It's deserving of being a frequent <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a> star. It's my way of encouraging more people to add it to their garden.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HgBJ5qdBXxOiWzcPROPHIaADb8KArFxyZWgNHitKdLcG2JR6CB_Tb5vnQW7ih6Uv-Har1xhpSlZzz8_LsS9x4xj8_Q9Om6vmKz1C1AFdb_HOCgxfLO55EKkSuxYR86-pLTYidHHzFj8v/s1600/DSCF8951.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HgBJ5qdBXxOiWzcPROPHIaADb8KArFxyZWgNHitKdLcG2JR6CB_Tb5vnQW7ih6Uv-Har1xhpSlZzz8_LsS9x4xj8_Q9Om6vmKz1C1AFdb_HOCgxfLO55EKkSuxYR86-pLTYidHHzFj8v/s640/DSCF8951.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Willowleaf aster is an important late fall source of nectar and pollen</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>Not only is it a star, it's also a Clay and Limestone <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2013/09/september-2013-gbbd-i-love-rough-and.html" target="_blank">rough and tumble wildflower</a>. Rough and tumble wildflowers, are generally simple flowers that
bloom their hearts out and require no special care. That's exactly
how I would describe Willowleaf aster. It shines in my November garden; standing straight and tall until the top heavy flowerheads bend it toward the sun. It sways in the slightest
breeze and only patience and hundreds of shots yields a good photo of
nectaring pollinators.<i><br /></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBDwASglKhEZfXEET_KAWmHRz6lY2YOReUquHM7Huw0UGzvoHCaAQ_jOBnKTmNPTDVnx1PNSyiXAEsUlNs4z7qiNhL4xSc0P-o3LlabCsGQaIqoCKfhXeTRGKgzfQEIDQ5hmOyp5QZFXA68nwX7fJRPIr313FBtVY9775b6SZgFMfYtbhNQeusXXK8h4/s2004/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%201.41.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="2004" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBDwASglKhEZfXEET_KAWmHRz6lY2YOReUquHM7Huw0UGzvoHCaAQ_jOBnKTmNPTDVnx1PNSyiXAEsUlNs4z7qiNhL4xSc0P-o3LlabCsGQaIqoCKfhXeTRGKgzfQEIDQ5hmOyp5QZFXA68nwX7fJRPIr313FBtVY9775b6SZgFMfYtbhNQeusXXK8h4/w640-h544/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%201.41.56%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo from last December and a frost</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i>Symphyotrichum praealtum</i> is a tall grass prairie native that is
harder to find than a tall grass prairie in Tennessee. It's listed as
an endangered and threatened species in several states, including
Tennessee, and in several Canadian provinces.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">(Go <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2012/10/30/wdr-dric-bridge-crossing-endangered-species.html">here</a> to read about rescue efforts in Canada.)</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjx3WaPCS1_7UDVMAJ94C_9viFrnznSHg4Uo-yOl-ZvJPnreSWSlq29edwz0qM2GSHO1-J3_adTHrRhmVXU5fF7Kl9eFpU-gFKWeP06yzVeGl1STN76ZBNnHI3g8_MtMYiOdQ_w_NbBm4/s1600/DSCF8953.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjx3WaPCS1_7UDVMAJ94C_9viFrnznSHg4Uo-yOl-ZvJPnreSWSlq29edwz0qM2GSHO1-J3_adTHrRhmVXU5fF7Kl9eFpU-gFKWeP06yzVeGl1STN76ZBNnHI3g8_MtMYiOdQ_w_NbBm4/s640/DSCF8953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/11/this-is-place-to-bee.html">Symphyotrichum praealtum</a> with its telltale prominent veining</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>Willowleaf aster can be grown from seed or plants. It needs full/half sun. Surface sew seeds directly in the garden in the fall. They need sun to germinate (don't cover the seed) and the cool moist stratification that happens over a winter. If you're planting rooted plants keep the soil moist until the ground is frozen. </p><p>If you have moist garden soil you can expect it to be VERY happy! Maybe, too happy. It spreads via rhizomes to form large clonal colonies, but, please don't read this and shy away from planting it in your garden. It's so important for pollinators. Plant it in a container or with other aggressive plants. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bI5xXupLSLowT3iZ3q7FWc2Ws9V1f0-6L6dL4NtEFEeU4mZf01tiOJMAphupeWWXFkeZKMfgVBrFbuqc7-rY8b85DXSWiWA7T-k0id8jTppIllwwoFEoLKzBL0kIhVfaeUjxAOOPprYFBXrThXhxb0xKnJ_bpF1sxTIE5u8znzUBVU6VtWV8288x26E/s2128/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%201.52.55%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="1670" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bI5xXupLSLowT3iZ3q7FWc2Ws9V1f0-6L6dL4NtEFEeU4mZf01tiOJMAphupeWWXFkeZKMfgVBrFbuqc7-rY8b85DXSWiWA7T-k0id8jTppIllwwoFEoLKzBL0kIhVfaeUjxAOOPprYFBXrThXhxb0xKnJ_bpF1sxTIE5u8znzUBVU6VtWV8288x26E/w502-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-11-20%20at%201.52.55%20PM.png" width="502" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr align="left"><td>I think it would dance beautifully with River oats, Obedient plant,
Goldenrods, Sunflowers, <i>Rudbeckias</i>, <i>Boltonia</i>, <i>Amsonia</i>, Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Switchgrass.<br /></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciOyXuksg5PAk8zKTpaGXJPgBSgJJ2GUO0JutjXafi8xm7_pCAp1IcoYHwKDX7LbNhZpkq4fSg-dVphVQ-V_i1kNtVaGDYL50ODguC28wSECCmiE7n8AdjN5-efTZ7z_DEymB6g1dGBJA/s1600/DSCF9278.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciOyXuksg5PAk8zKTpaGXJPgBSgJJ2GUO0JutjXafi8xm7_pCAp1IcoYHwKDX7LbNhZpkq4fSg-dVphVQ-V_i1kNtVaGDYL50ODguC28wSECCmiE7n8AdjN5-efTZ7z_DEymB6g1dGBJA/s640/DSCF9278.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delightful<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Blooming this late in the season means that Willowleaf aster plays an important role in providing food for pollinators still out and about on those beautiful warm fall days. One source
suggests that it's a go to food source for migrating <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/05/royalty-in-garden.html">Monarch Butterflies</a>. I recommend planting this beauty. Get seeds from <a href="https://www.prairiemoon.com/" target="_blank">Prairie Moon Nursery</a> and local buyers, we can find plants at <a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a>.</p><p> </p><p> <b>The Particulars</b></p><p>Botanical name: <i>Symphyotrichum praealtum</i></p><p>Family: <i>Asteraceae </i> <br /></p><p>Common Name: willowleaf aster</p><p>Type: Herbaceous perennial</p><p>Native Range: Southeastern to central and southwestern United States</p><p>Zone: 4 to 8 </p><p>Height: 2.00 to 5.00 feet Spread: 1.50 to 4.00 feet </p><p>Bloom Time: October to November in middle Tennessee (Zone 7b)<br /></p><p>Bloom description: Blue to purple daisy-like composite flowers about
½–¾" across. Each flower has 20-30 has lavender (less often white) ray
florets surrounding numerous yellow disk florets that eventually become
reddish purple. </p><p>Sun: Full sun to part shade </p><p>Water: Medium to wet </p><p>Habitat: Wet low ground, moist meadows, prairie swales, stream and pond
edges, open thickets, and roadsides; loamy soil. Please note: NOT a
xeric plant.</p><p>Maintenance: Low. If you have an extended drought you might need to water. Divide yearly and share with friends.<br /></p><p>Suggested Use: Rain gardens, pollinator and butterfly gardens, borders, shorelines, Rhizomatous. Tolerates temporary flooding.</p><p>Flower: Showy, lavender with yellow center <br /></p><p>Wildlife value: Especially important to mid and late fall season pollinators Butterflies, bumblebees, <i>"Symphyotrichum praealtum</i> spreads via rhizomes to form large clonal colonies. The species does not self-pollinate; cross-pollination with a genetically distinct plant is required for the production of seeds. The seeds are wind-dispersed. In some areas, this species may be the latest-flowering plant, and this may limit the number of insects available to serve as pollinators."<a href="https://uk.inaturalist.org/taxa/169480-Symphyotrichum-praealtum" target="_blank"> source </a></p><p>Faunal associations: Many kinds of insects visit the flowers, including
long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, flies, butterflies, and skippers.
Among the bees, this includes such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees,
Halictine bees, and some Andrenid bees that fly late in the season. Some
Syrphid flies and beetles may feed on the pollen, otherwise these
insects seek nectar; bees also collect pollen for their larvae. The
caterpillars of the butterflies <i>Chlosyne nycteis</i> (Silvery Checkerspot) <i>Phyciodes tharos</i> (Pearl Crescent) feed on the foliage, as well as the caterpillars of several species of moths. (<a href="https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/willow_asterx.htm" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></p><p>Comments: Willowleaf aster is a common name, possibly because the leaves resemble willow tree leaves. Deer and rabbits usually leave this one alone. Rhizomatous/Clonal so it needs an unrelated plant to cross pollinate to get seeds.<i></i> </p><p>Tolerates: Wet Soil</p><p><br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHiWijUroIMwTiclua7tdpRXlrBsBavg6JjmqRFodYBoOaepufs9rykZ_xdaVsS0NbyyoNBAZ8fekhNB7IiwjdPdYzZXbKy_aJEBv5HqLzu6dMVMYBbmR0HQxtNuutndLUbwiNr0QaRgGDMjCANLnKloxITXLzzrkuITMMVRJy9P2UybbhDE0BkCIaxk/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHiWijUroIMwTiclua7tdpRXlrBsBavg6JjmqRFodYBoOaepufs9rykZ_xdaVsS0NbyyoNBAZ8fekhNB7IiwjdPdYzZXbKy_aJEBv5HqLzu6dMVMYBbmR0HQxtNuutndLUbwiNr0QaRgGDMjCANLnKloxITXLzzrkuITMMVRJy9P2UybbhDE0BkCIaxk/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p>So, my dear readers, please join me in planting more native ex-asters! I
know your pollinators will appreciate the marvelous and floriferous
'Miss Bessie' and you'll love having blooms in late fall. <br />
<br />
xoxogail<br />
<br />
PS It goes without saying, but you know me, I have to say it. If you
want pollinators to visit your garden, you must, never,
ever, ever, ever use pesticides. I'm not kidding...NEVER!<br /> <br /></p><p> </p><p><b><i>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's Wildflower Wednesday celebration. I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. <br /></i></b></p><p> </p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-69409679971944660102023-10-25T05:00:00.035-05:002023-10-25T05:00:00.151-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Ex-aster time is the best time to be in the garden<p>I've said it before and I'll say it again, ex-aster time is the best time to be in the garden. The days are warm and Autumn angle of the sun makes everything glow.<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeJfzUh3hJY/ViWvC8P5EPI/AAAAAAAAaes/qRNzBm-haik/s1600/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SeJfzUh3hJY/ViWvC8P5EPI/AAAAAAAAaes/qRNzBm-haik/s640/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><i>Symphyotrichum,</i> aka ex-asters<i>,</i> and other <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/11/this-is-place-to-bee.html">Central Basin</a>
natives grew with happy abandon in the forested woodland where this
garden
now stands. Seventy years ago our house was built in a neighborhood carved from the
woodland. Homeowners came and went while the asters and wildflowers grew quietly on the woodland edges. Almost
40 years ago this month my husband and I bought our 1955 ranch. There was a canopy of
oaks, Hickories and Ashes and a old <i>Cersis canadensis</i> that was declining. Along the asphalt driveway was a <i>Ostrya virginica</i> that was being strangled by a white <i>Wisteria</i> vine. At the edges of the yard were some ephemerals and other native plants that this new
gardener only discovered later. What I did notice was a cloud of blue flowers that were dancing in the breeze. The plants were alive with activity; there were tiny bees,
glowing
metallic copper and green; flies that looked like bees; wasps of all
sizes and many different bumbles. I fell in love with those beautiful blue flowers that I learned were asters and, of course,
the humming that turned out to be native bumbles and other little bees.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tCQ72e2nJY/ViWA8v9TumI/AAAAAAAAadg/wUQ_4W9W3u4/s1600/DSCF1169.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0tCQ72e2nJY/ViWA8v9TumI/AAAAAAAAadg/wUQ_4W9W3u4/s640/DSCF1169.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p>It took me a few seasons of being distracted by my struggle to grow
plants that made no sense for the shallow soil or shady conditions. When I stumbled upon
Dr Hemmerly's book <i>Wildflowers of the Central South</i> everything became clearer. He introduced me to concepts that were important to know if I were to
have any success at gardening in my yard. I learned about Middle
Tennessee microclimates and about the unique wildflowers that grew only
in the cedar glades. I figured out that my garden was
a xeric oak-hickory forest plant community with areas of extremely
shallow soil with plenty of limestone boulders hiding under the shallow soil. The nearly neutral clay
soil is hard as concrete during our dry summers and wet and sticky
during our rainy winters. </p><p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jetkYGRNpg/WA0fb7aMsiI/AAAAAAAAbi0/Ece73B8zezMdGBV734Hpv4DldKyvn6cvwCLcB/s1600/addtext_com_MTUxMjI3NzE3NzU.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7jetkYGRNpg/WA0fb7aMsiI/AAAAAAAAbi0/Ece73B8zezMdGBV734Hpv4DldKyvn6cvwCLcB/s640/addtext_com_MTUxMjI3NzE3NzU.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /></p><p>I mulled over what I learned and found myself thinking this: "Gail, your
garden isn't a failure, but, trying to make it something that it isn't
is the true failure. Take a look at what's already growing here.
Appreciate and celebrate what you have."</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rMYlU7HFc10zIr-u2Ylol8LYAwYf6kMB-XHlmeVaLa-WMloj-1UANHv8zriNdOuqeReDsGt6BC-lsF32xBIWW7MByU2dZgve3R9RyygvpGvc2PeqvsWbL32OAtjoccSgND11sExjENR7rTyrAaNB9aB6qJHwZOUmm652CyvWcz16PA5jeVfWRFTCzS0/s640/DSCF1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="640" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rMYlU7HFc10zIr-u2Ylol8LYAwYf6kMB-XHlmeVaLa-WMloj-1UANHv8zriNdOuqeReDsGt6BC-lsF32xBIWW7MByU2dZgve3R9RyygvpGvc2PeqvsWbL32OAtjoccSgND11sExjENR7rTyrAaNB9aB6qJHwZOUmm652CyvWcz16PA5jeVfWRFTCzS0/w640-h448/DSCF1667.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>
<i><b>So I did</b></i>. I decided to watch my yard throughout the growing season. I say yard because it really wasn't much of a garden back then. Early the next spring I noticed other hidden wildflower gems. Columbines, Trillium, spring beauties, toothwort, False garlic, Golden Ragwort and <i>Phlox divaricata</i>. In late spring I found dozens of <i>Penstemon calycosus</i> growing in the wayback backyard in both the dry shade and in the the wet weather spring. Sedges, poverty oatgrass, lyre leaf sage and <i>Ruellias</i> popped up in the lawn. Also growing there were Blue-eyed grass, Downy Woodmint, the
cutest little Panicums and a tiny daisy with lavender hints that wasn't
even in my wildflower guide. That sweet little daisy is Entireleaf Western Daisy a Middle Tennessee
native (annual) that I have allowed to spread where ever it is happy. Later that spring the old world Irises that were planted by the former
owner bloomed and the Green Dragon dramatically unfurled. Summer brought
the <i>Phlox paniculata</i> into bloom and later that fall I welcomed the sea of blue <i>Symphyotrichum shortii, S lateriflorum, S cordifolium </i>and <i>S pilosum </i>along with their busily nectaring pollinators.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbXzRrJKhRnPMiAPVGoN1KiKPsUZpacz8jnHOij631G1z8fKRg0BcFvdRJ7aDedlyjLNX9oP0Sr3gUZ6lBPOXJdAOd1wQhM43-Ss7rNlQzJ3rilvrzMAEjDzbI016pEtXvlOCKzeDWZDHYMANrcHHbvdj4X8hE2MywvD6UUzz4G_W7L_rSDzp77gZzuw/s2406/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.18.12%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="2406" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbXzRrJKhRnPMiAPVGoN1KiKPsUZpacz8jnHOij631G1z8fKRg0BcFvdRJ7aDedlyjLNX9oP0Sr3gUZ6lBPOXJdAOd1wQhM43-Ss7rNlQzJ3rilvrzMAEjDzbI016pEtXvlOCKzeDWZDHYMANrcHHbvdj4X8hE2MywvD6UUzz4G_W7L_rSDzp77gZzuw/w640-h614/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.18.12%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Aromatic aster, Short's aster and River Oats</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> It was a native plant wake up call* and I suppose you could say that those little blue asters opened my eyes to all the critters that live in and visit this garden. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADF-rlhCEusfX4D0h5bL6elz48kFvNkvU0uJ4UacCPe6fdbI7pDbRtYdNmdvufWqeQR-YJHiDX6_x3a6tW2kPv_JXNPsMn4GK7SG1X9eidDZ9Kl14XHkWWLJmk3yObDC2qIcPfPt82d4IFOGJfXB6GVpxPfOGb4mRPfk_r9W2OYptyOoNSqGLvMY5uQw/s640/IMG_1066_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADF-rlhCEusfX4D0h5bL6elz48kFvNkvU0uJ4UacCPe6fdbI7pDbRtYdNmdvufWqeQR-YJHiDX6_x3a6tW2kPv_JXNPsMn4GK7SG1X9eidDZ9Kl14XHkWWLJmk3yObDC2qIcPfPt82d4IFOGJfXB6GVpxPfOGb4mRPfk_r9W2OYptyOoNSqGLvMY5uQw/w640-h480/IMG_1066_2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from when Nashville was less droughty in the fall</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><i> Symphyotrichum</i> is a genus of about 90 species of herbaceous annual and perennial plants that were formerly treated within the genus Aster, but, are now known officially at Clay and Limestone as the ex-asters or asters when I forget their ridiculously hard to pronounce genus. The ones growing in my garden are all native to Middle Tennessee and grow
and thrive in the shallow clay soil and semi-shady to almost full sun
conditions of my Zone7 garden. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlvnEZBQ1ilER6vT4U0CKqo67ljcL1V1W9O_vnfMTQHzANzorJ1rRiTqATRXlqBrO4gJ1tuE25DkjUCYsDrh8RIXwuFM4bKNy9f7Yr3o_qv-V_4Bp-JzRkbh_kKyJsOHOxtu6cd_nxSsTqx98vHnPfoVY7W-mLX_xq_XvUnbpuNmLlVqk316quyrYFzc/s640/IMG_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="640" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlvnEZBQ1ilER6vT4U0CKqo67ljcL1V1W9O_vnfMTQHzANzorJ1rRiTqATRXlqBrO4gJ1tuE25DkjUCYsDrh8RIXwuFM4bKNy9f7Yr3o_qv-V_4Bp-JzRkbh_kKyJsOHOxtu6cd_nxSsTqx98vHnPfoVY7W-mLX_xq_XvUnbpuNmLlVqk316quyrYFzc/w640-h540/IMG_0476.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>They're<i> </i>are found all over North America and are an important nectar and pollen source for many insects including long-tongued bees, short-tongued bees, small to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers. The visiting insects primarily seek nectar, although the bees also collect pollen that they use to provision their winter nests. Many kinds of insects feed on the foliage and other parts of asters, including the caterpillars of the butterfly <i>Chlosyne nycteis</i> (Silvery Checkerspot) and the larvae of over 30 moth species. (<a href="http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/aromatic_asterx.htm" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q_z2vxGILQEiioEqRWRbwFuUKOVC4FXfVI1VCDnwH3fZ64ok9ehqKa6ej-wvUQfETGJhAUQ-a3EYS31dbg_svDP8FBiAt6GLZnYR-MmYaiG_e2QMACW-o1QcjJ0hpBJzHgIbEPrSSDbizo2J_Ipch1K1UUMUPd61Nv9IxU3k1jM4pFSF2VFAJBDGOnQ/s1220/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.27.53%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1220" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6q_z2vxGILQEiioEqRWRbwFuUKOVC4FXfVI1VCDnwH3fZ64ok9ehqKa6ej-wvUQfETGJhAUQ-a3EYS31dbg_svDP8FBiAt6GLZnYR-MmYaiG_e2QMACW-o1QcjJ0hpBJzHgIbEPrSSDbizo2J_Ipch1K1UUMUPd61Nv9IxU3k1jM4pFSF2VFAJBDGOnQ/w640-h556/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.27.53%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aromatic aster<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Asters in this post have a lot going for them<br /></p><ul><li>a delightful extended season of bloom just as the garden is transitioning to browns<br /></li><li>showy daisy like flowers that come in a variety of blues, violets and white<br /></li><li>graceful arching stems </li><li>a floral display that keeps on keeping on</li><li>a pollinator magnet </li><li>reseeds wonderfully, but they may be propagated by seeds, division, root cuttings, or stem cuttings</li><li>seeds have bristly tufts that help them disperse by the wind<br /></li><li>practically maintenance free </li><li>grows in shade</li><li>fairly drought tolerant</li><li>the leaves are often attractive<br /></li><li>will happily grow in containers, your wild garden or even a formal garden<br /></li></ul><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KkEuq604A_6Eb2ob2BTBCb1QRugYo5fFUxJOmAK71H7iv7RnzeVixil8ahMtbD8BvDH2oKfHkEk8IttfVVDJ0I_DRfUmqNg3Gpkr8hWer_Y6aEHA_MPShbSr4lnATmOGHev0gF6UAFb9s5b6hKzzsHQh7YQdNNhuM5Xy-WvbstLMTlqMsFnUW-E3Gmk/s640/DSCF1682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="640" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KkEuq604A_6Eb2ob2BTBCb1QRugYo5fFUxJOmAK71H7iv7RnzeVixil8ahMtbD8BvDH2oKfHkEk8IttfVVDJ0I_DRfUmqNg3Gpkr8hWer_Y6aEHA_MPShbSr4lnATmOGHev0gF6UAFb9s5b6hKzzsHQh7YQdNNhuM5Xy-WvbstLMTlqMsFnUW-E3Gmk/w640-h590/DSCF1682.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b> The Particulars</b></p><p>Genus name: <i>Symphyotrichum</i></p><p><i> </i><br />
Common Names: Short's aster, Calico aster, Heart leaved aster, Frost aster, Aromatic aster<br /> </p><p>Type: Herbaceous perennial<br /> </p><p>Family:<i> Asteraceae</i><br /> </p><p>Native Range: Eastern North America, Central United States and western Canada</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAE6x4xuxWYJYRaptnS6H4qwwa3ZLEvUvK6yuGfWZ5eCWJdnDIzoTkgIi1o79g9ThrQCShX0yFbliWC8uJAuiQY3DOTNccLxUXRQrQM0IUYN_B6O4OAWoDd_0NSfN5Y4M-r7iU44MEfZa5xsTSONFxi_nsAZYOqW0fC93TTO-UM9G2gtYtMNNmlWTx1A/s1320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.36.36%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1320" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAE6x4xuxWYJYRaptnS6H4qwwa3ZLEvUvK6yuGfWZ5eCWJdnDIzoTkgIi1o79g9ThrQCShX0yFbliWC8uJAuiQY3DOTNccLxUXRQrQM0IUYN_B6O4OAWoDd_0NSfN5Y4M-r7iU44MEfZa5xsTSONFxi_nsAZYOqW0fC93TTO-UM9G2gtYtMNNmlWTx1A/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.36.36%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRJOGJFUp0yWRL2YGIFApuiG313DfaNHtqHWz3E8hLDNHsOXBKToehbocOX9rAspwCujDAl2lpvQBXf-bejsxun3vdwvCE-_E7A37M_9UWh5swoUgjNsr7XjuOTMdlp0Zh1uvqAc8xSnupPHfibRuNIBWp52mRmQHifjgd3dNSmlKxlJyirVWzrwIBg/s1358/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.37.08%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1358" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRJOGJFUp0yWRL2YGIFApuiG313DfaNHtqHWz3E8hLDNHsOXBKToehbocOX9rAspwCujDAl2lpvQBXf-bejsxun3vdwvCE-_E7A37M_9UWh5swoUgjNsr7XjuOTMdlp0Zh1uvqAc8xSnupPHfibRuNIBWp52mRmQHifjgd3dNSmlKxlJyirVWzrwIBg/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.37.08%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsv3jewIxhitiHo75W-xmiSiTX_8kdV8pHmUx5kx6e6bxIpuTOMYPAVW7EyPAQsBnf-hK5gDFSQpMWm1nww1TN-808qvAPcGEeYuRdKGlliY0M4mfCcJoKNMNSkDLulazcWmb67UOFxA-nHBvQs2UYOG8_6ONS5yfeN-HrE7Iq556qVMWm92SA0Tojhc/s1400/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.37.33%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1400" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsv3jewIxhitiHo75W-xmiSiTX_8kdV8pHmUx5kx6e6bxIpuTOMYPAVW7EyPAQsBnf-hK5gDFSQpMWm1nww1TN-808qvAPcGEeYuRdKGlliY0M4mfCcJoKNMNSkDLulazcWmb67UOFxA-nHBvQs2UYOG8_6ONS5yfeN-HrE7Iq556qVMWm92SA0Tojhc/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.37.33%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48xmTEV2ExFz7lAwlh6EvzwLw_ua4_0ianSC1hrZXw1xGXGk-pCC2rDMd_fMZCG1M7qm1-KtoUf_72PARBXMDUyx2hckgBOJ4asBHDinS8h6w4FPBAqh4_O6vScpgd6IAgJ3sObOmIRKDhFQ6Pky31NVppOJM4VVhBzxZGRIs8RBAjqny6uaezq0QL28/s1336/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.36.15%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1336" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48xmTEV2ExFz7lAwlh6EvzwLw_ua4_0ianSC1hrZXw1xGXGk-pCC2rDMd_fMZCG1M7qm1-KtoUf_72PARBXMDUyx2hckgBOJ4asBHDinS8h6w4FPBAqh4_O6vScpgd6IAgJ3sObOmIRKDhFQ6Pky31NVppOJM4VVhBzxZGRIs8RBAjqny6uaezq0QL28/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.36.15%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGqihBdYIaC7s_DDPvUx3lyRX5tBnt2PI4gCHcVnubfNakvPjGXOBmddsB7H-AtkUT1Dve65JvKEf4Szfbiw8XTkrfEyOs4JDNZ2wYXPMr1SGTwWP0flIoVTxfl5STnTlOdIPn5pnLTd5ujw-4VvxKU8cfMpCTlRFTrHioC8rD7dfTX5Hi09jFY0K98E/s1390/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.38.25%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="1390" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGqihBdYIaC7s_DDPvUx3lyRX5tBnt2PI4gCHcVnubfNakvPjGXOBmddsB7H-AtkUT1Dve65JvKEf4Szfbiw8XTkrfEyOs4JDNZ2wYXPMr1SGTwWP0flIoVTxfl5STnTlOdIPn5pnLTd5ujw-4VvxKU8cfMpCTlRFTrHioC8rD7dfTX5Hi09jFY0K98E/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-23%20at%205.38.25%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><p>Zone: 4 to 8 </p><p>Height: 2.00 to 4.00 feet </p><p>Spread: 2.00 to 4.00 feet </p><p>Bloom Time: September to October and into November (middle Tennessee) </p><p>Bloom Description: Showy and attractive to native bees and butterfly. The flowers have disc florets that may be white or yellow. The rays encircle the floret, and their colors vary from white, pink, blue, or purple. </p><p>Aspect: Full sun to part shade </p><p>Water: Mesic to dry conditions </p><p>Soil: Loam, clay-loam, sandy loam, or gravelly material </p><p>Maintenance: Low</p><p>Wildlife value: They're<i> </i>are found all over North America and are an important
nectar and pollen source for many insects including long-tongued bees,
short-tongued bees, small to medium-sized butterflies, and skippers. The
visiting insects primarily seek nectar, although the bees also collect
pollen that they use to provision their winter nests. Many kinds of
insects feed on the foliage and other parts of asters, including the
caterpillars of the butterfly <i>Chlosyne nycteis</i> (Silvery Checkerspot) and the larvae of over 30 moth species. (<a href="http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/aromatic_asterx.htm" target="_blank">source</a>) Asters also provide nectar for migrating monarch butterflies and seeds for birds.<br /></p><p>Comments: I love how fantastic these flowers can look when they are allowed to plant themselves with abandon throughout the garden. If you can go with the flow you'll be rewarded with a blue cloud of shimmering flowers that bloom until frost...But, if you need more order, they are magnificent in mixed borders.<br />
<br /><br /><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Udxs3oxzzrXfbiN3k0HW44Rd6WEGmyDWN_BbZIjXzhvQsmb2-9_oI3Gtuo2EZq-uXe6b6ax8YBF0jUqQl5PjE2YigL3f4OLx9l_zUvyBN7A2pnJi-ewiv-_aEzaJKuXnbpw-nfZ38zKuPWsfga2ITisLiIvcpteI2h2-KiHxO4F5xX1Yo2Ik9czDBXI/s1196/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-22%20at%206.27.43%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1196" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Udxs3oxzzrXfbiN3k0HW44Rd6WEGmyDWN_BbZIjXzhvQsmb2-9_oI3Gtuo2EZq-uXe6b6ax8YBF0jUqQl5PjE2YigL3f4OLx9l_zUvyBN7A2pnJi-ewiv-_aEzaJKuXnbpw-nfZ38zKuPWsfga2ITisLiIvcpteI2h2-KiHxO4F5xX1Yo2Ik9czDBXI/w640-h568/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-22%20at%206.27.43%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p> </p><p> Trust me when I say that ex-aster time is the best time to be in the garden and maybe the best time to be a bee! So glad you stopped by.xoxogail<br /></p><p><b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone and <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>.
This day is about sharing wildflowers and other native plants no
matter where one gardens~the UK, tropical Florida, Europe, Australia,
Africa, South America, India or the coldest reaches of Canada. It
doesn't matter if we sometimes share the same plants. It doesn't matter
if they're in bloom (think winter sharing), how they grow and
thrive in your garden is what matters most.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-O6Jb6OATF97Qf-RXMQzjHvSn9lVfkqup4Nhj91L-eyFhEhwLsVpDyrr_9abLdPAq40bUyAEcmwHJKwl1QFsPKArh3gHVELKOmbS90rJZvvUVNScnjwhvvH8vXVg-Yph6WEVy6lksqfi29f_RBWAW8RlPfWGlx3TeRhsivFwoOc80fg0kohwZ7WaI7o/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-O6Jb6OATF97Qf-RXMQzjHvSn9lVfkqup4Nhj91L-eyFhEhwLsVpDyrr_9abLdPAq40bUyAEcmwHJKwl1QFsPKArh3gHVELKOmbS90rJZvvUVNScnjwhvvH8vXVg-Yph6WEVy6lksqfi29f_RBWAW8RlPfWGlx3TeRhsivFwoOc80fg0kohwZ7WaI7o/w400-h359/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b> <br /><p></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-48333725237140633302023-09-27T05:00:00.538-05:002023-09-27T15:38:26.587-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Rough and Tumble Wildflowers on the Greenway and in My Neighborhood<p>
It's rough and tumble wildflower bloom time in my garden and at the greenway where I walk most mornings. I am delighted to see so many different wildflowers in the sea of invasive honeysuckle, Mimosa, <i>Ailanthus</i>, <i>Euonymous fortunae,</i> Bradford Pears, privet and Rose of Sharon that have almost completely taken over many of our greenways. I love that these rough and tumble wildflowers have survived the invasion and are there for wildlife. </p><p>Several former Wildflower Wednesday stars have a presence on the greenway and you can click on the highlighted plant names to see that post. I will introduce you to several new plants.<br /></p><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-314tZUkQhME/WwR-6iVPKFI/AAAAAAAAnHs/ErZZQEs2E-wLHkCA7BUiM2b99RaShrlAQCLcBGAs/s1600/P8261236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1033" height="476" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-314tZUkQhME/WwR-6iVPKFI/AAAAAAAAnHs/ErZZQEs2E-wLHkCA7BUiM2b99RaShrlAQCLcBGAs/s640/P8261236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/05/wildflower-wednesday-bears-foot-and.html" target="_blank">Hairy leaf cup/Bear's Foot/<i>Smallanthus uvedalius</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The greenway is a 4 mile loop around a local golf course and is
frequented by runners, walkers and bikers. We love the greenway, it's a
fantastic way to connect with nature. It's exciting to see so many
parents and children there each time we go. I imagine that for a lot of
urban children greenways are their first introduction to nature. It's a
pretty cool resource were walkers can observe turtles sunning on logs in Richland Creek, an occasional heron fishing for dinner, butterfly, bees, migrating and resident birds and even a snake.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVpGzO1nmVQ/U88L79qUEBI/AAAAAAAAYIU/xM2N3VYiUxItGGkz7amljQKHh4pm_BNGwCPcBGAYYCw/s2048/DSCF3950.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2048" height="506" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zVpGzO1nmVQ/U88L79qUEBI/AAAAAAAAYIU/xM2N3VYiUxItGGkz7amljQKHh4pm_BNGwCPcBGAYYCw/w640-h506/DSCF3950.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2014/07/wildflower-wednesday-in-praise-of.html" target="_blank">Cup plant/<i>Silphium perfoliatum</i></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our cities need to make sure there are greenways, parks and protected woodlands.
Wilderness is disappearing and human-dominated landscapes of houses,
businesses, parking lots and roadways are expanding and displacing
living/nesting spaces for butterflies, bees, songbirds and other
creatures. This is not good for the critters or for us.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrX5p-UQdC1hP5pVTf4KxU4g3mHAmwCSJdW3qDzMiwWhw2JpUNF30gkxfo41BwvlsP1276bhBRCmLgsNbCUk5k5I1yE38UbO3J038MfjVrtUitH1aSEKAtRK3_GPfeDq7qZPx1BhDMHkHuHnYpONQUW_ZZNKfMaeEUA0toOOBddJgfVcwYIrLM1qHlz0/s2204/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-14%20at%2011.08.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2204" data-original-width="1990" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrX5p-UQdC1hP5pVTf4KxU4g3mHAmwCSJdW3qDzMiwWhw2JpUNF30gkxfo41BwvlsP1276bhBRCmLgsNbCUk5k5I1yE38UbO3J038MfjVrtUitH1aSEKAtRK3_GPfeDq7qZPx1BhDMHkHuHnYpONQUW_ZZNKfMaeEUA0toOOBddJgfVcwYIrLM1qHlz0/w578-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-14%20at%2011.08.31%20AM.png" width="578" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Passiflora incarnata</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p> I want a world where my
granddaughter and other children don't have
limited opportunities to connect with nature. Too many people are nature deprived. Especially children who spend more time viewing television and
playing video games on computers than they do being physically active
outside. Richard Louv called this phenomena, ‘nature-deficit
disorder’ in his book, The Last Child in the Woods. He wrote about how
significant the developmental effects of nature are for children.
Although, it's not a medical term, he said it's "a metaphor—to describe
what many of us believe are the human costs of alienation from nature:
diminished use of the senses, attention difficulties, higher rates of
physical and emotional illnesses, a rising rate of myopia, child and
adult obesity, Vitamin D deficiency, and other maladies." (<a href="https://naturalearning.org/sites/default/files/Benefits%20of%20Connecting%20Children%20with%20Nature_InfoSheet.pdf" target="_blank">source</a>) </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhFxAZfVTNk/W23A3NvxLxI/AAAAAAAAoPM/fIZz-zdB2XsflGmCBNF-e-IthRHC9lWtgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-07-23%2Bat%2B3.26.10%2BPM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="1600" height="496" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yhFxAZfVTNk/W23A3NvxLxI/AAAAAAAAoPM/fIZz-zdB2XsflGmCBNF-e-IthRHC9lWtgCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-07-23%2Bat%2B3.26.10%2BPM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/08/wildflower-wednesday-rudbeckia-triloba.html" target="_blank">Rudbeckia triloba</a></i> in my garden, but also found at greenway</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i></i></div><p>Not only are children growing up deprived of a connection with nature,
adults are also missing out on the known benefits that time in nature
can give them. It's important to note that when children have no
connection to nature they are less likely to advocate for conservation.
Maybe that's why so few adults seem concerned about the environment,
perhaps they grew up disconnected from nature and continue to be disconnected.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlpZvwQF5m2U1bY5NH0nyFF9UapAFUOt4lb5jlvYz7o0xV9-DYAYe_FrVliGAeX58eIjV17lsvjtPrdSkIYjaY04f3oJndMvvLlFh9SmEi-LxIoODUSdm5cErOSFGiVlfMFBkyUh_VtKzgPouSKvDpLqV7nWiQpYsYuXHraHOnjN6rVq946A1dj08fE/s2562/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.47.39%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1462" data-original-width="2562" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJlpZvwQF5m2U1bY5NH0nyFF9UapAFUOt4lb5jlvYz7o0xV9-DYAYe_FrVliGAeX58eIjV17lsvjtPrdSkIYjaY04f3oJndMvvLlFh9SmEi-LxIoODUSdm5cErOSFGiVlfMFBkyUh_VtKzgPouSKvDpLqV7nWiQpYsYuXHraHOnjN6rVq946A1dj08fE/w640-h366/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.47.39%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/09/whats-wrong-with-goldenrod.html" target="_blank">I call this field goldenrod. Not climbing over to ID!</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I challenge you to head to your local greenway and find native plants.
Take your phone and use <i><a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/" target="_blank">Inaturalist</a></i> to help you id plants. I guarantee
that you will find at least a few native beauties among the invasives. <br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0hS73000c1v874YWqgQ1N_iCnpJRaf5W4pd_Po_eu0ZlOofx13ILH4fL7lNR1lulDmFL7gJ6kIJpJiG_5rhWqAs8lD6kP1_OkyBV1sXJD1aWPa1VGL8ofT_OMTvyUycUFGSW_uQC8EMEJqV9-GYNAAxdmP8MBZm-7DMn32FQOWpnh8bT5x9JVnsbufQ/s1650/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.46.28%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1650" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0hS73000c1v874YWqgQ1N_iCnpJRaf5W4pd_Po_eu0ZlOofx13ILH4fL7lNR1lulDmFL7gJ6kIJpJiG_5rhWqAs8lD6kP1_OkyBV1sXJD1aWPa1VGL8ofT_OMTvyUycUFGSW_uQC8EMEJqV9-GYNAAxdmP8MBZm-7DMn32FQOWpnh8bT5x9JVnsbufQ/w640-h628/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.46.28%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fuzzy bean (<i>Strophostyles hellvola</i>) on greenway</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'm still discovering natives that I've never met or never seen in the wild before. I recently spotted <i>Strophostyles hellvola. </i>Boy, was I surprised and delighted.<i> </i>It's got a great name, too, Fuzzy bean. It's fuzzy.<br /></p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2JNxNJ_ChzHt8EoGy6eWJY2OzFKBvaw2BZRlP4xkWmTtheSRwPd362RQHdzlGvK1HkmjeNfJrA9kUYfmMxjUCz-PGTkSnJ_nBEcN9pQwrsJ1GgpGdFJYuO6uF4Kpl2HPwHSa-MPVwQA_Yrl5-uARL07jXj7A1FF19SVYnp80ONM14RHo2p5R5HpUd9g/s1512/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.21.10%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2JNxNJ_ChzHt8EoGy6eWJY2OzFKBvaw2BZRlP4xkWmTtheSRwPd362RQHdzlGvK1HkmjeNfJrA9kUYfmMxjUCz-PGTkSnJ_nBEcN9pQwrsJ1GgpGdFJYuO6uF4Kpl2HPwHSa-MPVwQA_Yrl5-uARL07jXj7A1FF19SVYnp80ONM14RHo2p5R5HpUd9g/w466-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.21.10%20PM.png" width="466" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i> </i>It's not an overly showy plant, it's flowers are small and short lived but the beans/seeds are pretty cool and fuzzy, just like the name. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggALIrjRpkRb--rsLdnn-StVRqpl-egcJ_4zM4YC0PY7oENGTY1WEHzgqoQULuPYGOc6EusTm2lFXzrQXS4cNSZN_07PvIGsTf2P0XhR7M6GQXeejyikBeAdNtfhS1afI_XvLL-8_E8HNbkRmJ5GZeV_fPCz4ykzPRxXCho6_9PuP3XQRaEnK9eNOEVIc/s1284/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.27.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="1076" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggALIrjRpkRb--rsLdnn-StVRqpl-egcJ_4zM4YC0PY7oENGTY1WEHzgqoQULuPYGOc6EusTm2lFXzrQXS4cNSZN_07PvIGsTf2P0XhR7M6GQXeejyikBeAdNtfhS1afI_XvLL-8_E8HNbkRmJ5GZeV_fPCz4ykzPRxXCho6_9PuP3XQRaEnK9eNOEVIc/w536-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.27.22%20PM.png" width="536" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When the seeds are ripe the pod twists open and expels the seeds away from the plant. I have one vine in a pot on my porch and I've found the oblongoid shaped seeds on the steps.<i> <br /></i></p><p><i> </i><b>A few particulars</b></p><p>Botanical name: <i>Strophostyles hellvola</i></p><p>Common name: Fuzzybean, wild bean, wild trailing bean<br /></p><p>Range: From <a href="https://www.prairiemoon.com/strophostyles-helvola-trailing-wild-bean#panel-rangemap" target="_blank">Prairie Moon Nursery</a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Bhp1s_SU-pWgLTW-rQqnnAZYyshCyN-83Pju87pTIJ1s5qprv9auiDJqpgcATFzqK9eCDpr5wiH-owa3arg-dkMU-uKG1zZW2meNeKPronccvH7TPvstbilyCbDZxplTiRsmh0ml_mIJyYVsKYUFN6O57Mpdp8xkpCeCNnTuCI0ukunSF1yQMf-5yuI/s1460/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.39.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Bhp1s_SU-pWgLTW-rQqnnAZYyshCyN-83Pju87pTIJ1s5qprv9auiDJqpgcATFzqK9eCDpr5wiH-owa3arg-dkMU-uKG1zZW2meNeKPronccvH7TPvstbilyCbDZxplTiRsmh0ml_mIJyYVsKYUFN6O57Mpdp8xkpCeCNnTuCI0ukunSF1yQMf-5yuI/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%206.39.16%20PM.png" width="311" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Annual vine </p><p>Cultivation: Prefers partial sun, moist to mesic conditions, and soil containing sand, loam, silt, or gravelly soil. The root system can fix nitrogen in the soil.<br /></p><p>Flower: pink, light pink</p><p>The flowers are cross-pollinated by bees, especially Large Leaf-Cutting bees and bumblebees. One bee species, <i>Megachile integra</i>, is a specialist pollinator (<i>oligolege</i>) of <i>Strophostyles</i> spp. (Fuzzy Beans). Both nectar and pollen are available as floral rewards. Fuzzy Bean also has extra-floral nectaries, which attract primarily
wasps, flies, ants, and small Halictid bees. The extra-floral nectaries
may prevent nectar thieves (e.g., ants) from stealing nectar from the
flowers, or they may attract insects (e.g., ants & wasps) that help
to protect the plant from insects that feed on the foliage.<i></i>(<a href="https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/savanna/plants/mo_fzbean.htm" target="_blank">Illinois wildflowers</a>)<br /></p><p>Comments: The seeds have been found in many archaeological sites, implying that this plant was used for food<i><br /></i></p><p><i> </i><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZwUh8u6rP3NArlqFn247iMVkotygFRBRhzwldP_DDjrCmGHgZC-jpW8JwTFqG-SEDuYQsN4mgP-5XDvc8FhQrPf4PU7jBXaUYGk8g6DbTrOnVD7iV1WRM8O425FYTVoqbt9JvNRTlzNn2XROeBsqmZOuJzskpRwbetbGX4iRJQiq6DY3eqnNk-neuI4/s1686/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.47.00%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1686" data-original-width="1210" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZwUh8u6rP3NArlqFn247iMVkotygFRBRhzwldP_DDjrCmGHgZC-jpW8JwTFqG-SEDuYQsN4mgP-5XDvc8FhQrPf4PU7jBXaUYGk8g6DbTrOnVD7iV1WRM8O425FYTVoqbt9JvNRTlzNn2XROeBsqmZOuJzskpRwbetbGX4iRJQiq6DY3eqnNk-neuI4/w460-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.47.00%20PM.png" width="460" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Dicliptera brachiate </i>found along a creek behind church</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I pass the same wet weather ditch at least once a week and about ten days ago the small pink flowers caught my eye. I id-ed it as <i>Dicliptera brachiate, </i>aka<i>, </i>Branched Foldwing, a native herbaceous perennial in the Acanthus family (<i>Acanthaceae</i>). The leaf structure (opposite) and fruiting capsules remind me of <i>Ruellia strepens</i>, also a member of the Acanthus family.<br /></p><p> A Few Particulars<br /></p><p>Common names: false mint, wild mudwort, branched foldwing</p><p>Fruits - Capsules 4-6 mm long, </p><p>Flowering - August - October. </p><p>Habitat - Bottomland forests, streambanks, moist depressions. </p><p>Origin - Native to the U.S. Ranging from the eastern United States to Central America.<br /></p><p>Flower: Pink to lavender</p><p>Wildlife value: Attracts: Butterflies Larval Host: Texan crescent</p><p>Comments: This plant is aptly named in both the Latin and common forms: <i>Dicliptera: diklis,</i> Greek meaning “double-folding” and <i>pteron</i>, Greek meaning “wing”; brachiata refers to “branch”. (<a href="https://mygardenersays.com/2015/08/13/small-lavender-and-mysterious/" target="_blank">source: My Gardener Says</a>)<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnj6CIJ2JisP8qShfeqQdwXBJQsY6tAAzDCtewqKU2RiijPF3HyoyyEp_AinHYy5gxT3soxvTdTvejEDtT48rC3C8eiufPBhfKANow5Rc2uxeDALBLNXaUuxaREwSPbmo-mgmHvfxbAbIWgM2QF4iMh3l36bk-JMWBJOHxorXM2aG7DOu4KEwmuPWltI/s1718/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.46.08%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1718" data-original-width="1646" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnj6CIJ2JisP8qShfeqQdwXBJQsY6tAAzDCtewqKU2RiijPF3HyoyyEp_AinHYy5gxT3soxvTdTvejEDtT48rC3C8eiufPBhfKANow5Rc2uxeDALBLNXaUuxaREwSPbmo-mgmHvfxbAbIWgM2QF4iMh3l36bk-JMWBJOHxorXM2aG7DOu4KEwmuPWltI/w384-h400/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-26%20at%203.46.08%20PM.png" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">found along a creek</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>This might be a good time to remind my new and long time readers about my neighborhood. The section I live in was built in the mid 1950s and had modest ranch houses. The entire neighborhood was a woodland that developers bulldozed carving curving roads. Today there are still pockets of native plants. In my own yard I discovered <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2020/05/wildflower-wednesday-penstemon-calycosus.html" target="_blank">Penstemon calycosus</a>, <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/10/little-ex-asters-everywhere.html" target="_blank">asters</a>, <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/03/wildflower-wednesday-trillium-cuneatum.html" target="_blank">Trillium</a>, and a host of other native beauties on the edges of the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2012/06/native-grass-experiment.html" target="_blank">Poverty oat grass</a> lawn.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF49ab2Pf_eOEAsJatfGmgoFtibU27dblHAMv4WgN2IAeM37acDl9FX8S4Zbn0OSssugLCwBtLTNGTkC-Fr_PyeCcxNYMwTi60ajoanH0T9UeKqhBfY-nmUWBuXnk69y-ABZiK8u8dJ_pQIo0u1QaxaArRzpOkSFrLVqy3e8WEBN_q8IhcoC8R-88aYA/s640/P8296759.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="618" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF49ab2Pf_eOEAsJatfGmgoFtibU27dblHAMv4WgN2IAeM37acDl9FX8S4Zbn0OSssugLCwBtLTNGTkC-Fr_PyeCcxNYMwTi60ajoanH0T9UeKqhBfY-nmUWBuXnk69y-ABZiK8u8dJ_pQIo0u1QaxaArRzpOkSFrLVqy3e8WEBN_q8IhcoC8R-88aYA/w618-h640/P8296759.JPG" width="618" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2021/09/another-rough-and-tumble-wildflower.html" target="_blank"><i>Verbesina virginica</i></a> has a large presence at the greenway</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>The number one reason I garden for wildlife is to make a difference. The
number one reason I continue to blog about my beloved wildflowers and
critters is to demonstrate to others that we can make a difference. I
believe that with all my heart...It's what keeps me going despite the
assault on nature that is continuing all around us.</p><p>xoxogail</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU6sgYH0a6YQSuiGzBqss5bkT_I-KlJqXGztNm6KP7p97Yl-NUE61n87OgIAb9kVywTRnz2iHA1Qo1qXHd9P8ayG_dUAc0nzWihwznYFxU8j4J07BaTZmGMvoobh4BBVpnzeFcQSaTNs6TWnsYZfQaCaq6SQolu1ZZw-vUsBUbXRIJv5nS3dGCTaR3rs/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWU6sgYH0a6YQSuiGzBqss5bkT_I-KlJqXGztNm6KP7p97Yl-NUE61n87OgIAb9kVywTRnz2iHA1Qo1qXHd9P8ayG_dUAc0nzWihwznYFxU8j4J07BaTZmGMvoobh4BBVpnzeFcQSaTNs6TWnsYZfQaCaq6SQolu1ZZw-vUsBUbXRIJv5nS3dGCTaR3rs/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> <br /></p><p>PS If you're new to Clay and Limestone, rough and tumble wildflowers are
simple wildflowers that bloom their hearts out and require the easiest
of care. Many have never been hybridized, which means they haven't had
their best characteristic bred out of them. Rough and tumble wildflowers are doing the job nature
intended them to do, which is to make a lot of food (nectar and/or
pollen) and bloom exactly when the critters need it-just in time for
provisioning a nest for the winter or for migrating birds. Once bloom is
past
and the seeds ripen, they become feeding stations for over wintering
birds which seek out those seeds.</p><p>PPS I've borrowed quotes from a previous Wildflower Wednesday <br /></p><p> <b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you
comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-84343093524390634622023-08-23T05:00:00.093-05:002023-08-23T05:00:00.130-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Vernonia gigantea, A Rough and Tumble Wildflower<p>
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rxmGoZbdYbRrsJfxdUt6qYxyn_294UVOXvpBGyXTa2QpmeLT6166NmQWcdhhZUC-STTOC54Wx77EFdUXpynVH3iFRcTNRnxFaXMoAxCPwl_iityj4RO_ZDI_RaGy0LUb3KeLIv0-QmOF/s1600/IMG_2328_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6rxmGoZbdYbRrsJfxdUt6qYxyn_294UVOXvpBGyXTa2QpmeLT6166NmQWcdhhZUC-STTOC54Wx77EFdUXpynVH3iFRcTNRnxFaXMoAxCPwl_iityj4RO_ZDI_RaGy0LUb3KeLIv0-QmOF/s640/IMG_2328_2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><i>Vernonia gigantea is</i>
one of my favorite of the late summer <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2009/09/rough-and-tumble-wildflower-beauties.html" target="_blank">rough and tumble wildflowers </a>
that make a home in the garden. They make gardening at this time of year
a pleasure. Bees, butterflies, skippers, and various bee flies seek out the nectar and pollen. <b>Deer do not browse it.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMFo6sh_AbMjC64Hnsnn6YSm0SxusmdjzXMn95WJJcgafRzFMnXDUlUGo7A3jOVcu9p_P1UjYun8AlM_rkhyphenhyphenLGg45SOdgpqXTwNC1fmco0aWOnpqjQURuxK2CLc5_x9hlILnU5q862dS2/s1600/DSCF5889.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMFo6sh_AbMjC64Hnsnn6YSm0SxusmdjzXMn95WJJcgafRzFMnXDUlUGo7A3jOVcu9p_P1UjYun8AlM_rkhyphenhyphenLGg45SOdgpqXTwNC1fmco0aWOnpqjQURuxK2CLc5_x9hlILnU5q862dS2/w400-h344/DSCF5889.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Ironweed is the common name for this beauty. It's a clump forming perennial with clusters of fluffy magenta-purple petaled flowers in the <i>Asteraceae</i> family. The flower heads consist of 9 to 30 disc flowers that sit atop stiff, upright stems with lance shaped leaves.<i> </i>It's another native that doesn't mind wet feet and grows at Clay and Limestone despite the dry clay soil each summer. I do make sure it gets a good drink of water during especially droughty times. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfP9aKhtt6Y/XVNgeX4ChKI/AAAAAAAAryQ/KEldNNJ8pgg0N3pplc-eTC0lqfGrD-L1ACLcBGAs/s1600/P8182232.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfP9aKhtt6Y/XVNgeX4ChKI/AAAAAAAAryQ/KEldNNJ8pgg0N3pplc-eTC0lqfGrD-L1ACLcBGAs/s640/P8182232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Vernonia</i> is quite possibly the King of Pasture Weeds. In fact, the University of Tennessee has a
fact sheet and refers to this leggy beauty as a troublesome weed. It
seems that it's not tasty to cows and if it's growing in a pasture the
cows must spend more time looking for grass and that means less grazing!
Of course there's a term for this~~grazing inefficiency. Naturally they recommend using herbicides to eradicate it. Herbicides are a no-no in this garden. </p><p>According to that same article, <i>Vernonia</i> thrives in disturbed/empty places, which is why it shows up in pastures. My garden is quite crowded so over the years the clump has gotten smaller. I've decided to dig out the <i>Rudbeckia maxima </i>(moving it to a container) and plant the ironweed in it's place. <br /></p><p><i>Vernonia</i> is too ecologically valuable to allow it to languish.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVX_E2m6t6Y/XW7RUQs-8iI/AAAAAAAAsAU/2i5fgmQwhhAJFfeM2HUCSTJWkI76mZmHwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-03%2Bat%2B3.46.43%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1572" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVX_E2m6t6Y/XW7RUQs-8iI/AAAAAAAAsAU/2i5fgmQwhhAJFfeM2HUCSTJWkI76mZmHwCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-09-03%2Bat%2B3.46.43%2BPM.png" width="628" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I have a special place in my heart for wild and rough looking
beauties like <i>Vernonia</i>. </span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pasture weeds are spectacular and I adore them. Goldenrod, <i>Callirhoe involucrata, </i>common evening primrose,<i><i> Tradescantia ohiensis</i>, </i>violets<i>, </i><i><i>Eupatorium capillifolium and Salvia lyrata </i></i> are also on the weed list. They're all rough and tumble wildflowers favorites at Clay and Limestone. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgl_5MbM0qw/XVNBMsUUFbI/AAAAAAAAryE/2FeUGDzw8Qgf0Qm7Fty_XNJ5EKsqgXsmQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-08-13%2Bat%2B7.46.49%2BAM.png"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgl_5MbM0qw/XVNBMsUUFbI/AAAAAAAAryE/2FeUGDzw8Qgf0Qm7Fty_XNJ5EKsqgXsmQCK4BGAYYCw/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2019-08-13%2Bat%2B7.46.49%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a> Just take a drive down a country road and you can see our star in an pasture or in the roadside ditch. If you live near a meadow or prairie it's sure to be thriving there.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxX2syXTv30iQNYL6YBuJtEfSjwG6rWxb7R2sPcgcLwxB62OLpu_OBe0zFG9SB2UbiX5LzLiQd-i3-F7SQBm-mRHNsxr1tD3WKoPry7C20al8J2Es5D6gYUNK-WjSUGtbIj1pezBk2vLSFUJrsqNKz8u2Iim_hJNINJmnPGcp5ApMkAnQ9gHeMWqGPRU/s2054/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-22%20at%208.57.41%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2054" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxX2syXTv30iQNYL6YBuJtEfSjwG6rWxb7R2sPcgcLwxB62OLpu_OBe0zFG9SB2UbiX5LzLiQd-i3-F7SQBm-mRHNsxr1tD3WKoPry7C20al8J2Es5D6gYUNK-WjSUGtbIj1pezBk2vLSFUJrsqNKz8u2Iim_hJNINJmnPGcp5ApMkAnQ9gHeMWqGPRU/w498-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-08-22%20at%208.57.41%20AM.png" width="498" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The birds planted it in my garden. Thank you goldfinches and song sparrows for collecting the rust colored seeds and dropping them in my garden! Dear reader, you might consider planting it to attract pollinators because it is a fantastic late-season nectar source. Leave the stalks standing all winter to feed the birds. The caterpillars of some moths feed on Ironweed species, including <i>Grammia parthenice</i> (Parthenice Tiger Moth), <i>Perigea xanthioides</i> (Red Groundling), and <i>Papaipema cerussata</i> (Ironweed Borer Moth). The larvae of some insect feeders are known to form galls on the buds and flowerheads of Vernonia species. (<a href="https://www.prairiemoon.com/vernonia-altissima-tall-ironweed-prairie-moon-nursery.html" target="_blank">source</a>)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOF0doBAL1FIX_PFg2Sz-9HiP17cqOfc5J864barLRD_EIvY1jwgkcJCvcQeFajRe6SCiltqiwGLiS-DJ66gdkIpvmmJXvPRK9eRirI7sYRAH7bgvSNrbKhysXzTneqFy0hn7tonIy1i4bAXT65yKhm8DNRNH5Jok8_myYzCbPEF_MZKV6M3D8i6pyLw/s640/IMG_2106.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOF0doBAL1FIX_PFg2Sz-9HiP17cqOfc5J864barLRD_EIvY1jwgkcJCvcQeFajRe6SCiltqiwGLiS-DJ66gdkIpvmmJXvPRK9eRirI7sYRAH7bgvSNrbKhysXzTneqFy0hn7tonIy1i4bAXT65yKhm8DNRNH5Jok8_myYzCbPEF_MZKV6M3D8i6pyLw/w640-h480/IMG_2106.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I appreciate any plants that haven't had
their best characteristics bred out of them. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>When <i>Vernonia </i>blooms I know it will be doing the job nature intended it to do: make a lot of nectar and
pollen and bloom for a long time, exactly when the critters need both.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wrro_e1I8Q/XW7Om5lkDXI/AAAAAAAAsAA/HmqT8k5oVeAPMBknb7tKpQLkRdRpPrywQCLcBGAs/s1600/P8150065%2B12.02.41%2BPM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0wrro_e1I8Q/XW7Om5lkDXI/AAAAAAAAsAA/HmqT8k5oVeAPMBknb7tKpQLkRdRpPrywQCLcBGAs/s640/P8150065%2B12.02.41%2BPM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<p><b>The Particulars</b></p><p>Botanical name: <i>Vernonia gigantea</i>, scientific synonym is <i>Vernonia altissima</i>.<br /></p><p> Common Name: giant ironweed </p><p> Type: Herbaceous perennial </p><p>Family: <i>Asteraceae</i> </p><p>Native Range: Eastern United States </p><p>Zone: 5 to 8 </p><p>Height: 5.00 to 8.00 feet </p><p>Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet </p><p>Bloom Time: August to September </p><p>Bloom Description: Rose purple/magenta <br /></p><p>Sun: Full sun to part shade </p><p>Water: Medium to wet </p><p>Maintenance: Low </p><p>Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden, back of the border with Cup plant, <i>Oenothera biennis</i>, and tall <i>Rudbeckias</i> <br /></p><p>Flower: Showy, a wonderful purple that looks brilliant with yellow composites <br /></p><p>Tolerate: Deer, Wet Soil</p><p>Ecology: is a larval host to the ironweed borer moth (<i>Papaipema cerussata</i>) and the red groundling moth (<i>Perigea xanthioides</i>). The small rust-colored seeds of ironweed attract finches and song sparrows.<br /></p><p>Comments: Habitats include open woodlands, woodland borders, thickets, areas along woodland paths, swamps, riverbottom prairies, seeps and springs, pastures, and abandoned fields. It can be easily shaded out by tall trees. <br /></p><p> xoxogail</p><p>So glad you stopped by to see the Wildflower Wednesday star! <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>
is about sharing wildflowers all over this great big beautiful
world. It doesn't matter if we sometimes show the same plants, how
they grow and thrive in your garden is what matters most. I hope
you join the celebration...It's always the fourth Wednesday of the
month! </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgNw_TZkkkqdsvC6v3hq3ELSPGZbi6H7Y3ZUFJAgkDGZ6Y-ORfxahcdSz7SMG0tTz1lpjdo5enYmzTeMCZljnYCMT1zp8owsdabs1UDEaY6LuW0LEoCzygeXeBcQmd-APcgtv_QiZJ84x-d1Dom91kPIuQLEOFjMf4FZneqgMCu6X9tX5OlgJZchIRVw/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgNw_TZkkkqdsvC6v3hq3ELSPGZbi6H7Y3ZUFJAgkDGZ6Y-ORfxahcdSz7SMG0tTz1lpjdo5enYmzTeMCZljnYCMT1zp8owsdabs1UDEaY6LuW0LEoCzygeXeBcQmd-APcgtv_QiZJ84x-d1Dom91kPIuQLEOFjMf4FZneqgMCu6X9tX5OlgJZchIRVw/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-75623538351482100932023-07-26T05:00:00.097-05:002023-07-26T05:00:00.135-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Elephantopus carolinianus<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div><p> I don't think you would be at all surprised to discover that I've found
another wildflower to love! This one is called Elephant's foot. It's a
very cool flowering plant with large leaves and tiny flowers. When I say
tiny I mean tiny and easily missed unless you're crawling around on the
ground in a woodland setting. Yes, I do spend time crawling around on
the ground looking at plants and I totally recommend it. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsp8xGmeD5FLgWSp5LoGacdOe7kiZXCxO3t1MEq_26kysd29LUiS955W43i_j0AGy2Q1RcviZ3vGMpZg0X4XVPD5HZsQN6NdnuZVJ4uqWbOBWCtmhaT-OCBl2R1Iqg47qH7Pwgxel027OiDcJYydfBxy_hQ30lZ-_lvo1c5VXBqE8tInAlFnbNgwgkHg/s1520/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.33.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1520" data-original-width="1362" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsp8xGmeD5FLgWSp5LoGacdOe7kiZXCxO3t1MEq_26kysd29LUiS955W43i_j0AGy2Q1RcviZ3vGMpZg0X4XVPD5HZsQN6NdnuZVJ4uqWbOBWCtmhaT-OCBl2R1Iqg47qH7Pwgxel027OiDcJYydfBxy_hQ30lZ-_lvo1c5VXBqE8tInAlFnbNgwgkHg/w574-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.33.41%20PM.png" width="574" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Although, I've seen Elephant's foot in wooded areas near by none have naturally occurred at Clay and Limestone. But, thanks to my South Carolina gardening friend <a href="https://thequeenofseaford.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Janet,</a> I have some in the garden. I planted them in the spring ephemeral bed along the driveway. They've survived and flowered, but not spread aggressively as some gardeners have reported. Maybe, I should be careful about what I wish for, but, I do wish this one would spread about; it would make an attractive ground cover and massing them would highlight the pretty flowers so much better.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSyCd0K8ts3V4s54vaLW1oIcaN0l93A9kLq5nWstDp1tOoVmuxfGfhOL4KIiGamv35tXWaqD0GXMFqYAR-kF4D-h__Kckuwt8QFBNOlisqK9TThkBsNc8NxGa3uNKGdcC2To2fB-ABpsEK8b-lvL21Wbrl-ZcClga_GDSA88fudJnHlDxeoCzGFzhzGE/s986/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%201.49.16%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="986" height="612" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSyCd0K8ts3V4s54vaLW1oIcaN0l93A9kLq5nWstDp1tOoVmuxfGfhOL4KIiGamv35tXWaqD0GXMFqYAR-kF4D-h__Kckuwt8QFBNOlisqK9TThkBsNc8NxGa3uNKGdcC2To2fB-ABpsEK8b-lvL21Wbrl-ZcClga_GDSA88fudJnHlDxeoCzGFzhzGE/w640-h612/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%201.49.16%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>On that note, I've discovered three seedlings in the cracks in my asphalt drive; which both amuses and amazes me. <span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">Whenever I find any plants growing in sidewalk cracks or grooves I conclude that they're perfect plants for Clay and Limestone! Plants that are able to adapt to harsh environmental conditions like heat, lack of nutrients and not much moisture are treasures. It's looking good that Elephant's foot can survive our summer droughts and shallow soil. It also looks like I will be collecting seeds this fall since propagation appears to be easy! (see The Particulars below)</span></span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrJ4lhkMjgxt0C1Fh7yCpj7PMq2k0DTEamJPpweyJeCiVcnryUCP2MDE7-Ze7F8TwaFd_bYxtSDhnh85EIH0Ike4UPMbSo4R1fVyGqTB71R6F3Wufti-eJg83G2_7q01Uf82UvUDlr4syTGFbs9H1d_5vcLpII02NEOgrPPy81uvog-AvBTN7mPPnHnA/s2504/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%201.56.35%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="2504" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrJ4lhkMjgxt0C1Fh7yCpj7PMq2k0DTEamJPpweyJeCiVcnryUCP2MDE7-Ze7F8TwaFd_bYxtSDhnh85EIH0Ike4UPMbSo4R1fVyGqTB71R6F3Wufti-eJg83G2_7q01Uf82UvUDlr4syTGFbs9H1d_5vcLpII02NEOgrPPy81uvog-AvBTN7mPPnHnA/w640-h576/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%201.56.35%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p><i>Elephantopus carolinianus</i> is a member of the <i>Asteraceae</i> family, and can be found along the southeastern United States, from Texas to New Jersey. Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in part shade. It's tolerant of some full sun. From my experience it looks like it will grow best in semi-shade with good drainage. It has been reported to have the potential to become aggressive and weedy in garden settings, so you might want to place it where it can romp. I planted it in several spots to see what will happen, including a cobalt blue container. I think this might be an indestructible wildflower which means it's now a member of the Clay and Limestone rough and tumble wildflower collection.<i> **<br /></i></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOhDXrm_5VNY1Y15WKbS6WvgZ6NeHuPfMqpYp9Z6bnHrGW33VoN904e3nqwOmWejIEXwAhPy0-uBqVuSffjKXe8chCto-LcCeFBd-Ynt1TY3fepZzasI3scDuN-EecKBGFaSBVvC6opx6seW4yY1ZKfZvufGPzbGGQU2CKvmKGkiCHfIqlLocU4vqKyQ/s1996/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.58.44%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1996" data-original-width="1870" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBOhDXrm_5VNY1Y15WKbS6WvgZ6NeHuPfMqpYp9Z6bnHrGW33VoN904e3nqwOmWejIEXwAhPy0-uBqVuSffjKXe8chCto-LcCeFBd-Ynt1TY3fepZzasI3scDuN-EecKBGFaSBVvC6opx6seW4yY1ZKfZvufGPzbGGQU2CKvmKGkiCHfIqlLocU4vqKyQ/w600-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.58.44%20PM.png" width="600" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, it's also planted in a blue container<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The flower in full bloom looks like a large single flower, but is actually many small flower heads which are arranged in compound
inflorescences. Elephant's foot flowers don't have the typical daisy appearance, instead each flower head contains only disc flowers. Each individual flower head rests
upon leafy bracts and contains 2-5, tubular, pale lavender disc
florets. <br />
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Clusters (up to 1 inch) of the small purple flowers on branched long stems give Elephant's foot a very colorful & airy appearance from July through frost. The broad leaves can be 8 inch long at the base of the plant, the leaves become much narrower & shorter on the flowering stems. (<a href="https://www.toadshade.com/Elephantopus-carolinianus.html" target="_blank">source</a>)<br />
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<br /> Similar in appearance and
closely related to the ironweeds (<i>Vernonia</i>). Unlike them, Elephant’s foot has its primary flowerheads grouped together into dense, headlike clusters. Ironweeds have separate flowerheads that are not grouped into such secondary clusters. (<a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/elephants-foot" target="_blank">source</a>) Large lower leaves provide the inspiration for the common name of Elephant's foot. <br />
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLRcC7PFT9yzdeWOQjsmcjKbtWgfVjtkgjML99HE0pLnkBBmogFr61mgAbwr-mAv4U9qhEwA7lP32CiyZyOua3SfywgxoJQDGph4YZ6zwzHs2khLPBwCrrATFS5YpNqmGr4b5apNGV8NGoQSdLEp8dZB676auX7490j9_oF9fRXFHLxwPxP_IiNDXg4Q/s1206/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-23%20at%206.41.55%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="896" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLRcC7PFT9yzdeWOQjsmcjKbtWgfVjtkgjML99HE0pLnkBBmogFr61mgAbwr-mAv4U9qhEwA7lP32CiyZyOua3SfywgxoJQDGph4YZ6zwzHs2khLPBwCrrATFS5YpNqmGr4b5apNGV8NGoQSdLEp8dZB676auX7490j9_oF9fRXFHLxwPxP_IiNDXg4Q/w477-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-23%20at%206.41.55%20AM.png" width="477" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.rivercitynatives.com/wildflowers" target="_blank">Illustration by Clara Richter of River City Natives</a> check them out<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<b>The Particulars</b><br /> </p><p>Family: <i>Asteracea</i></p><p><i> </i>Common names: Leafy elephant's foot, Carolina elephant's foot Synonyms: <i>Elephantopus flexuosus, Elephantopus violaceus, Elephantopus glabe</i> </p><p>Type: Herbaceous perennial</p><p>Native Range: Eastern United States over to Texas, West Indies</p><p>Zone: 4a-9b</p><p>Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet (occasionally to 4 foot)</p><p>Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet </p><p>Flower: Showy lavender, almost white flowers</p><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SpreadRow">Bloom Time: August to September or possibly to frost</div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SpreadRow"> </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SpreadRow">Sun: Part shade</div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SpreadRow"> </div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_WaterRow">
Water: Dry to medium</div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_WaterRow"> </div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_MaintenanceRow">
Maintenance: Low</div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_MaintenanceRow"><br />
Habitat: Low woods, ravines, streambanks, moist thickets, open woods. <br /></div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_MaintenanceRow"> </div>
<div class="row">
Suggested Use: Ground Cover, native plant gardens, massed in woodland garden. Try growing it in a container<br /></div><div class="row"><br /></div>
<div class="row">Tolerate: Drought, Dry Soil</div><div class="row"><br />
Propagation: Germination - Very Easy: No treatment. Surface sow & press into soil. Cool temperatures to germinate.</div><div class="row"><h1 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Comments: Easy to identify in the field as no other plant even resembles it. But get on your knees to appreciate the flowers.<br /></span></h1><h1 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">**Rough and tumble wildflower: </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're new to Clay and Limestone, rough and tumble wildflowers are
simple wildflowers that bloom their hearts out and require the easiest
of care. Many have never been hybridized, which means they haven't had
their best characteristic bred out of them. Rough and tumble wildflowers are doing the job nature
intended them to do, which is to make a lot of food (nectar and/or
pollen) and bloom exactly when the critters need it-just in time for
provisioning a nest for the winter or for migrating birds. Once bloom is
past
and the seeds ripen, they become feeding stations for over wintering
birds which seek out those seeds.</span></span></h1><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><h1 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h1>Wildlife value: Visited by several insects who feed on it. Occasionally grazed by deer, visited by butterfly and bees. A host plant to <i>Cremastobombycia ignota</i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7OJra_hEahRwm2S0G-k1lBxKVyZUOj-jzVh25s5DIERPALo_0YZC3tErK-WXtBOPnLfkomqrb1FT7yZNffEjNQdKpKV0CLkF9y0cTKZOCxwnu55Dq5ZrCE62UrARW9Ks4z3TULN8QzbF1PE4nMQRAKnb7U1tL3ocINOesbNQPqvyCfQsKIOn-TKPl98/s768/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-22%20at%2012.41.59%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7OJra_hEahRwm2S0G-k1lBxKVyZUOj-jzVh25s5DIERPALo_0YZC3tErK-WXtBOPnLfkomqrb1FT7yZNffEjNQdKpKV0CLkF9y0cTKZOCxwnu55Dq5ZrCE62UrARW9Ks4z3TULN8QzbF1PE4nMQRAKnb7U1tL3ocINOesbNQPqvyCfQsKIOn-TKPl98/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-22%20at%2012.41.59%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><h1 class="firstHeading mw-first-heading" id="firstHeading"><br /></h1></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPgL2K-PuRt863WhL0CiJcchncLheUFQCwZnzqGaYLJzPIVLSzIzryrh2B9R7byDdlvIyEvIcTCN9tr80CMvEqq6Buk-BCwwFeyPuNq3fQl3ghPNb2KAuYgxAS_mHeC0xZf-BmbpqjAu2Slr4dJ7KTshsAqJygpIPNic1d7Q09gZNUCPnZV4Zl5cg3RE/s1646/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.10.07%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1646" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPgL2K-PuRt863WhL0CiJcchncLheUFQCwZnzqGaYLJzPIVLSzIzryrh2B9R7byDdlvIyEvIcTCN9tr80CMvEqq6Buk-BCwwFeyPuNq3fQl3ghPNb2KAuYgxAS_mHeC0xZf-BmbpqjAu2Slr4dJ7KTshsAqJygpIPNic1d7Q09gZNUCPnZV4Zl5cg3RE/w640-h344/Screen%20Shot%202023-07-24%20at%202.10.07%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/plant_insects/plants/elephantopus_carolinianus.html" target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Thanks for stopping by. xoxogail<br />
</p><p><b>Welcome to <i> <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a></i>.</b>
It's the fourth Wednesday of each month and time to celebrate
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. I am
always glad when you stop by and I so appreciate when you make a
comment. </p><p>xoxogail </p><p></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.<br />
<br /><br /><br /></p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-57858495933188302182023-06-28T05:00:00.097-05:002023-06-28T07:28:10.202-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Clustered Mountain Mint<p> <i>Pycnanthemum muticum </i>is quite possibly a pollinator perfect plant<i>.</i><br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dOJuaFWsJs/Wa_tJgarCPI/AAAAAAAAio4/eMI0n1HnANsqNG41TCLDdQaVmMt0hEw9QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF2800.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3dOJuaFWsJs/Wa_tJgarCPI/AAAAAAAAio4/eMI0n1HnANsqNG41TCLDdQaVmMt0hEw9QCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF2800.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>But you don't have to take my word for this! Just google Mountain Mint and every nursery selling it, State Native Plant Society or blogger who writes about it extols its insect attracting virtues. Trust me and others, this is the best mountain mint species for attracting and supporting pollinating insects! Here's more! The researchers at Penn State's <a href="http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/lancaster/pollinator-friendly-garden-certification/2013-pollinator-trial-results" target="_blank">The Pollinator Trial</a> found that Clustered Mountain Mint was the best plant for flowering
longevity; for pollinator visitor diversity; for sheer number of insect
visitors (78); and, for sheer number of bee and syrphid visitors. Wowzer!<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S6XN-qfBLOE/U6obJAJ3siI/AAAAAAAAYFo/c2sRH3uhN8s/s1600/DSCF1744.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="572" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S6XN-qfBLOE/U6obJAJ3siI/AAAAAAAAYFo/c2sRH3uhN8s/s1600/DSCF1744.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fly visiting for nectar</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>If that's not enough to garner your attention, check out its showy silver bracts
that highlight the dense clusters of small pink spotted flowers. The tiny flowers appear to lay on those silvery modified leaves with their velvety looking texture. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cMGbzxwSkAk/U6nxtDScAzI/AAAAAAAAYEw/GhWhPKQhbSw/s1600/DSCF1734.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cMGbzxwSkAk/U6nxtDScAzI/AAAAAAAAYEw/GhWhPKQhbSw/s640/DSCF1734.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> blooms from
summer to early fall </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>I planted it before I knew it was a pollinator magnet or saw the silvery
bracts and the cute flowers. I fell in love with the silvery gray seed
head that stood straight and tall and grabbed my attention across the
nursery aisle. I had to have it in my garden!<p><span class="zoci8" dir="auto">The seedheads add structure to a winter yard and the seeds feed small songbirds.</span>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esGN6UP1YQY/U6ojwUYw1mI/AAAAAAAAYF4/7yk4Xr5k1lQ/s1600/DSCF1740.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-esGN6UP1YQY/U6ojwUYw1mI/AAAAAAAAYF4/7yk4Xr5k1lQ/s1600/DSCF1740.JPG" width="326" /></a></div><p>
</p><p><br /></p><p>That was well over a dozen years ago and it's still here.</p><p></p><p>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bE4xaYPX3D4/U6oSjEE9qhI/AAAAAAAAYFM/ZADHreBjRZo/s1600/DSCF1730_2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bE4xaYPX3D4/U6oSjEE9qhI/AAAAAAAAYFM/ZADHreBjRZo/s1600/DSCF1730_2.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p>Originally it was planted in the Garden of Benign Neglect, but, I wanted
to be able to observe all the insect visitors, so I transplanted it along
the front walk. It's shadier there than what the mint prefers, but, I
still get to see insect activity. Visitors who walk to the front porch
might accidentally brush against the leaves and release a wonderful
minty fragrance. When I am out there I deliberately reach down to
release the scent...It's one of my favorite fragrances in the garden.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S582DuZOnAA/U6oVzUf3W7I/AAAAAAAAYFY/7N67BBlioMU/s1600/P6220788.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S582DuZOnAA/U6oVzUf3W7I/AAAAAAAAYFY/7N67BBlioMU/s1600/P6220788.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The flowers are
the tiniest little spotted tubular blooms clustered together to make
it easy for the pollinators to stop by for a snack </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This might be a good time to talk about mints. They have a well deserved reputation for aggressive spreading. <a href="https://www.luriegarden.org/plants/mountain-mint/" target="_blank"> "Unlike true mints (Mentha species), blunt mountain mint is not invasive although it will slowly spread by rhizomes. Unwanted spreading of this species can be controlled by cutting of the underground rhizomes by a spade."</a> Although, I don't consider it invasive, some of you might. I don't mind a
ground covering of this fantastic pollinator plant.<br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIHerFUgh-ZUpjhC07XPlxYmgALcQtP9En3zSgs81vLMDZRBibYoP7d6LLg1F-gErOrG92e5INv5KqnUzta6OmMyyBJu_7sTkYKXJXAiKslg76AtJW_nCJP2vJOwHgXj-dhboYB6Xf9TxnSWFfpigv7-12tAbZhZGecU4qBGtD3paeKZVGkj1wFXOuzY/s1736/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-27%20at%208.37.34%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1736" data-original-width="1414" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIHerFUgh-ZUpjhC07XPlxYmgALcQtP9En3zSgs81vLMDZRBibYoP7d6LLg1F-gErOrG92e5INv5KqnUzta6OmMyyBJu_7sTkYKXJXAiKslg76AtJW_nCJP2vJOwHgXj-dhboYB6Xf9TxnSWFfpigv7-12tAbZhZGecU4qBGtD3paeKZVGkj1wFXOuzY/w522-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-06-27%20at%208.37.34%20AM.png" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mountain mint with aster and river oats</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>I also planted it in the sunnier front garden. It has not outcompeted New York Aster, River oats or Goldenrod. Plant them together if you have the space and let them duke it out. You can always edit them later. If you haven't the space try planting it in a large container and set that in the garden. Mountain mint would look beautiful with <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/07/wildflower-wednesday-joe-pye-weed.html" target="_blank">Joe-pye weed</a>, Red Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia, <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2009/07/wildflower-wednesdayconeflowers.html" target="_blank">Purple Cone Flower</a>, sunflowers (<i>Helianthus</i>) and Black eyed Susan. Plant spring blooming wildflowers with it to insure you have blooming flowers all season long.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Irr5fKAStyDJPCmMNqHxxW61n_7KbKnyCFmsAdHK9ofQgBvNgKGSTdahshuCOsGCA1x9R6uGujlckVbjA4x6uMRAl9OKNOsUHVd7chkQBTQpO-A8lEspZ67aAfcgIj_D9R0MSAwXslbM4EREm1pXAQ0DkcpLR3Ox9gB1OdKt8hbXE20QrzxCgd-Mlq4/s4133/P7240002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4133" data-original-width="3184" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Irr5fKAStyDJPCmMNqHxxW61n_7KbKnyCFmsAdHK9ofQgBvNgKGSTdahshuCOsGCA1x9R6uGujlckVbjA4x6uMRAl9OKNOsUHVd7chkQBTQpO-A8lEspZ67aAfcgIj_D9R0MSAwXslbM4EREm1pXAQ0DkcpLR3Ox9gB1OdKt8hbXE20QrzxCgd-Mlq4/w494-h640/P7240002.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Please close your eyes and picture mountain mint blowing in the breeze with bees and
butterflies dancing above it. You can smell its minty aroma. It's delightful. Now go find some plants to add to your
garden! <br /> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPggZXUyCHX9uqyLXpwK5NJavqJYjsf4MF4GRf_lMO_w96omfA6Z1yvtzbjn0tuP3IdHwkksl8UbwzgF3JSXq-_nw2B0O81dqxIa8HfoqrauYeyehOOviCRerLQLALOiGuWNimbIOhhPN7caWHFLHqYp9FxqCH3UPGjkpS8ZhofphMoOvEvn1ox8b0UE/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPggZXUyCHX9uqyLXpwK5NJavqJYjsf4MF4GRf_lMO_w96omfA6Z1yvtzbjn0tuP3IdHwkksl8UbwzgF3JSXq-_nw2B0O81dqxIa8HfoqrauYeyehOOviCRerLQLALOiGuWNimbIOhhPN7caWHFLHqYp9FxqCH3UPGjkpS8ZhofphMoOvEvn1ox8b0UE/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p><b>The Particulars</b></p><p> <i>Pycnanthemum muticum </i></p><p>Family: <i>Lamiaceae </i></p><p>Common name: Clustered Mountain Mint, blunt mountain mint. Pycnanthemum, means densely flowered </p><p>Hardiness zones 3 to 9 </p><p>Range: a native range as far north as Maine, south to Georgia, with a western range into eastern Texas. This species is listed as threatened in Kentucky, Michigan, and New York.</p><p> Height: 1 to 3 foot </p><p>Spread: 1 to 3 foot </p><p>Bloom Time: June to September </p><p>Bloom Description: tiny pink spotted flowers </p><p>Sun: Full sun to part shade; edge of woodland </p><p>Water: Easy to grow in almost any average to fertile, well-drained soil. Although it prefers moist soil it has tolerated our dry summer months...caveat, dry not drought. </p><p>Maintenance: Let it go and don't worry, unless it's too dry. If you have a smaller garden plant it in a container. </p><p>Comments: Mountain Mint is a perfect Clay and Limestone rough and tumble take care of itself wildflower. It is a good choice for a wildlife garden, meadow, butterfly and pollinator garden. It's a fabulous nectar plant. Mass plantings/letting it spread will bring in the most insect visitors. Wildlife value: Excellent nectar and pollen source for lots of garden visitors including beneficial insects, and bees, beneficial wasps, flies, beetles, skippers and small butterflies (especially hairstreaks) frequent the blossoms. Seeds are eaten by small songbirds. Stems and seedheads provide cover for insects and other critters during the winter </p><p>Extra: It's an insect repellent! Try rubbing bruised leaves and stems on your clothing to deter chiggers and mosquitoes.</p><p><b>Welcome to <i> <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a></i>.</b>
It's the fourth Wednesday of each month and time to celebrate
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. I am
always glad when you stop by and I so appreciate when you make a
comment. </p><p>xoxogail <br /></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-59244970963487331492023-05-24T06:00:00.104-05:002023-05-24T15:21:33.452-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: There Be Dragons in the Garden
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The Dragons in my garden are the best kind to have. They're dramatic and elegant looking, growing over three foot tall with a two foot 'wingspan'. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlsMRwFbn4OWPXAWgS2UIFW--_2U145GUkCPNqrLXupEoatwmKwIQQkATb2Ye3pxVo8RymobMFA5-OgvN5eaPQ-Nbon6v_hJMjrmSc6MoSxvQixOIrP_5pwSvWfg7K45JYTaQtzs4SoADIzjgBAwlb3kA5BkoNbPHQkOHQkU5EaKMKopHe5eRh9j5/s2710/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.33.41%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2020" data-original-width="2710" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlsMRwFbn4OWPXAWgS2UIFW--_2U145GUkCPNqrLXupEoatwmKwIQQkATb2Ye3pxVo8RymobMFA5-OgvN5eaPQ-Nbon6v_hJMjrmSc6MoSxvQixOIrP_5pwSvWfg7K45JYTaQtzs4SoADIzjgBAwlb3kA5BkoNbPHQkOHQkU5EaKMKopHe5eRh9j5/w640-h478/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.33.41%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> They mingle well with the denizens of Clay and Limestone, preferring the dappled sunlight and a moist, rich woodland soil that I have worked to create. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-eGyWow8Hm2ne7ltgtrJVat8KOp27D4tAixC8OambaU-8T9wDaMQ79l8GNcoKKYs72MswdvenNiAxwLLElyDnpuln8-2xcYh_K4xw1LLw5D7RPg8UnrW3o8avDm6oOJ-HNzrn0mIqhN99kPzNX1_bfBwk0w3A75d8MA9E6SLaAg1Dm3sfEXVLA8l/s2428/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%205.39.56%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2082" data-original-width="2428" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-eGyWow8Hm2ne7ltgtrJVat8KOp27D4tAixC8OambaU-8T9wDaMQ79l8GNcoKKYs72MswdvenNiAxwLLElyDnpuln8-2xcYh_K4xw1LLw5D7RPg8UnrW3o8avDm6oOJ-HNzrn0mIqhN99kPzNX1_bfBwk0w3A75d8MA9E6SLaAg1Dm3sfEXVLA8l/w640-h548/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%205.39.56%20AM.png" width="640" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Green Dragon, aka, <i>Arisaema dracontium</i> is marvelous to behold. The woodland wildflower emerges as one stalk and slowly unfurls its mighty
wings. Or, if you prefer leaf! What looks like two leaves is one leaf
that forks into leaflets of unequal size and uneven numbers. Go ahead and count them...it's always uneven.<br /></div><p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C-DZRwJBX3DSjmF04s_S0-3CLQwiDhfmBBln-AJ3-duWDf_pwXR6zw0jH-dBipY9QHq9dAHUJ04YMygtkIZ2ycHWOzDI4dHtbXmzbQUGNjaGhp9YthatW7_VyvAIgI8fp1JpmzdwFkV8/s1600/DSCF2374.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C-DZRwJBX3DSjmF04s_S0-3CLQwiDhfmBBln-AJ3-duWDf_pwXR6zw0jH-dBipY9QHq9dAHUJ04YMygtkIZ2ycHWOzDI4dHtbXmzbQUGNjaGhp9YthatW7_VyvAIgI8fp1JpmzdwFkV8/s640/DSCF2374.JPG" width="626" /></a> <i> <br /></i></p><p>The leaflets are arranged
palmately (having a shape similar to that of a hand with the fingers extended) on the tip of the forked stem. I've measured them and the largest in my garden was over three foot tall with a 15 inch leaf spread.<i>
</i>The parted leaflets curve around to give Green Dragon a rather large horseshoe shape.<b> </b>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWOikp62ku-yvCItQZy7H_1f9VVBwfHYauWMFLTC5P-2zIiAkAgQyC2HBB_f_3bDX4cAfmdPq0I-J2EOTzQqpbGSKTZQVwGvjQPhy1IBs5wYX3RWl3Ess3HWvKxWPbvb2e0IgZNUGMrFy/s1600/DSCF8499.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWOikp62ku-yvCItQZy7H_1f9VVBwfHYauWMFLTC5P-2zIiAkAgQyC2HBB_f_3bDX4cAfmdPq0I-J2EOTzQqpbGSKTZQVwGvjQPhy1IBs5wYX3RWl3Ess3HWvKxWPbvb2e0IgZNUGMrFy/s640/DSCF8499.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
As it unfurls, the rather fantastic looking dragon's tail is revealed.<b> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAdSOm9YDf4oi3_B3lxG7HlPaiM1HqRys7f1g0QIlJv_5p0S2bO8F0tbdFXsYdvj4iGL0ooI_ZDsqxcfhVUDIqMAF1P26M9BFoYGiYluksfX_10r5oPNZNLXndOrLAnZRz2JKl7TSlkVW/s1600/DSCF8445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZAdSOm9YDf4oi3_B3lxG7HlPaiM1HqRys7f1g0QIlJv_5p0S2bO8F0tbdFXsYdvj4iGL0ooI_ZDsqxcfhVUDIqMAF1P26M9BFoYGiYluksfX_10r5oPNZNLXndOrLAnZRz2JKl7TSlkVW/s640/DSCF8445.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>The tiny yellow male and female flowers are hidden in the hooded spathe at the base of the long and twisting spadix. <i><b><br /></b></i><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVtnU5j1cNetVpfzphj9pHQ5YrGkOtwVVi8L5I2S2cyoMhyphenhyphenjZaC_QygdafgGS3bsYYzHc5ZkFhOieY5RR2mU9m7pvCkJKGus61NK0Sy4-z-bMs3zFjxZ8WvpHOs6njuz1P0On-rby9OgY/s1600/IMG_0412.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVtnU5j1cNetVpfzphj9pHQ5YrGkOtwVVi8L5I2S2cyoMhyphenhyphenjZaC_QygdafgGS3bsYYzHc5ZkFhOieY5RR2mU9m7pvCkJKGus61NK0Sy4-z-bMs3zFjxZ8WvpHOs6njuz1P0On-rby9OgY/s640/IMG_0412.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
It blooms for a month and releases a scent that is undetectable to us but, is attractive to fungus gnats!<b> <br />
</b><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM9ArtSjZSWpA46PaoRDSCI_h9No3oNy_LNOerm2jancmpExoKpFtkzIx1hP4dyxlkoEVkQW7RnFnGwBZaxNaxfRgIraiojjx4Bvm-KjJaz8YDI6LEs-uHZmL66TyeuMojAtCG_yWZekZy-Unb_OBmWjQbwyiziSicQRdnjPGTJUcE15_7Kv-ffLi/s1898/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%206.40.09%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1898" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM9ArtSjZSWpA46PaoRDSCI_h9No3oNy_LNOerm2jancmpExoKpFtkzIx1hP4dyxlkoEVkQW7RnFnGwBZaxNaxfRgIraiojjx4Bvm-KjJaz8YDI6LEs-uHZmL66TyeuMojAtCG_yWZekZy-Unb_OBmWjQbwyiziSicQRdnjPGTJUcE15_7Kv-ffLi/w528-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%206.40.09%20AM.png" width="528" /></a></div><p>Behold the dragon's future progeny...The green fruit appears shortly after the
bloom fades in late May to early June. They're an oval cluster of oblong to pear-shaped berries. I love the exotic look of Green Dragon, but the crimson berries that appear at
the cusp of summer and fall might be the most spectacular part of this perennial's life. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbuI6IzemTeulJtPBocq8xlJ4PPFHw0EEf73rsLQS4cRQpjRqM3WVg63QUcXFfUxxdx8cmJqzlY7VokuHo4ifSXJI1ErHhL69GisNtDvpXABmup5SmPOUzyMBGRXIJlTQAbgqteaP1b6K0cbZMsFzLy-OJazB9-P518arDG81GmnFGu9BXTH9ufxS/s2416/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.38.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="2416" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbuI6IzemTeulJtPBocq8xlJ4PPFHw0EEf73rsLQS4cRQpjRqM3WVg63QUcXFfUxxdx8cmJqzlY7VokuHo4ifSXJI1ErHhL69GisNtDvpXABmup5SmPOUzyMBGRXIJlTQAbgqteaP1b6K0cbZMsFzLy-OJazB9-P518arDG81GmnFGu9BXTH9ufxS/w640-h498/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.38.22%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p> I love spreading the seeds around the garden and have had great success in transplanting the plant (make sure to get the corm and roots). But, honestly, most of the credit goes to ants. Ants are responsible for dispersing the seeds of as much as a third of
the plants at the understory of Eastern deciduous forests. Green Dragon and other early blooming plants have evolved to provide food attached to their seeds to entice ants to disperse those seeds. This food, called an <b>elaiosome</b>, is a specialized fat body whose chemical composition more closely matches that of the insects that ants prefer than it does that of a seed. They
carry the seeds to their nest, eat the protective protein cover and deposit the
seeds in their midden! Middens are the ant's equivalent of a
compost pile! This mutualism is referred to by ecologists as myrmecochory. (<a href="https://the-natural-web.org/tag/seed-dispersal-by-ants/" target="_blank">source</a>)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWZRVnVp-TkVObU3RElcjXEh6PJtsTsYRcMJUUKNL9oITuBGNqCRSddKrI6ElH5y7v8jHqzSWr4VZbKRzJ8W4kFeq5_88PjyY-7r09_D9ni4C2dPKETSx2-_3PwrcE-UgK-sOJxgKWGmTTI45kNnRcdXPPy7ofXS4bNZWJNkQETtNi8rM3lHfQVEe/s2722/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.34.01%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1992" data-original-width="2722" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWZRVnVp-TkVObU3RElcjXEh6PJtsTsYRcMJUUKNL9oITuBGNqCRSddKrI6ElH5y7v8jHqzSWr4VZbKRzJ8W4kFeq5_88PjyY-7r09_D9ni4C2dPKETSx2-_3PwrcE-UgK-sOJxgKWGmTTI45kNnRcdXPPy7ofXS4bNZWJNkQETtNi8rM3lHfQVEe/w640-h468/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%201.34.01%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mixes well with woodland native wildflowers</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I really appreciate seeing the emerging plants each spring and love seeing where the seeds have landed. Sometimes Ma Nature with the help of ants, does a better job of planting them among great companion plants than I can do. </p><p>If you get a chance, do plant some dragons in your garden.</p><p>xoxogail<br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>The Particulars:</b></p><p>Botanical name: <i>Arisaema dracontium</i> </p><p>Common Name: Green dragon</p><p> Type: Herbaceous perennial </p><p>Family: <i>Araceae (Arum family)<br /></i></p><p>Native Range: Eastern North America</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYhY5J_SUMrUU35s6u7OgVYUJk_mHWGK_4ndW4eTwNQZ1R0NaHzj0PUo76ILXWriMN2PJDYy-pRyq2Iuuhby4ZK6bLQZYo8ru4P6T3eXjfQ0hZ9mYSTYZ0RNPwggRRl9unDDnB2Ii9N7OWjaDZr3CsyKPhdAoe4CV65aRmxH0KGO_VBywYjjK8GAw/s2022/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%202.00.11%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2022" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYhY5J_SUMrUU35s6u7OgVYUJk_mHWGK_4ndW4eTwNQZ1R0NaHzj0PUo76ILXWriMN2PJDYy-pRyq2Iuuhby4ZK6bLQZYo8ru4P6T3eXjfQ0hZ9mYSTYZ0RNPwggRRl9unDDnB2Ii9N7OWjaDZr3CsyKPhdAoe4CV65aRmxH0KGO_VBywYjjK8GAw/w400-h245/Screen%20Shot%202023-05-22%20at%202.00.11%20PM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Zone: 4 to 9 </p><p>Height: 1.00 to 3.00 feet </p><p>Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet </p><p>Bloom Time: May to June </p><p>Bloom Description: Light green </p><p>Sun: Part shade to full shade </p><p>Water: Medium to wet </p><p>Maintenance: Medium </p><p>Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden </p><p>Cultivation: 'Green Dragon' grows in fertile, moist, slightly acidic woodland soils in part to full shade. Grow along streams or ponds, in the woodland setting, under trees and shrubs or native shade gardens. <br /></p><p>Flower: The tiny yellow male and female flowers are hidden in the hooded spathe at the base of the long and twisting spadix. <i><b><br /></b></i></p><p>Showy Fruit: Showy </p><p>Tolerates: Heavy Shade, Wet Soil. Never eaten by mammals.<br /></p><p>Comments: DO NOT EAT: The toxic agent is calcium oxalate, which causes a burning sensation in
the mouth, gastrointestinal distress, and possible damage to the
kidneys.</p><p>Wildlife value: The flowers of Green Dragon attract simple flies (<i>Nematocera</i>), particularly fungus gnats. A thrip species, <i>Ctenothrips bridwelli</i>, has been observed feeding on Green Dragon. The berries are eaten by the Wild Turkey, Wood Thrush, and possibly other woodland birds. Mammalian herbivores, including White-Tailed Deer, rarely feed on the foliage and corms as they are highly toxic. </p><p><br /></p><p>Welcome to Wildflower Wednesday. I am so glad you stopped by. WW is
about sharing and celebrating our native wildflowers from all over this
great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each
month. Please share your wildflower stars on your blog, your Instagram page, Facebook or other social media platform. We want to get the word out about wildflowers. Please leave your url when you comment. I love your
comments, so thank you for leaving them. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW5Tq924_eptO5yDoeXzOjuy2V3wJkmktYjcCjaQGc2U3k8-sTHb6TIaBHNZv178vuYE_zBUGm48VJvAy-oUsrQ0AuhKLXc5GQhETOsuXayZnUWYLpc5ueXFs0hALaZqmY8UpZzRP6JrbT4lV3Y_0JeR0F_cO4padT36HNjU7-hi0YJX0pYVTKy9B/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwW5Tq924_eptO5yDoeXzOjuy2V3wJkmktYjcCjaQGc2U3k8-sTHb6TIaBHNZv178vuYE_zBUGm48VJvAy-oUsrQ0AuhKLXc5GQhETOsuXayZnUWYLpc5ueXFs0hALaZqmY8UpZzRP6JrbT4lV3Y_0JeR0F_cO4padT36HNjU7-hi0YJX0pYVTKy9B/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a>
is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers
and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she
grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-55754704240135626292023-04-26T06:00:00.174-05:002023-04-26T21:32:12.442-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Monarda bradburiana<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxpiyg0L88KVFy_8OVbnA7kHZZHp40DtNfC7MbN5XxNgr9Platj9ucyTIQj9ykfSKtDhmopLBpUaUFXxLWPgTdOkRvxdZP14X_eXqJB6If_utrSVzfWHTEOpvKePirY4xd7h7x1_orlCVcD2gYGEkOxIj2TBoBB8IEeMxVY2BafV02G64PGBDg0PA/s3004/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%207.42.58%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="3004" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxpiyg0L88KVFy_8OVbnA7kHZZHp40DtNfC7MbN5XxNgr9Platj9ucyTIQj9ykfSKtDhmopLBpUaUFXxLWPgTdOkRvxdZP14X_eXqJB6If_utrSVzfWHTEOpvKePirY4xd7h7x1_orlCVcD2gYGEkOxIj2TBoBB8IEeMxVY2BafV02G64PGBDg0PA/w640-h408/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%207.42.58%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>When a plant description reads like this: "Monarda bradburiana is an upright bushy perennial with square green stems" it's hard to get excited! But when you see the plant in flower and read about its wonderful qualities you know you want it in your garden. At least that's what happened to me. </p><p><i>Monarda bradburiana</i> is an exceptional <i>Monarda</i> and worthy to be in your garden.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>it's a compact clumping perennial wildflower</li><li>plants have gray-green aromatic leaves on strong square stems <br /></li><li>it blooms in mid spring in my middle Tennessee garden</li><li>the stems are topped by showy rounded clusters of pale pink tubular flowers speckled with purple <br /></li><li>pollinators flock to the blooms<br /></li><li>it will thrive in sunny or partly shaded gardens with average well drained soils.</li><li>no mildew</li><li>it may self seed...that's a plus for me</li><li>not as aggressive as other <i>Monardas</i><br /></li></ul><p> It's lovely and the fact
that so many pollinators are attracted to it is a major plus. </p><p>Besides all that...who could resist a plant with purple freckles! <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtRlyOHW558Go7N0DRguKyDNGUR53eHYpK6bsUvpewk5yoBXd_fz4_2Hf7ltAyNfE6cTyuCD4x9YZH4sNxuyZDSNW4Q2AVUbUwwyesuAmvqHlhCpfUU5Bv6U_ZcpGaR2980dghNFWE3E43U2TgQb_H9jYDnFvS1CiZyvnYv_p-6VnmAzoDWSqrNLo/s3840/PXL_20230424_221646262.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtRlyOHW558Go7N0DRguKyDNGUR53eHYpK6bsUvpewk5yoBXd_fz4_2Hf7ltAyNfE6cTyuCD4x9YZH4sNxuyZDSNW4Q2AVUbUwwyesuAmvqHlhCpfUU5Bv6U_ZcpGaR2980dghNFWE3E43U2TgQb_H9jYDnFvS1CiZyvnYv_p-6VnmAzoDWSqrNLo/w360-h640/PXL_20230424_221646262.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My garden this wee</span>k<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><p>The first time I saw <i>Monarda bradburiana</i> was at the <a href="https://www.luriegarden.org/plants/eastern-bee-balm/" target="_blank">Lurie Garden in Chicago</a>. Piet Oudolf, a renowned garden designer has used it there to perfection. I was there in the spring and it looked fabulous among the rivers of<i> Salvia</i>, native grasses, and <i>Amsonias</i>. The entire planting is sublime. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5ehLJnvmKmDKq5n_rNbZ9DrfvtlPgQMFV5dXcsKSUbLA2vgbtak-5rhx98XSUYjkGK1-71XZB1wRJyPit_UKQ8FFhh586kZOZ8ou5ow5VY3P_RUdSIQejMc0tNLkc2fW4ZvKaJS6WqGCGCCILTPX205pe5KENa8WRQo7dTR9nyByX7fSJnKKnbde/s2946/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.29.00%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2206" data-original-width="2946" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5ehLJnvmKmDKq5n_rNbZ9DrfvtlPgQMFV5dXcsKSUbLA2vgbtak-5rhx98XSUYjkGK1-71XZB1wRJyPit_UKQ8FFhh586kZOZ8ou5ow5VY3P_RUdSIQejMc0tNLkc2fW4ZvKaJS6WqGCGCCILTPX205pe5KENa8WRQo7dTR9nyByX7fSJnKKnbde/w640-h480/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.29.00%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></p><br /><p></p><p>Indeed,<i> Monarda bradburiana </i><b>is</b> an upright bushy perennial with square green stems. "It's a member of the <i>Lamiaceae</i>/mint family and shares other characteristics that make this plant family easily identifiable. Square stems, fragrant opposite leaves, flowers that are usually arranged in clusters and feature two- lipped, open-mouthed, tubular corollas (united petals) with five-lobed bell-like calyxes (united sepals). <i>Lamiaceae</i> is distributed nearly worldwide, and many species are cultivated for their fragrant leaves and attractive flowers. The family is particularly important to humans for herb plants useful for flavor, fragrance, or medicinal properties." <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (<a href="https://www.slideshare.net/DrSwatiPundkar/lamiaceae" target="_blank">Source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJVG7hDLaHCGpAgQIv0qXFBarM9bsB7cPHhUcZaP5fTyXOiSFSkDvZQBejXShQvg9wOpnzp5qxRzDbitWwAXmoMDHc1B43qIGMpVvGdiPM0nvZjv_iDtgrLTb4Mv1kgyZnkIghGJ22eahh92NExbRwPq_j35IkCCzym7SPmJHtREyzbk8PF2uxZPo/s2596/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.24.24%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="2596" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJVG7hDLaHCGpAgQIv0qXFBarM9bsB7cPHhUcZaP5fTyXOiSFSkDvZQBejXShQvg9wOpnzp5qxRzDbitWwAXmoMDHc1B43qIGMpVvGdiPM0nvZjv_iDtgrLTb4Mv1kgyZnkIghGJ22eahh92NExbRwPq_j35IkCCzym7SPmJHtREyzbk8PF2uxZPo/w640-h530/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.24.24%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>I plant it for its attractiveness to pollinators and its beauty.<br /><p></p><p>Wondering if you want to add another <i>Monarda</i> to your garden and concerned that it will be a magnet for powdery mildew? Perhaps this from the MT Cuba Research Center will help with your decision making. Mt Cuba is known for its trials of garden plants and they trialed <i>Monardas</i> for two years (2014-2016). This is what they had to say about our Wildflower Wednesday star.<br /></p><p> "<i>Monarda bradburiana</i> is a very promising species for several reasons. It has a naturally short habit (about 2’ tall) and incredibly disease resistant foliage. Its subdued, pale pink flowers are also unique among bee balms which tend to have very bright, bold colors. The bloom period is also about a week earlier than most other <i>Monarda</i>. The only complaint with <i>Monarda bradburiana</i> is that it has a very floppy habit. If further research of this species focuses on sturdier habits it would easily be one of the best bee balms for garden use."<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://mtcubacenter.org/trials/monarda/monarda-bradburiana/" target="_blank"> (source)</a></span> </p><p> <i>Let's hope that further research doesn't take the best of this delightful plant away while trying to improve it's floppiness! </i></p><p><i> </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-Y7XHiLyHshNha-5Sw-UKse5mojL7ycwhbC5HS8kkWJ42QqL2MI13IsHU9ECb-5UGgApnvjybC2khbIcftcKTKNkowk9Nox7kFHdQs7qBTi9MoNjOcClxcHvGclZySXuppPGNfu2iK3VbIgcnwO9RPdYJV7cw7m8C9fjVNDt2m-CSIH6Id40DkCM/s1962/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.30.09%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="1798" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-Y7XHiLyHshNha-5Sw-UKse5mojL7ycwhbC5HS8kkWJ42QqL2MI13IsHU9ECb-5UGgApnvjybC2khbIcftcKTKNkowk9Nox7kFHdQs7qBTi9MoNjOcClxcHvGclZySXuppPGNfu2iK3VbIgcnwO9RPdYJV7cw7m8C9fjVNDt2m-CSIH6Id40DkCM/w586-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%208.30.09%20PM.png" width="586" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i> </i><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;"> THE PARTICULARS</span></b><br /></p><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_CommonNameRow"><b>Botanical name:</b> <i>Monarda bradburiana</i></div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_CommonNameRow"><b>Common Name:</b> eastern beebalm
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_TypeRow">
<b>Type: </b>Herbaceous perennial
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_FamilyRow">
<b>Family</b>:<i> Lamiaceae
</i></div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_NativeRangeRow">
<b>Native Range:</b> <i>Monarda bradburiana</i> occurs in the central and southern United States from Indiana to Alabama and west to Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. The greatest distribution is in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. It's native to middle Tennessee.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Ht2gQ8ZddBQlL5Qaa4TPpWWK4KjeWCk4qxHb3Mi5jklWM2yiVYNzViJG2y45tb2G3yOq-qtJO8wrev6o7GrTf6wNxemSj8M8QogQgJqnbC7rMaSR58zgPPtdjqsjmJ7HLAIcMMqHXQm3ZdgKsfxBKz9FpQiz75O-ePnqc8-THPlNUUn1xy_UmAT/s630/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%206.08.31%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="630" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45Ht2gQ8ZddBQlL5Qaa4TPpWWK4KjeWCk4qxHb3Mi5jklWM2yiVYNzViJG2y45tb2G3yOq-qtJO8wrev6o7GrTf6wNxemSj8M8QogQgJqnbC7rMaSR58zgPPtdjqsjmJ7HLAIcMMqHXQm3ZdgKsfxBKz9FpQiz75O-ePnqc8-THPlNUUn1xy_UmAT/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%206.08.31%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_NativeRangeRow"><br /></div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_ZoneRow">
<b>Zone:</b> 5 to 8
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_HeightRow">
<b>Height:</b> 1.00 to 2.00 feet
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SpreadRow">
<b>Spread:</b> 1.00 to 2.00 feet
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_BloomTimeRow">
<b>Bloom Time:</b> April/May</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_ColorTextRow">
<b>Bloom Description:</b> Pink to white with purple and spotted
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SunRow">
<b>Sun:</b> Full sun to part shade
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_WaterRow">
<b>Water:</b> Dry to medium
</div>
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_MaintenanceRow"> <b>Maintenance and cultural:</b> It thrives in sun or part shade with well drained soil. Plants tolerate drought and shallow rocky infertile soils <b>once established</b>.</div><div class="row"><b>Suggested Use:</b> Herb, Naturalize, Rain Garden, might make a groundcover if happy.<br /></div>
<div class="row"><b>Flower:</b> Showy, Fragrant, Good Cut</div>
<div class="row"><b>Leaf: </b>Fragrant</div><div class="row"><b>Faunal Associations:</b> Long-tongued bees (especially bumblebees), butterflies, skippers, Hummingbird moths, beeflies, and hummingbirds visit the flowers for nectar. The small black bee Doufourea monardae is a specialist pollinator of Monarda spp. Short-tongued Halictid bees may visit the flowers to collect pollen; they are unable to reach the nectar. Caterpillars of the moths Sphinx eremitus (Hermit Sphinx), Anterastria teratophora (Gray Marvel), Pyrausta orphisalis (Pyralid Moth sp.), and Pyrausta signatalis (Pyralid Moth sp.) feed destructively on Monarda spp. (Bee Balms). Other insect feeders include the scentless plant bug Arhyssus nigristernum, the leaf-footed bug Euthochtha galeator, the aphid Hyalomyzus monardae, and the leaf beetle Physonota unipunctata. Mammalian herbivores usually avoid consumption of Monarda spp. – it is possible that the oregano scent of the foliage deters them.</div>
<div class="row"><b>Tolerate: </b>Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil</div><div class="row"><b>Comments:</b> If happy can self seed and create a nice ground cover. Middle Tennessee gardeners check with GroWild for availability.<br /></div><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO28xAj1y8zRzhwvipjuwyE-w-Hqj30BJ60rxh5mSOFoastD3uKVbYe5HVKTX0vxZJJvT486irhcmCRzVbCN55bddZ_6YGqSsFcuPWn_ALnSIxVe1YVgvx7nC-pxeM-KxBeqdLqSbe1gOTQdpI5Pqc5R1hD9I6IqCe9EWM3Za8ZC6m8uwCLB1F5lC/s1960/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%205.59.59%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="1936" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkO28xAj1y8zRzhwvipjuwyE-w-Hqj30BJ60rxh5mSOFoastD3uKVbYe5HVKTX0vxZJJvT486irhcmCRzVbCN55bddZ_6YGqSsFcuPWn_ALnSIxVe1YVgvx7nC-pxeM-KxBeqdLqSbe1gOTQdpI5Pqc5R1hD9I6IqCe9EWM3Za8ZC6m8uwCLB1F5lC/w632-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-04-24%20at%205.59.59%20PM.png" width="632" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> I think you'll love this sweet little beauty as much as I do. xoxogail</p><p>Welcome to <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday.</a>
I am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating our
native wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join
us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if
they are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same
plants. It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url
when you comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JP2znZqnF1TRRr4FMzUWbe6_qPS1lML4gX4k2wiE_T13Zpfm2FpuE3CHrM23hNVtCGA6kmcJlMRTNdwk4c7Y_-TVV_heS6ZyF3KpOlnS_8ARgN-JO4LqXkHdlSSo9O0guzKUmH0cNyoTKBxetrh9bYRK7mEdNcK3WFbRw2KXTSYXtjqC_cpprOg3/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JP2znZqnF1TRRr4FMzUWbe6_qPS1lML4gX4k2wiE_T13Zpfm2FpuE3CHrM23hNVtCGA6kmcJlMRTNdwk4c7Y_-TVV_heS6ZyF3KpOlnS_8ARgN-JO4LqXkHdlSSo9O0guzKUmH0cNyoTKBxetrh9bYRK7mEdNcK3WFbRw2KXTSYXtjqC_cpprOg3/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><br /><br /><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-18059400195050836632023-03-22T05:00:00.044-05:002023-03-22T05:00:00.239-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: A Few Spring Epemerals from Clay and Limestone<p>Neither rain nor cold, or even more rain and then very cold weather could stop the delightful harbingers of
springtime that are blooming at Clay and Limestone. The delicate
white or pinkish flowers of ephemerals bloom early in spring, set
seed, then disappear until the next spring.</p><p> If you had to choose one of the earliest spring ephemerals as a favorite...Would you? Could you?<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CACoMMHoKs0/TXkCLvpEEsI/AAAAAAAANo8/DBYaLiS-5vY/s1600/DSCF2195.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CACoMMHoKs0/TXkCLvpEEsI/AAAAAAAANo8/DBYaLiS-5vY/s640/DSCF2195.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Claytonia</i> <span style="font-style: italic;"> virginica </span>or Spring Beauty</span><b><br /></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> Would </b>you choose the candy striped Spring Beauty? </p><p> <i>Claytonia virginica's</i>
flowers are about the size of a dime with five petals that spread wide
as the sun warms them. From a distance, the flowers appear white, but,
each petal is suffused with a delicate network of pastel pink veins.
Those pink veins are nectar guides. Spring Beauties are pollinated by
over 100 species of insects. That's a lot of bees, flies and other
winged creatures relying on nectar and pollen. That makes them an
important early food source and extremely important in our garden habitats and near by woodlands. <br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQsNFZpyNc4VGg4-qHAmd431tQ8QAeX-qWaEyLnceb0HR1jHEhVZPaHyTwmJ9k9vtrxYior7_OWCRMc13VqJmokY0VTl_HLe5EcGKFwOSYVdOFE-QDv--MjWoTJQ1GRUG1zHxq3v3JNIrnjJKie7SJTFmyG4xp7cg7Dl21z1pswPrWVnVHvTWwudo/s2430/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-21%20at%209.27.33%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1852" data-original-width="2430" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQsNFZpyNc4VGg4-qHAmd431tQ8QAeX-qWaEyLnceb0HR1jHEhVZPaHyTwmJ9k9vtrxYior7_OWCRMc13VqJmokY0VTl_HLe5EcGKFwOSYVdOFE-QDv--MjWoTJQ1GRUG1zHxq3v3JNIrnjJKie7SJTFmyG4xp7cg7Dl21z1pswPrWVnVHvTWwudo/w640-h488/Screen%20Shot%202023-03-21%20at%209.27.33%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></p><a href="https://sidewalknature.com/2023/03/07/spring-beauties-flower-bee/" target="_blank">Jo Brichetto of Sidewalk Nature</a> has written about and captured a wonderful photo of the Spring Beauty mining bee (<i>Andrena erigeniae</i>). Follow the link to her article. Jo's posts reflect what many of us are observing~the destruction of habitat and the loss of native plants. The consequences to critters and to us is enormous. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4js_YP42NSESwclZq6l0UzWzFhPKc_zB8Nnqch4JpVv6kHFqB3iV8wogowh2lkzgr8eekkLDg_IGA7DXKC1Tc_SYW4mG7WQzPGxcsOtvrtBBtovf1jMTyIARLYplPqrVKDCibCrT3LvJ/s1600/DSCF2195.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4js_YP42NSESwclZq6l0UzWzFhPKc_zB8Nnqch4JpVv6kHFqB3iV8wogowh2lkzgr8eekkLDg_IGA7DXKC1Tc_SYW4mG7WQzPGxcsOtvrtBBtovf1jMTyIARLYplPqrVKDCibCrT3LvJ/s640/DSCF2195.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>
<br />
<i>Claytonia virginica</i> still blankets some neighboring lawns. It's a glorious month of bloom and pollinator activity, but development and a strange love of a monoculture lawn has decimated them. There's plenty we can do~see the Wildflower Wednesday Challenge below for ideas.<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><p><b>The Particulars</b></p><p><b> Botanical name</b>: <i>Claytonia virginica </i></p><p><b>Common Name</b>: spring beauty </p><p><b>Type</b>: Herbaceous perennial </p><p><b>Family</b>: <i>Montiaceae </i></p><p><b>Native Range</b>: Eastern North America </p><p><b>Zone</b>: 3 to 8 </p><p><b>Height</b>: 0.50 to 0.75 feet </p><p><b>Spread</b>: 0.50 to 0.75 feet </p><p><b>Flower</b>: Showy Bloom Time: March into April (middle Tennessee)<br /></p><p><b>Bloom Description</b>: White to pink </p><p><b>Sun</b>: Full sun to part shade </p><p><b>Habitat</b>: prefers dappled sunlight with rich loamy soil. NO way can I give it deep loamy soil, so I enjoy the few I have.<br />
</p><p><b>Wildlife value</b>: Pollinators need this early bloomer. This beauty has a bee that specializes on it. Small, potato-like, underground tubers (corms) are edible (chestnut-like flavor) and were in fact consumed by early Americans, but are time-consuming to collect in quantity sufficient for a meal.mall, potato-like, underground tubers (corms) are edible (chestnut-like flavor). Chipmunks and small mice aren't bothered by the time it takes to dig them up!</p><p><b>Comments</b>: Naturalize. Mow late after plant has gone to seed. DO NOT USE WEED AND FEED. <br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDUyTIVjVBoc7ReXk6a-F7PeMQLBKMd1GI3Zod2_o6Op-OCFHi_yNiEAh2gcpKgkwAsSETeoef7VoYdaJC8eoLO_n4WenClAQBWhEC2xkPLDA5TB1IricySDP3ICdezcHqNwi2pT86nT9I4FLiNwIPaHNLcWSiuWQgFfo-nlp-5DMzI1tk_jyTrd4/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDUyTIVjVBoc7ReXk6a-F7PeMQLBKMd1GI3Zod2_o6Op-OCFHi_yNiEAh2gcpKgkwAsSETeoef7VoYdaJC8eoLO_n4WenClAQBWhEC2xkPLDA5TB1IricySDP3ICdezcHqNwi2pT86nT9I4FLiNwIPaHNLcWSiuWQgFfo-nlp-5DMzI1tk_jyTrd4/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div><b>Perhaps</b>,
you would choose the perfumed flowers of <i>Cardamine concatenata/</i>Cut-leaved toothwort! This is a
common plant in Middle Tennessee, but that would never detract from its
charm. Like many early blooming spring wildflowers this one is low to
the ground (and you can count on getting dirty knees trying to take a
decent photo). While you're crawling around you might notice their sweet
fragrance. It's especially noticeable on sunny warm days. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzdwhS6HSEc/TXj6r5Ckb7I/AAAAAAAANok/FoOQASTtE1c/s1600/DSCF8109.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzdwhS6HSEc/TXj6r5Ckb7I/AAAAAAAANok/FoOQASTtE1c/s640/DSCF8109.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut-leaved toothwort</td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> </b>If you have one plant, you will soon have more. It spreads by
rhizome and seed~But, don't be afraid...It's an ephemeral and will
disappear after setting seed.</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5Qgph87XRHYIlSyp6p-5m8TOJ1Gi2fmfCvsEgbo0h7Y4x34fs8t_HCufr99MhZhQsv6wG0srww4R2L14Za1glb68Oja9VdAXd9gz3AePoDhP-fR6OzHRuzGd5NUHvX8RgevxLMtuhPKL/s1600/DSCF5245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5Qgph87XRHYIlSyp6p-5m8TOJ1Gi2fmfCvsEgbo0h7Y4x34fs8t_HCufr99MhZhQsv6wG0srww4R2L14Za1glb68Oja9VdAXd9gz3AePoDhP-fR6OzHRuzGd5NUHvX8RgevxLMtuhPKL/s640/DSCF5245.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div><p>Each flower has four petals characteristic of the mustard family (arranged in the shape of a cross), as well as four green or purple sepals, a single pistil, and six stamens with conspicuous yellow anthers. The flowers appear bell-shaped because they never completely open. The flowers are visited by several types of bees and less commonly by early-flying butterflies or bee flies. Look for honey bees, bumblebees, Mason
bees, Cuckoo bees, Miner bees, Halictid bees, and Andrenid bees (which specialize on toothwort).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKIZufvHmtLAyHV-GadgOowbsKw94AD-FVE_Mplfzhyc8HC0-Qg0vpwaU3Yep0ZBfPUWLuurhx4kRZC2X69UNjFNFTaxH5rEYY_6knOAVc3qfcM8PqIKwsXWebTocjihBOzvtHrQnsqKq/s1600/DSCF2555.JPG.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKIZufvHmtLAyHV-GadgOowbsKw94AD-FVE_Mplfzhyc8HC0-Qg0vpwaU3Yep0ZBfPUWLuurhx4kRZC2X69UNjFNFTaxH5rEYY_6knOAVc3qfcM8PqIKwsXWebTocjihBOzvtHrQnsqKq/s640/DSCF2555.JPG.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Andrena arabis</i> collect pollen on toothworts</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><p>Toothwort and other woodland flowers require a forest habitat to
survive, so they depend on the oaks, hickories, maples, and other trees
around them. The presence of toothwort in an area can be an indicator
that the soil has not been disturbed by such activities as construction
or plowing. <br /></p><p></p><p><b>The Particulars</b><br /></p><p><b>Botanical name</b>: <i>Cardamine concatenata</i></p><p><b>Common Name:</b> cutleaf toothwort </p><p><b>Type</b>: Herbaceous perennial </p><p><b>Family</b>: <i>Brassicaceae </i></p><p><b>Native Range</b>: North America </p><p><b>Zone:</b> 3 to 8 </p><p><b>Height:</b> 0.50 to 0.75 feet Spread: 0.50 to 0.75 feet </p><p><b>Bloom Time</b>: late February to March in middle Tennessee </p><p><b>Bloom Description</b>: White flowers with hints of pink</p><p><b>Fragrance:</b> Yes, on warm days<br /></p><p><b>Sun: </b>Part shade </p><p><b>Water:</b> Medium </p><p><b>Comments:</b> Naturalize. DO NOT USE WEED AND SEED on your lawn or beds.<br /></p><p><b>Wildlife value:</b> Attracts: Specialized bee~<i>Andrena arabis</i> collect pollen and other pollinators.<br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWObbwg47sk1p06eY8ziNPbk7Y9H7WCzsB_zJmnvp2H7jgJLURJmBZbqXE5RHiTA48iD3tiQQigvorX6pFnQrmIixY8PrqRhZp9OH1oINTNL3d9IWmBbt1qE9SfGyyVgyRd1C8bdzq_y210Y-c2OOEvg35QzKLYRdvtkRkP61FNCNowwPvGNN-TtMN/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWObbwg47sk1p06eY8ziNPbk7Y9H7WCzsB_zJmnvp2H7jgJLURJmBZbqXE5RHiTA48iD3tiQQigvorX6pFnQrmIixY8PrqRhZp9OH1oINTNL3d9IWmBbt1qE9SfGyyVgyRd1C8bdzq_y210Y-c2OOEvg35QzKLYRdvtkRkP61FNCNowwPvGNN-TtMN/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div><p>Or, does your taste go to<i> Enemion biternatum</i>. This lovely ground cover with Columbine like leaves and the sweetest delicate white flower. It's often confused with <i>Thalictrum thalictroides</i>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLk1YTztTJk/UzIktqTMRiI/AAAAAAAAXwQ/zZye4Codo98/s1600/DSCF0916.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xLk1YTztTJk/UzIktqTMRiI/AAAAAAAAXwQ/zZye4Codo98/s1600/DSCF0916.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">it's easily overrun by invasives like garlic mustard, bush honeysuckle and wintercreeper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>This is another little spring flower that makes pollen, but, no
nectar. Small bees and flies visit to collect and feed on the pollen. Keep an eye on the beds where this lovely grows and remove all invasives that can easily crowd it out.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31CcQr0T6vI/TXj6sD5pkiI/AAAAAAAANos/O4Y3YUwkgQE/s1600/DSCF2210.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-31CcQr0T6vI/TXj6sD5pkiI/AAAAAAAANos/O4Y3YUwkgQE/s640/DSCF2210.JPG" width="624" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Isopyrum/Enemion biternatum or False rue anemone</span></i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Eastern False Rue-anemone, False Rue Anemone or <i>Enemion biternatum</i> is a sweet little <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2014/03/the-spring-ephemerals-are-awake.html" target="_blank">Spring ephemeral</a>
in the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It's native to shady rich or
calcereous woods & thickets; floodplain woods and limestone ledges.
(slightly alkaline soil) and is native to Middle Tennessee. I was lucky to find it in the garden when I moved here.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkTnbb3q7Z3qz4JBfrpD2PE_owm2i33wDl67rullErEVaF1hYmv-XM1ZdMr3JI2Hva8OEk15Ls-8daE05psbV9m3aNT3KtOsZirQVjIF4awuV69VBGjHLGa1btqcbx0eBCmC3KKadq8DX/s1600/DSCF1144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkTnbb3q7Z3qz4JBfrpD2PE_owm2i33wDl67rullErEVaF1hYmv-XM1ZdMr3JI2Hva8OEk15Ls-8daE05psbV9m3aNT3KtOsZirQVjIF4awuV69VBGjHLGa1btqcbx0eBCmC3KKadq8DX/s640/DSCF1144.JPG" width="616" /></a></div><p> </p><p><b>The Particulars</b></p><p><b>Botanical name</b>: <i>Enemion biternatum</i></p><p><b>Common names</b>: Eastern False Rue-anemone, False Rue Anemone</p><p><b>Family:</b> <i>Ranunculaceae </i><br /></p><p><b>Plant type</b>: True ephemeral (summer dormancy)</p><p> <br />
<b>Flowering Period</b>: Early Spring, Mid-Spring</p><p><br />
<b>Flower Color</b>: White</p><p> <br />
<b>Sun/Shade Conditions</b>: Filtered Shade, Partial Shade. The preference is partial sun to medium shade, moist to mesic conditions, and a rich loamy soil with abundant leaf mould.<br /></p><p><br />
<b>Soil Moisture</b>: Average, Moist, can handle some flooding <br />
<b> </b></p><p><b>Soil pH</b>: Adaptable, Alkaline</p><p><br />
<b>Soil Type</b>: Loam, Clay, Humus-rich</p><p><br />
<b>Flower</b>: Five 'petaled' (sepals) flowers with the showy yellow center stamens <br />
<b>Native</b><br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PR-tyLhFss/UzJAmQcdCfI/AAAAAAAAXxc/zAwQfdSIU30/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-03-25+at+8.30.28+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6PR-tyLhFss/UzJAmQcdCfI/AAAAAAAAXxc/zAwQfdSIU30/s200/Screen+shot+2014-03-25+at+8.30.28+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<p><b> Faunal association</b>: Pollinated by small bees and flies that visit it for its pollen. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_dBAVDKD9G6ZjG2Jq2qPLyay2N9TB4X9S4nh5D-JhfWhek_PhXgpoJ1sRx4DEy08VtyfNWX5bPFGso41U4NWyRSproqQQFCugpka4mlHMvjaLiGQtJAWCwJ9ULi0BP-8e0w8hR0j4Rl3W2kf5sG5-3fECjStH28FttVxn7DhXp64452QtqABgj1n/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_dBAVDKD9G6ZjG2Jq2qPLyay2N9TB4X9S4nh5D-JhfWhek_PhXgpoJ1sRx4DEy08VtyfNWX5bPFGso41U4NWyRSproqQQFCugpka4mlHMvjaLiGQtJAWCwJ9ULi0BP-8e0w8hR0j4Rl3W2kf5sG5-3fECjStH28FttVxn7DhXp64452QtqABgj1n/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div>If you like a different looking flower your taste might lean toward, <i>Trillium cuneatum</i>. I love the dramatic mottled
foliage and those twirling sessile flowers! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcjMSlz4PdY/WNFCNAY312I/AAAAAAAAe-o/56pWzKX0oTg9tji0df0Q62iI9GsUMp1OACLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-19%2Bat%2B7.16.31%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fcjMSlz4PdY/WNFCNAY312I/AAAAAAAAe-o/56pWzKX0oTg9tji0df0Q62iI9GsUMp1OACLcB/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-19%2Bat%2B7.16.31%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<i>Trillium cuneatum</i> was one of the first native plants that I
discovered when we moved here. The <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">first spring</a>
in our new home I found blooming Toadshade (another common name) in the
wayback backyard and transplanted it to my new woodland garden. That
was over 35 years ago, but, I remember carefully digging around it to get all
the rhizome and roots and gently placing it in the garden. They
survived and thrived despite my gardening ignorance. Please do not dig from the wild. Do not pick the flower...the plant will not survive.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-paX-QpAdWv8/WNFAqSqeP-I/AAAAAAAAe-c/oAnXcQdN3zYiREGcDx0Wc8yTJBV6zvyGgCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-21%2Bat%2B9.56.43%2BAM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-paX-QpAdWv8/WNFAqSqeP-I/AAAAAAAAe-c/oAnXcQdN3zYiREGcDx0Wc8yTJBV6zvyGgCLcB/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-21%2Bat%2B9.56.43%2BAM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Old stands of native ephemerals are precious do not dig from the wild</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p> <i>Trillium cuneatum</i> typically flowers from early March to mid
April. It can be found in rich, mostly upland woods, but, it is
especially happy growing on Middle Tennessee's Ordovician limestone
soils (neutral to basic soil). The two I transplanted multiplied to
many. Trillium will be happy in your garden, if you give it a rich,
moist soil, in shade, protect it from browsing critters and keep
aggressive perennials from crowding it. They can live for a long time
and usually do not flower until they are several years old. It's found
growing across Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee
and Virginia.<br />
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ8zoJn8P7Q/WNFC9h630GI/AAAAAAAAe-0/4EcQEjqjgEg2562sIdunRWKQUqFnX4OXgCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-19%2Bat%2B7.18.50%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ8zoJn8P7Q/WNFC9h630GI/AAAAAAAAe-0/4EcQEjqjgEg2562sIdunRWKQUqFnX4OXgCLcB/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-03-19%2Bat%2B7.18.50%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">seeds waiting to ripen and be harvested</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b> The Particulars</b><br /></p><p><b><i>Botanical name: </i></b><i>Trillium cuneatum</i><br />
<br />
<b>Common Name</b>: whip-poor-will flowerlarge toadshade, purple toadshade, and bloody butcher<br />
</p><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_TypeRow"><b>Type</b>: Herbaceous perennial </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_FamilyRow"><b>Family</b>: Melanthiacea, Little sweet Betsy falls within the sessile group<br />
<b>Flowering</b>: flowers from early March to mid April. Showy, fragrant</div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_NativeRangeRow"><b>Native Range</b>: Southeastern United States </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_ZoneRow"><b>Zone</b>: 5 to 8 </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_HeightRow"><b>Size</b>: 1.00 to 1.50 feet tall and will spread to 1 foot</div><b>Bloom</b>: Maroon to yellow to orange to reddish-green <br />
<div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_SunRow"><b>Sun</b>: Part shade to full shade </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_WaterRow"><b>Water</b>: Medium </div><div class="row" id="MainContentPlaceHolder_MaintenanceRow"><b>Maintenance</b>: Low </div><div class="row"><b>Foliage</b>: Colorful</div><b>Pollinators</b>: produces pollen, but, I have never seen its pollinators! I assume <i>Hymenoptera</i> insects, including honey bees, bumblebees, and wasps visit the plant.<br />
<b>Propagation</b>: Ants collect and disperse the seeds of <i>Trillium</i>
spp. They're attracted to the elaiosome, which is a large, lipid-rich
structure attached to the seeds. The ant dispersal process is known as
Myrmecochory. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat
the elaiosomes and put the seeds in their garbage (midden), where they
can be protected until they germinate.Yellow jackets are also seed
disperses.<br />
<b>Wildlife</b>: Can be browsed by deer and roots and rhizomes can be eaten by voles.<br />
<b>Comments</b>: Never pick flowers or leaves, you will lose your plant. Each plant in the genus <i>Trillium</i>
features three leaves in a terminal whorl. A single flower emerges on
a stem which is either peduncled (on a stalk) or sessile (stalk
absent). <i>Trillium cuneatum</i> is a sessile form. <br />
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf72wkRqdLXqCpQ3_Ka0V7Edu0w1-NkCWnr5WV6sc3UDe1GcgKijJWRbnMY1fpUBJ0LUqaUq7dDz0bp7GQcmZUuyxoClfmRkgBtXV4ukvmRXpdwYkrPg0qs8jTickJ4w9WWPsSlgC66luYebuPeQTeZSk5AvaQ8qqD5BKQUQ_h_vRDylU4tU9QX4u/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkf72wkRqdLXqCpQ3_Ka0V7Edu0w1-NkCWnr5WV6sc3UDe1GcgKijJWRbnMY1fpUBJ0LUqaUq7dDz0bp7GQcmZUuyxoClfmRkgBtXV4ukvmRXpdwYkrPg0qs8jTickJ4w9WWPsSlgC66luYebuPeQTeZSk5AvaQ8qqD5BKQUQ_h_vRDylU4tU9QX4u/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" width="236" /></a></div> I choose all of them! I choose to protect and celebrate them all. xoxogail<br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The
first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the
critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve.
Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post
it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn
off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm.
This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes,
insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p><br />Welcome to <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday.</a>
I am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating our native wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.<br /></p><p></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-40461962795003409952023-02-22T05:00:00.267-06:002023-02-22T09:29:51.390-06:00Wildflower Wednesday: Dirca palustris, An Underused/Underappreciated Woodland Beauty<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG8HNHDNt-SU_ye0eLj0L__kPy0TYMgycYE2RF5e-AuBwGx2CR_cGTOAjwyJJvC_upULHx_NfTLFgcdYg6o5Pkq8LuabKCM8Dy6DQzGWqaVQEibl4WCGLrzAfPXyHftX6BQ89eQezrz8LfSPkPUJ7jGSxAYZnStrAUIA2LqlYum2M1GzWb8ke_SgT/s640/P2230063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="640" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfG8HNHDNt-SU_ye0eLj0L__kPy0TYMgycYE2RF5e-AuBwGx2CR_cGTOAjwyJJvC_upULHx_NfTLFgcdYg6o5Pkq8LuabKCM8Dy6DQzGWqaVQEibl4WCGLrzAfPXyHftX6BQ89eQezrz8LfSPkPUJ7jGSxAYZnStrAUIA2LqlYum2M1GzWb8ke_SgT/w640-h580/P2230063.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />Honestly, I was worried that there would be no flowers on <i>Dirca palustris</i> this year after the December flash freeze. Also, worrisome was a friend's loss of his decade old Leatherwood to a fungus. Long time readers know that I rushed outside to make sure the shrub was okay. Geez Louis, was I relieved that it was doing fine. <br /></p><p>In case that has you wondering about the shrub's hardiness, it's a very cold-hardy plant, being able to tolerate
temperatures down to around -22°f when fully dormant. The flowers are
produced in early spring, however, and are very likely to be damaged
when the plant is grown in regions with late frosts. (<a href="https://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Dirca+palustris" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><p>Despite my worry, it bloomed right on schedule. <i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7tQ-vsZ9gAwUFsRSnLBcKbrPyj0XDBGvkQPGqOMOe-PzrvDK7nUCzWzQscLuc8ehPiujU-d_uV7NkzbaijiLaQuHYCNI_Czq682Y9OpnZmdkb2uF1XXhGyFnQAxzHi9dBF10TzfVNcYc0WnoDenen8G3CrkVf5lju8iLgjhJfOsUoQR5AdRK30tu/s640/DSCF6049.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="640" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7tQ-vsZ9gAwUFsRSnLBcKbrPyj0XDBGvkQPGqOMOe-PzrvDK7nUCzWzQscLuc8ehPiujU-d_uV7NkzbaijiLaQuHYCNI_Czq682Y9OpnZmdkb2uF1XXhGyFnQAxzHi9dBF10TzfVNcYc0WnoDenen8G3CrkVf5lju8iLgjhJfOsUoQR5AdRK30tu/w640-h610/DSCF6049.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Leatherwood does not burst into bloom. The small bell-shaped pale lemon-yellow flowers with their long bright yellow stamens
bloom in clusters slowly open along the branches before the leaves emerge. </p><p>It makes a lovely show for our mid south late and very brown winter (mid February).<br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7uSOsaMbHacKVBYBVa0YBMz--1rgYzbugmu95umgT9jaC9pm0HJ_dq7KyExClueDWLMoqxsfnDExmDnhu1aJCwMSCgcmvppRezCsieWkGz04f1RIv2lgqrCd4a2fNNaUtA5Z9a7eR_R5d3T2CW0HzFqGUtaOsOh910ryPJsIxIlSZegc7Ep0r83i/s2472/0-2%202.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2472" data-original-width="1390" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7uSOsaMbHacKVBYBVa0YBMz--1rgYzbugmu95umgT9jaC9pm0HJ_dq7KyExClueDWLMoqxsfnDExmDnhu1aJCwMSCgcmvppRezCsieWkGz04f1RIv2lgqrCd4a2fNNaUtA5Z9a7eR_R5d3T2CW0HzFqGUtaOsOh910ryPJsIxIlSZegc7Ep0r83i/w360-h640/0-2%202.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i>Dirca palustris</i> is an early blooming deciduous native shrub. It
can be found in rich, moist, neutral soil in woodlands scattered
(meaning uncommon) over much of eastern North America. The small yellow
flowers first appear in mid February in my middle Tennessee garden and continue into early spring
just in time for small bees to stop by for nectar and pollen.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prNGLhEWPZk/WpHjTFr3VqI/AAAAAAAAlUE/M5k1o7qKszQAeuCPAwZDY1gH-W4b4x3IgCLcBGAs/s1600/P2220029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1484" height="603" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-prNGLhEWPZk/WpHjTFr3VqI/AAAAAAAAlUE/M5k1o7qKszQAeuCPAwZDY1gH-W4b4x3IgCLcBGAs/s640/P2220029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">small critter on flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p> If <i>Lindera benzoin</i> (Spicebush) is happy in your garden
conditions, then you can grow Leatherwood. They may be found near one
another in woodlands and forest settings. I need to check when I walk at Radnor Lake to see if Leatherwood is growing near the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/03/wildflower-wednesday-spicebush.html" target="_blank">Spicebush</a> that is so happy there. </p><p> Leatherwood and Spicebush share similar
characteristics:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>bloom time (might be more evident further north)<br /></li><li>yellow flower color</li><li>leaf shape</li><li>blooming
in deep shade</li><li>red fruit </li><li>lovely yellow fall leaf color. </li></ul><div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scukqaDyVD4/WpHHOr1B1jI/AAAAAAAAlT0/nN71leXeGQME1Rcl70W2JPOvS81IhWV7wCLcBGAs/s1600/P2230063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1449" data-original-width="1600" height="578" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scukqaDyVD4/WpHHOr1B1jI/AAAAAAAAlT0/nN71leXeGQME1Rcl70W2JPOvS81IhWV7wCLcBGAs/s640/P2230063.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>There are numerous documented medicinal uses of<i> Dirca</i> by Native Americans. Also both stems and leaves are made into fibers for paper, rope and basket making. (<a href="https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Dirca+palustris" target="_blank">source</a>) Here's a quote from that explains why it was useful. "The stems of leatherwood have relatively little lignin and very light
wood, so they are surprisingly flexible and have been used in cordage
(rope-making) and basketry, notably by Native Americans, who also used
it for sandals and to sew up bark canoes. American settlers used it as a
withe — a strong, flexible twig used as a band to bind things together." (<a href="https://education.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-leatherwood" target="_blank">source)</a></p><p> </p><p>I especially like this from <a href="https://education.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-leatherwood" target="_blank">Missouri Department of Conservation</a>: Henry David Thoreau saw Leatherwood for the first time on September 7,
1853, and wrote about it in his journal: “I was much interested in this
shrub, since it was the Indian’s rope. Frost said that the farmers of
Vermont used it to tie up their fences. . . . I should think it would be
worth the while for the farmers to cultivate [leatherwood] for this
purpose. How often in the woods and fields we want a string or rope and
cannot find one. This is the plant which Nature has made for this
purpose. . . . I feel as if I had discovered a more indigenous plant
than usual, it was so peculiarly useful to the aborigines.”</p><h1><span class="NLM_article-title hlFld-title"><br /></span></h1><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1COSdprlkNMe3idEEk3VJJcggBo2_7VtOEhhCeZ4K6zRnIGeQmlab8RYVrwQrGVyP-PDJdPoFzDYtSi_ruGuuAZwIL9o2GWvhpYHfPOV4K54sRxIuc3bFY-nY7BrCurM3toUIiARjaGfIzuii4KdQqstbRMLcOasK0llHH_BeeJ_V3zJqFAhw9zfC/s982/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-19%20at%206.22.48%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="982" data-original-width="662" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1COSdprlkNMe3idEEk3VJJcggBo2_7VtOEhhCeZ4K6zRnIGeQmlab8RYVrwQrGVyP-PDJdPoFzDYtSi_ruGuuAZwIL9o2GWvhpYHfPOV4K54sRxIuc3bFY-nY7BrCurM3toUIiARjaGfIzuii4KdQqstbRMLcOasK0llHH_BeeJ_V3zJqFAhw9zfC/w432-h640/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-19%20at%206.22.48%20PM.png" width="432" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dirca_palustris_-_Edwards.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>My first plant was a gift from a good friend. I was thrilled
to get it and planted it in a shady spot where the soil had been improved with fallen leaves. It's one of the few places in the garden where the soil doesn't turn to concrete in the heat of
the summer. <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/04/the-thing-about-biennials.html" target="_blank"><i>Phacelia bipinnatifida</i></a> and <i>Hydrophyllum macropyllum </i>have both seeded there.<i> </i>Consider planting Trout lilies, Virginia bluebells and other moisture and shade tolerant natives under your Leatherwood.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrjREwsjq2HVJmfpngXxUVISJAmj-E4TNXmTAycIuzxShR1y7MTRFvSG1pR3pOKFu6gwUd-3VEi15QDiCdUtuiH9wsDZ3tlXYK8gKgtQt4rMQWBeVkETvkUBgwmVVTLYjRjVoJBL4sHR2sTGjAQ8qHX9cx4kAurtOBZbKM_niD0XyhSDv6GpZ4ila/s1060/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.26.10%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="742" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrjREwsjq2HVJmfpngXxUVISJAmj-E4TNXmTAycIuzxShR1y7MTRFvSG1pR3pOKFu6gwUd-3VEi15QDiCdUtuiH9wsDZ3tlXYK8gKgtQt4rMQWBeVkETvkUBgwmVVTLYjRjVoJBL4sHR2sTGjAQ8qHX9cx4kAurtOBZbKM_niD0XyhSDv6GpZ4ila/w280-h400/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%208.26.10%20AM.png" width="280" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>You won't find <i>Dirca palustris</i> at most garden centers, but don't despair! You can find this delightful little beauty at some native plant nurseries and online. Local gardeners can find in at <a href="http://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">Growild Nursery</a>. It's also available online from <a href="https://www.prairiemoon.com/" target="_blank">Prairie Moon Nursery</a>, <a href="https://mowildflowers-net.3dcartstores.com/Leatherwood-Dirca-palustris_p_115.html" target="_blank">Missouri Wildflower Nursery</a>,<a href="https://www.brokenarrownursery.com/dirca-palustris-leatherwood.html" target="_blank"> Broken Arrow Nursery</a> and <a href="https://nearlynativenursery.com/PlantsDetail.cfm?ID=273" target="_blank">Mail Order Natives</a>. I have ordered seeds and plants from several, but check out their reviews.<br /></p><p>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDgyKoKwiU/WpHnzXgnfvI/AAAAAAAAlUU/hDvO8UahjyMPjytv-Qo5W81DAN82z--_gCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF6073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDgyKoKwiU/WpHnzXgnfvI/AAAAAAAAlUU/hDvO8UahjyMPjytv-Qo5W81DAN82z--_gCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF6073.jpg" width="546" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>In the annals of underused/under appreciated native shrubs Leatherwood
could be the poster child. I love this accurate quote from Dirr's:<br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>"A great restrained, dapper, shade-loving shrub that simply cannot find its way out of the shadows into commerce."</i><br /></b>
<b><br />
It's always a shock to me that many of our lovely native perennials and
shrubs receive relatively little attention in the nursery and landscape
trade despite their many attractive features. <i>Dirca palustris</i>
should be at every Independent Garden Center. Researchers suggests that
its slow growth and the uncertainty about how well it might be be
produced asexually has slowed industry interest. <br /></b>
<b><br />
I think that we wildflower/native plant aficionados could make a
difference for these orphaned natives. We can start with requesting
natives at our garden centers and we can stop purchasing the same
old-same old exotics that don't add wildlife value to our gardens.</b><br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">We must be the squeaky wheel for natives! </span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">xoxogail </span></i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7Ye6dygbGc/WpQS_3w8phI/AAAAAAAAlXI/k2H76_mJX8Q9kfiMqi8hAcvzmC9BEldMgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-16%2Bat%2B4.07.37%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="726" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t7Ye6dygbGc/WpQS_3w8phI/AAAAAAAAlXI/k2H76_mJX8Q9kfiMqi8hAcvzmC9BEldMgCLcBGAs/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-16%2Bat%2B4.07.37%2BPM.png" width="251" /></a></div><p> </p><p><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Particulars</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><i>Dirca palustris</i></b><br />
Common Name: Leatherwood. <a href="https://garden.smith.edu/sites/default/files/Leaflet_2021_Website.pdf" target="_blank">lead-wood, moosewood, ropebark</a><br /></p><p>Origin of common name: According to several sources the common name
refers to the soft leathery, pliable, yet still very strong stems that
are flexible enough to be tied into a knot and not break. The bark is
fibrous and can be peeled off in strips and woven into twine. <br />
Type: Deciduous shrub, a forest understory beauty<br />
Family: <i>Thymelaeaceae</i> (Daphnes are also in this family)<br />
Native Range: Eastern North America (<a href="https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=dipa9" target="_blank">Source</a>)<br />
<br />
</p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMpy6GhyOb8/WpQTYAsPHQI/AAAAAAAAlXM/v3CTUVV0fmAeXN6ygP1napVSNQ3fdHxbgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-26%2Bat%2B8.01.39%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1300" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RMpy6GhyOb8/WpQTYAsPHQI/AAAAAAAAlXM/v3CTUVV0fmAeXN6ygP1napVSNQ3fdHxbgCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-02-26%2Bat%2B8.01.39%2BAM.png" width="393" /></a></div><br />
Zone: 3 to 9<br />
Height: 4.00 to 8.00 feet<br />
Spread: 4.00 to 6.00 feet<br />
Bloom Time: March to April (February in my middle Tennessee garden) <br />
Bloom: Pale lemon yellow with bright yellow stamens</div><div>Leaf: Elliptic to obovate leaves (to 3-4" long) emerge yellow-green in
spring, mature to medium green in summer and turn a pleasant bright
yellow in fall.<br />
Bark: Leathery with extremely pliable twigs <br />
Sun: Part shade to full shade. This is an extremely shade tolerant shrub.<br />
Water: Medium<br />
Soil: Neutral, calcareous and acid soils. Moisture may be more important than the soil.<br />
Pollination: The flowers have both male and female organs and are pollinated by insects.<br />
Propagation: Seed dispersing birds and mammals (frugivorous)<br />
Faunal associations: Small to medium sized bees: little carpenter bees
(Ceratina spp.), cuckoo bees (Nomada cuneata), mason bees (Osmia
lignaria), Halictid bees (Augochlora pura, Lasioglossum spp.),
plasterer bees (Colletes inaequalis), and Andrenid bees (Andrena
rugosa).Source: <a href="http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/leatherwood.html" target="_blank">Illinois Wildflowers</a> <br />
Maintenance: Low, if planted in the right spot otherwise keep soil moist<br />
Interesting notes: Often found growing near Spicebush. Contact with the bark of <i>Dirca palustris</i> has been know to cause dermatitis; redness and blistering in some people.<br />
Suggested Use: Woodland garden, specimen plant <br />
Deer and bunnies seem to avoid it, possibly toxic. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fyrxp2mcB-4/WojfwazxPeI/AAAAAAAAlO8/--1QzPau66orMyWmG_r94kwvrbGWM8xdACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-27%2Bat%2B10.31.51%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fyrxp2mcB-4/WojfwazxPeI/AAAAAAAAlO8/--1QzPau66orMyWmG_r94kwvrbGWM8xdACLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-27%2Bat%2B10.31.51%2BPM.png" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
our native wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you
comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 and beyond that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our knowledge of
the natural world are equally as valuable. Helping others learn about
nature is included. Golly gee whiz, there are so many things you can
do. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. Wouldn't an article in the local paper be a coup for nature! Why post it? Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day an older home
along with many (if not all) of the mature oak, hickory, maple, Eastern cedar and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are cut down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Claytonia, Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, Violets, self-heal, clovers, and dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A gardener can hope! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Here's an
incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your
garden, but don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or check
out the
internet for ideas.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </a></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/02/go-bare-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil</a>, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get rid of the plastic </span><span style="font-size: medium;">weed barriers in your garden<b>,</b> it's not good for anything.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><br /></b></b><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Turn off your yard up-lighting, eave lights and porch lights after 11pm. This is important for nocturnal critters including mammals, snakes, insects, bats, birds (especially during migration). (<a href="https://birdcast.info/science-to-action/lights-out/heres-how-you-can-make-a-difference/" target="_blank">Birdcast</a> suggestions)<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society (<a href="https://www.tnps.org/" target="_blank">Tennessee Native Plant Society</a>)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group. (<a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Support your local native plant sellers. (<a href="https://www.growildinc.com/" target="_blank">GroWild</a> in middle Tennessee, <a href="https://www.overhillgardens.com/native-plants.html" target="_blank">Overhill Gardens in east Tenness</a>ee, <a href="https://www.tnps.org/more-resources/" target="_blank">Resource Guide TN Native Plant Society</a>)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Encourage your local garden clubs to offer native plant talks.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If your garden club has a plant sale encourage them to sell more native plants. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Get trained as a naturalist (<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/tennessee-naturalist-program" target="_blank">Tennessee Naturalist Program</a>, Almost every state has their own Master Naturalist training program)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. Buy them nature books.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Give nature books as baby shower gifts (<a href="https://bookshop.org/lists/nature-board-books-for-infants-toddlers" target="_blank">Nature books for infants and toddlers</a>) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you are already gardening with wildlife in mind then add a few signs that help educate your neighbors. (<a href="https://gifts.xerces.org/" target="_blank">Xerces Society</a>, <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/bfg" target="_blank">Pollinator Partnership)</a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Set up an information station where neighbors can pick up brochures about your garden and other info. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Get certified (<a href="https://www.nwf.org/CERTIFY" target="_blank">National Wildlife Federation</a>, check to see what your state offers)</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"> <br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/s2456/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1814" data-original-width="2456" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDm9hfgIaBqt3X2NJ77V1hWMq-kFg9RSMr-E1MV7pULKSkLxELmSK31YgYp4HymFeYjFkr665cOQ5oMzlgdZ0S9Q14TDiePQDDHPIWv7NKgq3fmiLN9vooG_BYpXRYeogpuWvQOSc3oAHEoA-ofW5v8gRQc8bqKeF9SFsyqA1OZ07_gEV_VIEHqDKW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202023-02-21%20at%209.13.31%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444/" target="_blank">Visit</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-39887317981722837632023-01-25T05:00:00.019-06:002023-01-25T07:23:23.725-06:00Wildflower Wednesday: Hamamelis vernalis and the WW Challenge<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST_4vaH5JTSWgObrCK3EELmls9RPIV-NNyoApdwx_qWmCZFiiRk7ksi6RkAqg97VXiAeUUmGMp-tx_AEInJDsV7iQAEOXcAj_rxMTIu_MTSeIH8J9In7yDuCXKPdmIha9EfLxU5zv0662E_CS64wOS1Bsgmq037mj1RgYz-5QpFi_nMTHjso0jwsC/s640/P1220025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="640" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST_4vaH5JTSWgObrCK3EELmls9RPIV-NNyoApdwx_qWmCZFiiRk7ksi6RkAqg97VXiAeUUmGMp-tx_AEInJDsV7iQAEOXcAj_rxMTIu_MTSeIH8J9In7yDuCXKPdmIha9EfLxU5zv0662E_CS64wOS1Bsgmq037mj1RgYz-5QpFi_nMTHjso0jwsC/w640-h578/P1220025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone and the first Wildflower Wednesday post of 2023. Our star is vernal witchhazel and she's a beauty! I say her because the one in my garden is named Bernice...No, not a cultivar, but that story is for another time. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXWdu8GnQojYa711908UyC94zkRR5jrIgD1NNLn1lWjBuodZv6illyGRS0TvDfAXOwn3BNZa1LmwA5_pURaGIVng0jvOr7YBZ0-04_x-6ty9-NovP4nteKoXdaGfV2ZT697ztgQ1r_qY1uuo6sR88qK6QBxdHncYcp2z16UITQXI0uUqBH9KK0B8v/s640/DSCF1207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="551" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXWdu8GnQojYa711908UyC94zkRR5jrIgD1NNLn1lWjBuodZv6illyGRS0TvDfAXOwn3BNZa1LmwA5_pURaGIVng0jvOr7YBZ0-04_x-6ty9-NovP4nteKoXdaGfV2ZT697ztgQ1r_qY1uuo6sR88qK6QBxdHncYcp2z16UITQXI0uUqBH9KK0B8v/w552-h640/DSCF1207.JPG" width="552" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I've decided to continue the WW Challenge into 2023 and beyond. It's a call for doing at least one thing a month to support nature/garden critters/etc. I will include an idea list each month. Long time readers know that I've been an advocate of gardening with native plants and the critters that visit and live in our gardens since my early blogging days. Back then I fell in love with the bumbles that were visiting my garden and wrote many posts about pollinators of all kinds. I also loved sharing posts about the native wildflowers that supported those critters and began Wildflower Wednesday. It's been at least a dozen years since that first Wildflower Wednesday meme post. I invited others to share their wildflower star of the month and many did. I continue to use the Wildflower Wednesday posts to call attention to our native plants that have co-evolved with critters in a mutually dependent manner. Co-adaptation is easiest to see with insects/pollinators and flowering plants in our gardens. Researchers have found <i>at least three traits</i>
that flowering plants have evolved to attract pollinators: (<a href="https://biologydictionary.net/coevolution/" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Distinct
visual cues: flowering plants have evolved bright colors, stripes,
patterns, size and colors specific to the pollinator. For example, flowering
plants seeking to attract insect pollinators are typically blue an
ultraviolet, whereas red and orange are designed to attract birds. </li><li>Scent: flowering plants use scents as a means of instructing insects as
to their location. Since scents become stronger closer to the plant, the
insect is able to hone-in and land on that plant to extract its
nectar. </li><li>Some flowers use chemical and tactile means to mimic female
insect species to attract the male species. </li></ul><p class="nitro-offscreen"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTNAZjqQfW20W5obRAWJz-2RD_XP_FMeL_slYL8u3SYnpsgBbsXTP92f3NsR-ZHAqo2jR4JwSaFt7CZ56oMO28144-62GpFE7kBztH9pvIPUS0dv1BExn6KkoPeGPz01lusZrF4qtsXehBaGqCKWaHHL0BXGaN-QSTwilIYg-oUoJa4rD9ZlynYIf/s640/DSCF0072.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="640" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTNAZjqQfW20W5obRAWJz-2RD_XP_FMeL_slYL8u3SYnpsgBbsXTP92f3NsR-ZHAqo2jR4JwSaFt7CZ56oMO28144-62GpFE7kBztH9pvIPUS0dv1BExn6KkoPeGPz01lusZrF4qtsXehBaGqCKWaHHL0BXGaN-QSTwilIYg-oUoJa4rD9ZlynYIf/w640-h638/DSCF0072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><b>Let's consider our January star with co-evolution in mind.</b></p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><i>Hamamelis vernalis</i> is a lovely native shrub/small tree that
blooms when you have just about given up hope that winter will end and
warmth will return to the world. In my Middle Tennessee garden it began blooming the first week in January. It's not unusual for it to
continue blooming into February and sometimes March. <br /></p><p class="nitro-offscreen"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRiFNI0z41CLBgY10kiAli365jH3_V6L8guJAlR-6Unqokaur1lOKYFkz8aG8ADZQFLvBtO4w6jFsHCF1JgFH3-0jjbW3LRq4lWDgQLgALXtUN2gPFi9oIM0CiPaOw780P3_bfA17KKoSQlpTcbWbuFzB7MrqGTVwHlQeq3AA7vpW9WWfmZnG0R-y/s640/P1192660_2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="624" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRiFNI0z41CLBgY10kiAli365jH3_V6L8guJAlR-6Unqokaur1lOKYFkz8aG8ADZQFLvBtO4w6jFsHCF1JgFH3-0jjbW3LRq4lWDgQLgALXtUN2gPFi9oIM0CiPaOw780P3_bfA17KKoSQlpTcbWbuFzB7MrqGTVwHlQeq3AA7vpW9WWfmZnG0R-y/w624-h640/P1192660_2.JPG" width="624" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="nitro-offscreen">Ozark witch hazel's flowers are an unusual reddish color with four
yellow/orange crepe paper streaming petals that unfurl as the day warms
and furl back up when the temperature drops. This is a marvelous
<i>adaptive behavior</i> that insures that the spidery blooms will survive
the fluctuating winter weather and be in bloom for almost two months. This is super important in ensuring that any pollinating critters that are out and about on warmer days will find their way to the lovely flowers.<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDCds45wZSqkMdp91VVCqhcUrNMTAHBe6U3Rt06lz-LxttVeVUrSTbERaYpNxWrOCY2522eihHjXc97PrZ_U1GfsO9lXGYxvb3juS_yxH5h7xnS8EJwxGvfBbHKLaL2LmqY3vNKg_0NuhmMNtv5OPXW-vZDU0a-G3W8pLMhZddkAwHXzGHb7fAua_/s640/DSCF4747.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="565" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDCds45wZSqkMdp91VVCqhcUrNMTAHBe6U3Rt06lz-LxttVeVUrSTbERaYpNxWrOCY2522eihHjXc97PrZ_U1GfsO9lXGYxvb3juS_yxH5h7xnS8EJwxGvfBbHKLaL2LmqY3vNKg_0NuhmMNtv5OPXW-vZDU0a-G3W8pLMhZddkAwHXzGHb7fAua_/w566-h640/DSCF4747.JPG" width="566" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="nitro-offscreen">They perfume the garden with their sweet clove vanilla scent on warm
days. It's no accident that most winter blooming plants have some
fragrance...<i>Nature had to insure that insect pollinators could easily
find their way to a plant that blooms when most of the garden is
fast asleep. </i>I've seen honeybees in the garden on days where the
temperatures are above 50˚, but, have only seen small gnats and flies
visiting the beautiful fragrant flowers of vernal witchhazel.</p><p class="nitro-offscreen"><br />
<br />
<i>Witch hazels are indeed insect pollinated flowers, just check these
clues out</i>: They have long, bright-yellow petals, sweet smelling nectar
and their stamens (pollen-bearing male bits) are right next to the
nectar source. But, how you wonder is insect pollination possible in mid
winter? Bernd Heinrich discovered that winter moths are responsible for
pollinating witch hazels. These owlet moths have a remarkable ability
to heat themselves by using energy to shiver, raising their body
temperatures by as much as 50 degrees in order to fly in search of
food. (<a href="https://www.venerabletrees.org/winter-sex-witchhazel/" target="_blank">source</a>).</p><p>Nature and its critters are amazing! <br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEC1zYiCsBQ/UtXMLv630UI/AAAAAAAAXeE/BjvJVFIg3oUyMAF75AcD7adTMwMQ4G1pwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCF4744.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1323" data-original-width="1600" height="528" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YEC1zYiCsBQ/UtXMLv630UI/AAAAAAAAXeE/BjvJVFIg3oUyMAF75AcD7adTMwMQ4G1pwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/DSCF4744.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flowers are
deep to bright red, rarely all yellow, with four ribbon-shaped petals
7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long and four short stamens, and grow in clusters</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I do have <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/11/wildflower-wednesday-clay-and-limestone.html" target="_blank">garden guidelines</a>
that I strive to follow. Simply stated I like to plant a mixture of
Central Basin natives that have good to excellent wildlife value and
that provide bloom as close to year round as is possible in a middle
south garden. I have occasionally pushed the envelope and planted
perennials and shrubs that are native to adjacent states or that grow in
conditions similar to Clay and Limestone*. I pushed that envelope
when I decided to plant <i>Hamamelis vernalis/</i>Ozark witch-hazel. It's found growing in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri.<i> I planted them for the earliest visiting pollinators and for its
delightful perfume. It's happy in the garden, it gets pollinated by
visiting critters and that makes me happy.</i><br />
<br />
<i>That's my story and I am sticking to it! Although, there is another reason I planted Bernice! I planted her as a memorial to my mother, who bloomed in the winter of her life, too. xoxo</i><br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TF2qZl4s6Y4/UtXMbg21mXI/AAAAAAAAXeU/L7Cl5PZv8NIU252NBqUN8jRSd_A6LZFxwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCF6476.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="514" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TF2qZl4s6Y4/UtXMbg21mXI/AAAAAAAAXeU/L7Cl5PZv8NIU252NBqUN8jRSd_A6LZFxwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/DSCF6476.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><p> If you want to grow this Central South/Southern native shrub just give
it a partially shady location with good morning sun, moist acid soil.
It tolerates Clay and Limestone's more neutral soil, so, I am pretty
sure you can have success with it, too. It has great fall leaf color,
attracts pollinators, and blooms for two months. <br />
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4thRCHcwkpI/UtXMQWjHS5I/AAAAAAAAXeM/DeAetT37jNomlnq-lGynx-LhYwSrW0IdwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSCF6476.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="593" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4thRCHcwkpI/UtXMQWjHS5I/AAAAAAAAXeM/DeAetT37jNomlnq-lGynx-LhYwSrW0IdwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/DSCF6476.JPG" width="596" /></a></div><p> <b>The Particulars</b><br />
<br />
<i>Hamamelis vernalis</i><br />
Common Name: Ozark witch hazel<br />
Family: <i>Hamamelidaceae</i><br />
Type: Deciduous shrub or small tree<br />
Native Range: Southern and central United States in rocky stream banks, in moist open woodlands. Although not listed as a Tennessee native I found this quote on the
Illinois Extension Center site "A near native species, the vernal witch
hazel (<i>Hamamelis vernalis</i>)
is native to streambanks and wet woodland of the southern US, from
parts of Texas and Florida north to Missouri, <b>as well as most of the
eastern US."</b><br />
Zone: 4 to 8<br />
Height: 6.00 to 10.00 feet<br />
Spread: 8.00 to 15.00 feet<br />
Bloom Time: January to April if weather remains cool. Bloom Description: Yellow with red inner calyx<br />
Sun: Full sun to part shade<br />
Water: Medium, consistently moist. NOT drought tolerant<br />
Maintenance: Low, does not need to be pruned <br />
Suggested Use: Rain Garden, along creek banks, <br />
Flower: Showy, Fragrant<br />
Leaf: Good Fall color <br />
Usage: Please plant them where you will be sure to appreciate them
during the winter months. They can colonize and would make an effective
screen along property boundary. Use in mixed border or as a specimen.<br />
</p><div class="field field-name-field-plant-landscape-use field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix">
Wildlife value: Habitat value for insects and for birds that come to
nest in their branches. The seeds and flowers are eaten by turkey and
ruffed grouse. </div><p>
Comments: An important medicinal plant for many native American tribes.
Twigs, leaves and bark are the basis of witch hazel extract.<br />
Tolerates: Deer, Erosion, Clay Soil <br />
<br />
I love that not only does <i>Hamamelis vernalis</i> flower for months,
it has a lovely fragrance. How clever of Mother Nature to give winter
bloomers that something special to insure that moths, a little fly,
gnat or bee will follow the scent and pollinate the flower.<br /> </p><p>xoxogail <br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boakQRczhFc/XEeJIfJJ1rI/AAAAAAAAprY/fBI4kotDjb4jjydttNsqJIlpEPH6tVhWwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-27%2Bat%2B10.31.51%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-boakQRczhFc/XEeJIfJJ1rI/AAAAAAAAprY/fBI4kotDjb4jjydttNsqJIlpEPH6tVhWwCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-06-27%2Bat%2B10.31.51%2BPM.png" /></a></div><p><b> ...and now for something really special!</b><br /></p><p> </p><div class="plant-info-item"><div class="clb-custom-footer-meta additional-plant-info"><h4><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2023 that supports nature in some way. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </h4><p></p><p><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </p><p><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Start a WildOnes local group.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a><br /></span></span><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div></div></div><p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>
celebration. On the fourth Wednesday of each month I share information
about wildflowers and other native plants. Please join in if you like.
You can write a blog post or share your favorite wildflower on social
media. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not, and, it
doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about
celebrating wildflowers. </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-14922758220213522412022-12-28T05:00:00.095-06:002022-12-28T05:00:00.210-06:00Wildflower Wednesday 2022 : December Roundup <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3FbJO0RafHxta6iVS7TOZucI6V-GfJmIsUoK-r4vC_i90kntLjKrXEkqftWAQBKKT-ClI223aPT2jPFgaRWdoHBEn4Xgi4M6F2Rd3BSGy-tvjSOVVAe9wryrrFPgLGHYkU76KZKpAR0Wqi0wJj_VH4UCIZr2wqoNfxQDZ6u9bA0fk5bt4JMhK-O7/s640/DSCF1621.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3FbJO0RafHxta6iVS7TOZucI6V-GfJmIsUoK-r4vC_i90kntLjKrXEkqftWAQBKKT-ClI223aPT2jPFgaRWdoHBEn4Xgi4M6F2Rd3BSGy-tvjSOVVAe9wryrrFPgLGHYkU76KZKpAR0Wqi0wJj_VH4UCIZr2wqoNfxQDZ6u9bA0fk5bt4JMhK-O7/w640-h480/DSCF1621.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>I love gardening in the Middle South, but, this has been an especially
challenging growing year. Droughts are a regular occurrence in Tennessee’s climate, but, the one we experienced throughout the late summer and all fall was devastating. I feared for shrubs and trees. Then came the cold weather in the form of an Arctic air mass that had us rushing to cover plants and making sure our pipes wouldn't freeze. As I look out the window snow is falling. It's lovely. I wish that we had had two inches or more to blanket the garden before the temperature bottomed out at 0˚. Climate scientists said, "Expect extreme weather patterns.". and they were right. It's a good thing we gardeners are flexible and every plant that didn't make it presents us with an opportunity to find another wonderful native wildflower to plant in its place.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiS1duOJGwcEFft4lMC0zCtZkW6Liol0-Tfbkxr7nSc1egHTJSYeLZfVQfKLKnHvZO2_fMajruRYAHLndKccX5OzV_IzeN38SsY-BlHKx6FzytWsYp81O9jZlNo556D7iLcwW_vRg79YV_Hp0fmA4DBI7f2KZT-TojJss5difdmS06NFwDh-OioIm/s640/DSCF3837.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiS1duOJGwcEFft4lMC0zCtZkW6Liol0-Tfbkxr7nSc1egHTJSYeLZfVQfKLKnHvZO2_fMajruRYAHLndKccX5OzV_IzeN38SsY-BlHKx6FzytWsYp81O9jZlNo556D7iLcwW_vRg79YV_Hp0fmA4DBI7f2KZT-TojJss5difdmS06NFwDh-OioIm/w640-h480/DSCF3837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hypericum frondosum</i> in December color</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> None the
less, we are fortunate to have four seasons in the middle south; a
mercifully short winter and a delightful spring and autumn which make
up for the steamy hot and often too dry summer weather. The days are
starting to lengthen and before long the earliest <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/search/label/spring%20ephemerals" target="_blank">spring ephemerals</a> will break dormancy and the gloriously long bloom of wildflowers will begin.</p><p><b>Here's the Wildflower Wednesday Roundup. This year I've expanded my wildflower star posts to include a challenge. I hope that you have enjoyed the posts and accepted the challenge. Please follow the links to read about glorious wildflower stars. xoxogail
</b></p><p><br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/01/wildflower-wednesday-challenge-for-2022.html" target="_blank">January 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: A Challenge For 2022</a></h3>
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<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikt0sgBLdUhseHswsaVURP3dw-prCXipeYJWBa2R7OnZcVaUUWq3P0FA5_5mpe5q7t9YE9ng67TH7tyKC0CLtSDi0JQPVxOaJsiMXky7HTs6SKtiEVWCaBmJpZ2NAgotBoCsl9Mdjfbxmo4ZC6hQigG-KpX8XiKN-ThEnzWEa37ODaBkqG1BrO1A8b=s2398" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2398" data-original-width="2220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikt0sgBLdUhseHswsaVURP3dw-prCXipeYJWBa2R7OnZcVaUUWq3P0FA5_5mpe5q7t9YE9ng67TH7tyKC0CLtSDi0JQPVxOaJsiMXky7HTs6SKtiEVWCaBmJpZ2NAgotBoCsl9Mdjfbxmo4ZC6hQigG-KpX8XiKN-ThEnzWEa37ODaBkqG1BrO1A8b=w592-h640" width="592" /></a></div><p> I've been posting Wildflower Wednesdays for 13 years. To quote a post from May 2009~<br /></p><p><span style="font-style: italic;">Wildflower
Wednesday started
out as a regular post to celebrate the wildflowers in my garden.
It's been a fun way to introduce you to my soul mates! I treasure
them and love sharing them. They grow with ease if planted in the right
spot and they draw native fauna, like bees, birds and butterflies to
the garden. There are articles all over the internet extolling their
virtues. You've read many, I'm sure! Here's how I sum it up~Native
wildflowers are good for the earth and good for its inhabitants.<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank"> (Here for the post)</a></span><br /></p><p>Of course I still love wildflowers and of course I plan to continue
sharing them on the Fourth Wednesday of every month, but, it's time to
shake it up with a challenge. </p><p>A two part challenge!</p><p>The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. Activities that increase our
knowledge of the natural world are equally as valuable. Below you'll
find a list of possible activities you could do...If you choose to
participate! But, don't limit yourself to my list, make your own list or
check out the internet for ideas. <br /></p><p></p><p>The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </p><p><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </p><p><i><b>Why now? </b></i>My
neighborhood is changing. Yours might be, too. Every day a 1950s ranch
along with many of the mature oak, hickory and hackberry trees that have
been there for over 75 years are bulldozed down. In place of the "bee
lawns" composed of <i>Salvia lyrata, Ruellia humilis</i>, fleabane,
Western Daisy, violets, self-heal, clovers, Dandelions that grew so well
in the shallow soil that sits on top of limestone bedrock are sodded
non-native lawns that get daily watering, whether it rains or not. Gone
are the lightening bugs. Gone are the ground dwelling/nesting native
bees. Gone is the habitat for insects, spiders and other critters. Gone
is plant diversity. Gone are trees that provided for hundreds of moths,
butterflies and other insects. Gone are the nesting sites for
woodpeckers, hummingbirds, Chickadees and other birds. It breaks my
heart. We can't stop the multi-million dollar houses from going up, but,
maybe we can make a lot of educational noise and help our new neighbors
see the value in providing for critters.</p><p>A gardener can hope! </p><p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/02/wildflower-wednesday-harbinger-of-spring.html" target="_blank">February 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Harbinger-of-Spring</a>
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<p>I'd like to think spring has arrived at Clay and Limestone. When I open the door on the 50˚ mornings, it smells like
spring. You've smelled it! It's the fresh dirt smell that wafts on
the breeze on warm spring days. Scientist call the chemical that makes
dirt smell fresh <a href="http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2007/09/origin-soil-scented-geosmin" target="_blank">geosmin</a>, I call it delicious. We can thank the plant munching bacteria that live in our soil for making it. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDGKXp6AIbnC7JO7635fuI9RTs4ncJuvgc27DumlJ9phstRZFAIGUoMz9He92_AIcqPKf-MOi0MTw_maoxm0ljepoNj9c1F6kWtPxT-K67-z9yzJQUjmmt4Ke5GP89buogvDiQ20YQ6OG/s1600/DSCF0691.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDGKXp6AIbnC7JO7635fuI9RTs4ncJuvgc27DumlJ9phstRZFAIGUoMz9He92_AIcqPKf-MOi0MTw_maoxm0ljepoNj9c1F6kWtPxT-K67-z9yzJQUjmmt4Ke5GP89buogvDiQ20YQ6OG/w640-h605/DSCF0691.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>
<br />It's not just the smells, although late winter blooming <i>Hamamelis vernalis</i>'
clovey scent is wafting about the garden on warm days. When it's a bit
chilly I have to get up close and sniff the flowers, but, it makes me
long and hope for more blooms and spring. And, have you heard the birds?
They sing louder and more melodious in the spring. It's not my
imagination, they're singing louder!</p><p>A few of the <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/03/wildflower-wednesdayspring-beauties.html" target="_blank">spring ephemerals</a>
have poked up from under the leaf liter demonstrating once again that
leaves on the garden don't kill our native beauties and that spring is
just about to bust open. My garden is just beginning to undergo the marvelous transformation from
brown to
green. Over head the elms are budding, in near by yards the maples have
begun to bloom and many shrubs are starting to push out leaves.</p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EhddWBeLaYjCWZlE1BCODMX5Shyet6YYEIT9ls4jnj0uMzGA-3tMVrcxD-pCOdpMTwfgO2W2rAjq607PB98mVbz4k5aFDXQDDDvS8rj-7fJE30Lkmf68QnDv93Y4BDV-IO1Pc5P1sr3c/s1600/DSCF2199.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EhddWBeLaYjCWZlE1BCODMX5Shyet6YYEIT9ls4jnj0uMzGA-3tMVrcxD-pCOdpMTwfgO2W2rAjq607PB98mVbz4k5aFDXQDDDvS8rj-7fJE30Lkmf68QnDv93Y4BDV-IO1Pc5P1sr3c/s640/DSCF2199.JPG" width="586" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the diminutive woodland beauty<i> and WW star, Erigenia bulbosa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br />
</b><p>Freezing nights and pounding rain can't dim my hopes for an early spring. But, let's not rush headlong into a big spring
crescendo before it's time, after all we do need to admire
our wildflower of the month, Harbinger-of-Spring/<i>Erigenia bulbosa.</i></p><p> <br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/03/wildflower-wednesday-green-and-gold.html" target="_blank">March 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Green and Gold</a></h3><p>If you're looking for a charming native groundcover then look no further than <i>Chrysogonum virginianum.</i> The common name Green and Gold is a nod to its fuzzy foliage and golden flower.<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_YnAib_FkE/Vstxmj4zs7I/AAAAAAAAa68/pxPJJL8-dEo/s1600/DSCF3370.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="520" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C_YnAib_FkE/Vstxmj4zs7I/AAAAAAAAa68/pxPJJL8-dEo/s640/DSCF3370.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The early bloom provides nectar for visiting bees and butterflies.</span></td></tr></tbody></table> It's
been in my garden for more than a decade and is very much at home
between the large stepping stones on the path to the front door and in
the adjacent bed. I'm a fan of repetition planting; especially plants
that are easy peasy. Green and Gold is easy to divide and transplant so,
I've moved it all around the garden. It's happy in full shade and even
in full sun. It flowers every spring and doesn't seem to mind a bit
of foot traffic every now and then.<p> <br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/04/wildflower-wednesday-nothoscordum.html" target="_blank">April 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Nothoscordum bivalve</a>
</h3>
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<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZmyvrYguh2l8jRVMk6ez5f6sp4g6DbVPaLVORaPRSdeANUXFgnNEZIWaF1RVs0J_jOiORf637KHLaRnIhPMvcGRtAwLiawqQRoxrkSxhJIeq0xGKfU5ES_TjaBHhQCe-ulOqXCzG3w3qJb2fhMT8q4xbLAD95i-VmY0Fio2On2urBMxD6jloMOJi/s843/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-25%20at%208.05.12%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="819" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZmyvrYguh2l8jRVMk6ez5f6sp4g6DbVPaLVORaPRSdeANUXFgnNEZIWaF1RVs0J_jOiORf637KHLaRnIhPMvcGRtAwLiawqQRoxrkSxhJIeq0xGKfU5ES_TjaBHhQCe-ulOqXCzG3w3qJb2fhMT8q4xbLAD95i-VmY0Fio2On2urBMxD6jloMOJi/w622-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-25%20at%208.05.12%20PM.jpeg" width="622" /></a></div><br /> Like
a few of my favorite wildflowers, this one was first spotted in my way
back backyard many moons ago! It was growing in full sun (before the
trees leafed out) where the soil is wet in the winters and dry in the
summers. I knew immediately that it was something special with its fresh
white flowers. It looked like a wild <i>Allium</i>, but the scent was
not at all like an onion or garlic; it was sweet and worth crawling on
my hands and knees to get a good sniff. Of course, I looked it up in my
wildflower guide. Turns out this wild garlic looking plant is <i>Nothoscordum bivalve</i> a native member of the <i>Amaryllidaceae </i>(<i>Amaryllis</i> or <i>Narcissus</i> family). Once upon a time it was in the Lily family.<br /><p></p><p>The word <i>Nothoscordum</i> is derived from the Greek word Nothos meaning “false” and <i>Scordum</i>,
meaning garlic. Individual plants are about a foot high with a single
smooth hollow stem/scape that emerges from an underground bulb. Each
plant also has several long, grass-like leaves that emerge from the base
of the plant. Mature clumps can reach up to 16" tall and spread to fill
an 8" area. The scapes can reach up to
16" tall and are topped with an umbel of 4-8 small, upward-facing
flowers in
spring. The 0.5" wide flowers are made up of six white tepals with
yellow tinged bases. <a href="https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=282071&isprofile=0&n=1" target="_blank">MOBOT</a></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/05/wildflower-wednesday-amorpha-fruticosa.html" target="_blank">May 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: <i>Amorpha fruticosa</i>, Another Fabulous <i>Fabaceae</i></a>
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<p>I purchased bare rooted False Indigo on a whim last fall. I bought
three because three is the number that is stuck in my head when buying
plants! I had no idea where in the garden I would plant them, so I
soaked the roots and planted them in quart sized containers and let them
over winter.</p><p>I completely forgot them until the classic pinnately
compounded leaflets that screamed "I am a member of the Pea family"
emerged. Then I began imagining all the different fab <i>Fabaceaes </i>I might be growing. <br /></p><p>It wasn't too long after the plants had fully leafed out before the
narrow racemes developed. A few weeks later the blooms began opening
from the bottom up (acropetal development). I knew by then that it was <i>Amorpha fruticosa</i> and I was thrilled.<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2-yUKRpew5RDOwGUJojlXQZxL4v3GufeMN1SDYV-YlnyNof7iW_2UpyVl5WIP1HAqDYQFaRQ8GPGAnPQ2GFGbL91ZgYNReJbqzS_ATqud9GEvJx7FyJBbKNBBRFJnYxW-PSvAUXlbkCIMed4tnOtQmQzmlaEmcEOmEMft58dvHkIe_Y58S1lLDWe/s4608/P5130125.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb2-yUKRpew5RDOwGUJojlXQZxL4v3GufeMN1SDYV-YlnyNof7iW_2UpyVl5WIP1HAqDYQFaRQ8GPGAnPQ2GFGbL91ZgYNReJbqzS_ATqud9GEvJx7FyJBbKNBBRFJnYxW-PSvAUXlbkCIMed4tnOtQmQzmlaEmcEOmEMft58dvHkIe_Y58S1lLDWe/w480-h640/P5130125.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/06/wildflower-wednesday-june-blooms-and.html" target="_blank">June 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: June Blooms and Their Pollinator Visitors</a></h3>
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<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNWj7tmNbIvinMJwkTgnbqeWo73MNpEVyypSKbl3t9WX446sZv_3WqodxS3pl3Ym5IUDL-6yjWtZzUVTfF-Vto0ufkbtgJHhp4BByq_XH5zwoaNNbP6aBhEtLQUWi1giAU_gAcoMRrpX_mAqa_TY0Ji6yi3Rbg5trGmYG1GpiPCHly1GI2ZMN9lwK/s2658/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-02%20at%207.13.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="2658" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNWj7tmNbIvinMJwkTgnbqeWo73MNpEVyypSKbl3t9WX446sZv_3WqodxS3pl3Ym5IUDL-6yjWtZzUVTfF-Vto0ufkbtgJHhp4BByq_XH5zwoaNNbP6aBhEtLQUWi1giAU_gAcoMRrpX_mAqa_TY0Ji6yi3Rbg5trGmYG1GpiPCHly1GI2ZMN9lwK/w640-h526/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-02%20at%207.13.46%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b><b><b><i> </i></b></b></b> <i>I appreciate all the pollinators at Clay and Limestone, </i><i>but, my favorite has always been <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2009/09/taking-care-of-bzzzness.html">Bumbles</a>.</i><br />
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We moved into this house in early fall 3 dozen years ago. The yard was a
mess and there were no real garden beds, but the Summer Phlox and blue
wood aster were still blooming. I was captivated
by the Bumbles who were actively working the flowers as much as I was by
the
flowers. Those bumbles stole my heart. Over the years I noticed how
hard they worked in the garden. They were the first pollinators up and
about each morning and the last to leave each night. I
found them sleeping on flowers on cool mornings and watched them
nectaring and gathering pollen on the last of the latest blooming
ex-asters in November. They were a joy to watch and I wanted to learn
all about them.<b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(from <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2012/02/its-time-to-bee-gin-thinking-about-bees.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>)</span></b> </p>Many
years later and Bumbles still make me smile, but, so do a dozen other
pollinators. To celebrate June Wildflower Wednesday and <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week" target="_blank">Pollinator Week</a> here are more wildflowers and their pollinator visitors<b>.</b><p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/07/wildflower-wednesday-clematis-viorna.html" target="_blank">July 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Clematis viorna</a></h3>
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<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0qIt3z6tJ4pte6FB7U6NshCaGxZvM3o8OIs0QdTNZPqT6zc8qkBGHleVCnLWbFu8UkolXfGCOKdxPI1wAWbbJJEKAsrNwj7es-T4UFyDrmPrmSioNF9_xvKMO-lUsnx1NiARJiwqJK8vxvYM2NUp7KyQi06zlACu0eL9vTTDLr8lt8pVuc7YQudT/s1145/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.57.41%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1145" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0qIt3z6tJ4pte6FB7U6NshCaGxZvM3o8OIs0QdTNZPqT6zc8qkBGHleVCnLWbFu8UkolXfGCOKdxPI1wAWbbJJEKAsrNwj7es-T4UFyDrmPrmSioNF9_xvKMO-lUsnx1NiARJiwqJK8vxvYM2NUp7KyQi06zlACu0eL9vTTDLr8lt8pVuc7YQudT/w640-h578/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.57.41%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I
love Clematis and when I discovered that there were native Clemmies I
had to have one or two or more. So far I've planted three in my garden: <i>Clematis virginiana, C pitcheri and C viorna</i>. I wasn't surprised to find out that like other <i>Clematis</i> they can be placed in groups that determine how and when to prune. <i>Clematis viorna</i>
is our star and it fits in group 3, which means it blooms on new growth
and you need to give it a hard pruning in late winter. Be sure you've
harvested seeds or enjoyed their frothy fall look before pruning.<br /><p></p><p><i><b>But, I digress</b></i>,
let's start with getting you acquainted with this delightful herbacious
vine native to rich wooded banks and thickets throughout the north,
central and eastern United States. </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/08/wildflower-wednesday-rudbeckia-triloba.html" target="_blank">August 2922 Wildflower Wednesday: Rudbeckia triloba</a></h3>
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<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPuIfYWT3p_IvaVWw29nUzs7-EKYgPrGHwiFNl8Tw67p2Bu8GX9TYq_FrjjcPfw8xbM2k-K8tr9rWk2RupN7NtAuyQp06INH6dEfuj280dwXMmQNRVO930sMco8GqlDQImviKTCfqjKjJPPiQJnxzFybleLS89SyPyd321ZAWElZ-QDm7_UIRXhA/s640/Screen%20Shot%202018-07-23%20at%203.26.10%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="640" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPuIfYWT3p_IvaVWw29nUzs7-EKYgPrGHwiFNl8Tw67p2Bu8GX9TYq_FrjjcPfw8xbM2k-K8tr9rWk2RupN7NtAuyQp06INH6dEfuj280dwXMmQNRVO930sMco8GqlDQImviKTCfqjKjJPPiQJnxzFybleLS89SyPyd321ZAWElZ-QDm7_UIRXhA/w640-h498/Screen%20Shot%202018-07-23%20at%203.26.10%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Susans are summer sizzling beauties and
if you've heard me say this once, you've probably heard me say it a
dozen times: <i>I cannot imagine gardening without them.</i> In fact, I can't imagine gardening without the <i>Rudbeckia</i> family of beauties. When you garden in the middle south you learn to plant and appreciate
these rough and tumble golden yellow beauties. Especially in our hot and
dry summers. The yellow composites keep this garden floriferous when the <i>Phloxes</i>
are beginning to look puny, the Joes have faded and the ex-asters
haven't broken into song. All with their golden yellow flowers are must
haves in the middle to deep south in our blazing sun. They don't fade or
melt in the intense sunlight.**
<p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/11/callicarpa-americana-berry-beautiful.html" target="_blank">September 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Callicarpa americana </a></h3>
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<i>Callicarpa americana </i>is a wildly beautiful flowering shrub.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLIs2UYYr4M/XZ-FiaWW0gI/AAAAAAAAsT8/FP0TVJIznEIxDau-qKrcxRzPRFGUMmvhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P9160003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLIs2UYYr4M/XZ-FiaWW0gI/AAAAAAAAsT8/FP0TVJIznEIxDau-qKrcxRzPRFGUMmvhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/P9160003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>
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Even with the gorgeous berries/drupes stripped from the plant by hungry
birds, the leaves are a lovely chartreuse and still glow in the garden.
The arching stems with the yellowing leaves looks especially lovely as
fall continues. </p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">In case you're
wondering, this is not the first time a native shrub or tree has been a
Wildflower Wednesday star. But, it is the first time I've shared one
when the garden is still full of blooming wildflowers. </span></span>It's
important that we who garden for wildlife make sure we have energy
foods beyond pollen and nectar. Critters who visit and or live in our
gardens need them, but they also need seeds, nuts and berries that are
fat and protein rich. Trees and
shrubs are essential plants in a biodiverse garden.<i> </i>They are host
plants for moths and butterflies, provide nesting sites for birds and
small mammals and have nuts, berries and seeds that a variety of
critters rely upon. Here's something to consider, <b>Doug Tallamy suggests
we plant trees and shrubs before we plant flowers and grasses!</b> <br /></p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
</h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/10/wildflower-wednesday-trees-and-shrubs.html" target="_blank">October 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Trees and Shrubs in a Native Habitat</a></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> It's October and Nashville is in a moderate to severe drought. The blue wood and white frost asters are still blooming and the shrubs and trees are showing color deeper and sooner than usual. I've been watering to insure that the impossible to replace 50, 60 and 70 year old trees have a chance to survive until rain returns. They've been soldiering on and they all deserve to be Wildflower Wednesday stars and so they are</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></span></h3><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ctUyslH7JWhq8mJKkbG_MXGOPFteHGRLv3goY7sVJtTatDjjgEYzg_yiN5q61VCGHuUNGt9kGtn_gbCJXyINh5a1WPPFl4cgB-kTdrkP2P1g3Yq5jjfSGSKvbXGOEs9L5kgkS2kwmccIEhYF505Mb-uB3gtR6ZDcfrKJPhetQMQvnxnoNhjDSSKd/s4410/PB210072.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3429" data-original-width="4410" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ctUyslH7JWhq8mJKkbG_MXGOPFteHGRLv3goY7sVJtTatDjjgEYzg_yiN5q61VCGHuUNGt9kGtn_gbCJXyINh5a1WPPFl4cgB-kTdrkP2P1g3Yq5jjfSGSKvbXGOEs9L5kgkS2kwmccIEhYF505Mb-uB3gtR6ZDcfrKJPhetQMQvnxnoNhjDSSKd/w640-h498/PB210072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hydrangeas, Hamamelis</i> and Hickories above the wildflowers</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span><p> </p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2022/11/wildflower-wednesday-wildlife-and.html" target="_blank">November 2022 Wildflower Wednesday: Wildlife and Wildflower Friendly Garden Guidelines </a></h3>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZJzsuHlhNOzyJ1GczueRPMIg3sQSSM-Ej8-A_6yWd2mrsMtXYO-5zzQeis8MRTC2wpwAF1BqGT7RfH3PDvdMyprJLWflakQ-zUNkoh7HfvDim5sjsvFslKt5cgeF0CasqzxbxQszEwAPk5_NwbVkZSx_Nud01t_H1wBIzKnpmL0J879eO2gmao4/s640/DSCF3740.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="521" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZJzsuHlhNOzyJ1GczueRPMIg3sQSSM-Ej8-A_6yWd2mrsMtXYO-5zzQeis8MRTC2wpwAF1BqGT7RfH3PDvdMyprJLWflakQ-zUNkoh7HfvDim5sjsvFslKt5cgeF0CasqzxbxQszEwAPk5_NwbVkZSx_Nud01t_H1wBIzKnpmL0J879eO2gmao4/w522-h640/DSCF3740.jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/12/frostweed-flowers-are-natures-winter.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Verbesina virginica's</i> frost flower</span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>This month I'm sharing my
personal guidelines for wildlife and wildflower gardening. I hope you
find them helpful, especially if you're thinking of gardening for
wildlife. </p>I started sharing these posts more than a dozen years
ago and I still love introducing wildflowers to you. Our native
wildflowers are treasures. Many are underappreciated and underplanted
beauties and that's a shame. Most grow with ease if planted in the right
conditions and right spot. They are even happy in containers. The bonus
is that they attract crawling, flying, nesting, digging and feeding
critters to our gardens. With a little research you can find just the
right ones for your garden conditions. <p>First, let me tell you a little about my garden, Clay and Limestone. I garden in middle Tennessee
in what's known as the Central Basin. The garden soil is shallow clay
that is wet in the winter and dry in the summer. The native plants I've
chosen are adapted to
the environment and
conditions here and provide food, nesting and/or
shelter for mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Humans seem to
appreciate it, too.</p><p>The sunniest bed is along the driveway where the soil is especially
shallow! One visitor commented on all the containers with a kind of <i>"What the heck!"</i>
tone. Yes, there are a lot, but it's the only way I can plant my
wildflower beauties that need either deeper soil or winter drainage.
There would be no <i>Agastaches </i>and <i>Salvias</i> in my garden
without containers, nor could I grow native Iris. The rough and tumble
native plants like the ex-asters, goldenrod, <i>Verbesinas</i>, Fleabanes, River Oats, Bottle brush grass and cup plant battle it out for garden dominance among the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">containers</a>. <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdBjHa8_yZKgQOgYjHcC3zv79YsL5OGQ_5YuLyJB5rtJCLzNK07Fg0KUtCtkISlGGqxJla01HLq7_wW3X2DfYlfp8LR97ITkSuAxbEH1TIoT9a0bbj0dYudnDH3fpVtUT1aJq7NNt0U0Spj6cZaCQDIHKWP28-v3BV6-i-z-Fn13x8VgaXetcetcW/s640/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-26%20at%2010.25.14%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="640" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQdBjHa8_yZKgQOgYjHcC3zv79YsL5OGQ_5YuLyJB5rtJCLzNK07Fg0KUtCtkISlGGqxJla01HLq7_wW3X2DfYlfp8LR97ITkSuAxbEH1TIoT9a0bbj0dYudnDH3fpVtUT1aJq7NNt0U0Spj6cZaCQDIHKWP28-v3BV6-i-z-Fn13x8VgaXetcetcW/w640-h472/Screen%20Shot%202018-11-26%20at%2010.25.14%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>The guidelines I use are simple and there's no shaming. Guidelines<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2013/09/its-your-garden.html" target="_blank"> encourage me to plant for critters not just plant pretty flower faces.</a> My guidelines can be applied (with appropriate modifications) no matter where you <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>. </p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdQhocY6-dXYpYdFEltbLePbI3bwtf00imBMtwqPR3e5qllLPhOJgos0mvxE3UKFUDStWFXRkMLYtH8Q3R5QgozILFwju_8I2TVdjaE5Xye4n7OmQ2o5UJccY-TS4WSVGJ3TMpYGwbe-Wv1m9zbc1Cc_Y5j3SOWHyDjvWjDhdAS6OSYpuUOJnIV_0/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></p><p></p>Thanks for stopping by. I love when you visit and leave comments,
especially when you share somethings about your garden. See you in 2023
and may your garden give you the joy that mine has given me. xoxogail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uR8GEUeMGIGTkt-gVoAnNXOsAWzI5bQQvJJzmbY0VixjBb3PKLrcwo9D6ccspHvJAolSBDCcnVV8nyizlxGN2dd0eXkA2ygngCuVsfmq312E_EI8GqRaUvXLMkyrpnVr_jLwRp6FcxyL-HpjS4596VDRlb4145GNpvat8YEjZ2NYUJvIJWbaENsz/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uR8GEUeMGIGTkt-gVoAnNXOsAWzI5bQQvJJzmbY0VixjBb3PKLrcwo9D6ccspHvJAolSBDCcnVV8nyizlxGN2dd0eXkA2ygngCuVsfmq312E_EI8GqRaUvXLMkyrpnVr_jLwRp6FcxyL-HpjS4596VDRlb4145GNpvat8YEjZ2NYUJvIJWbaENsz/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>
celebration. On the fourth Wednesday of each month I share information
about wildflowers and other native plants. Please join in if you like.
You can write a blog post or share your favorite wildflower on social
media. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not, and, it
doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about
celebrating wildflowers. </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a>
is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers
and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she
grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.<br /><br /><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-65726757642831287992022-11-23T05:00:00.273-06:002022-11-23T08:15:38.228-06:00Wildflower Wednesday: Wildlife and Wildflower Friendly Garden Guidelines <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZJzsuHlhNOzyJ1GczueRPMIg3sQSSM-Ej8-A_6yWd2mrsMtXYO-5zzQeis8MRTC2wpwAF1BqGT7RfH3PDvdMyprJLWflakQ-zUNkoh7HfvDim5sjsvFslKt5cgeF0CasqzxbxQszEwAPk5_NwbVkZSx_Nud01t_H1wBIzKnpmL0J879eO2gmao4/s640/DSCF3740.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="521" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKZJzsuHlhNOzyJ1GczueRPMIg3sQSSM-Ej8-A_6yWd2mrsMtXYO-5zzQeis8MRTC2wpwAF1BqGT7RfH3PDvdMyprJLWflakQ-zUNkoh7HfvDim5sjsvFslKt5cgeF0CasqzxbxQszEwAPk5_NwbVkZSx_Nud01t_H1wBIzKnpmL0J879eO2gmao4/w522-h640/DSCF3740.jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/12/frostweed-flowers-are-natures-winter.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Verbesina virginica's</i> frost flower</span></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br />Winter is here for middle Tennessee is a big, cold way! As I write this it's 21F and this November is quite different than it has been in past years. At this time of year it would not be unusual to see a fleabane and wood aster or two hidden under the leaves. Also, the <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i> would be in bloom and trees would still have colorful leaves. In this kind of cold it could be tempting to say that nothing is
going on in the garden but, we gardeners know that even a
winter garden is teeming with life and activity. Birds are visiting the
feeders especially on the coldest days when the ground is frozen and
its hard to find a hidden insect or fallen fruit and seed. They also
appreciate water, however you decide to provide it! A few years ago my
birdbath cracked from the cold and I used a handy turkey roaster with
rocks for easy access to the water. <br />
<br />
There were no complaints and lots of visitors!</p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrSyhXIAjCvq88tnb5V7bcGeh7-GaByOBvNVh131fHfm8fSGnnU9G6Z_WmYPO9ssge17MwKoLnrZVHq4O01YnV3Ner2m5uR425C1uWWpA7DhSlmqmZdc9e5ufQUg-eTw8b31DqEc8tGzpDoo126wBkSFs9461aBFDYATwRgAGCOq5E-orZpGWUL4E/s400/DSCF4881.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="400" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrSyhXIAjCvq88tnb5V7bcGeh7-GaByOBvNVh131fHfm8fSGnnU9G6Z_WmYPO9ssge17MwKoLnrZVHq4O01YnV3Ner2m5uR425C1uWWpA7DhSlmqmZdc9e5ufQUg-eTw8b31DqEc8tGzpDoo126wBkSFs9461aBFDYATwRgAGCOq5E-orZpGWUL4E/w400-h353/DSCF4881.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Welcome to Wildflower Wednesday and Clay and Limestone garden. I'm sharing my personal guidelines for wildlife and wildflower gardening. I hope you find them helpful, especially if you're thinking of gardening for wildlife. </p><p>I started sharing these posts more than a dozen years ago and I still love introducing wildflowers to you. Our native wildflowers are treasures. Many are underappreciated and underplanted beauties and that's a shame. Most grow with ease if planted in the right conditions and right spot. They are even happy in containers. The bonus is that they attract crawling, flying, nesting, digging and feeding critters to our gardens. With a little research you can find just the right ones for your garden conditions. <br /></p><p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VCtqybqkw5J0sT9FmjGvGTMLgrMVsze1P8wxfoB_q5KYAK-04XcaRTGV2Ac1oqyGZ_ZQOC_1K6kdDe8iSbPoJiL9Wo8B89VftkEXJ7JA5u2VH81y6m3_9gAiI-1LwE2QlzsvF4dNoKB00qSmhEr3cLhqJY7l4DQVyRjJGU9Vh9MASz0eBI8ioFzs/s1286/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-21%20at%2011.14.52%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1286" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VCtqybqkw5J0sT9FmjGvGTMLgrMVsze1P8wxfoB_q5KYAK-04XcaRTGV2Ac1oqyGZ_ZQOC_1K6kdDe8iSbPoJiL9Wo8B89VftkEXJ7JA5u2VH81y6m3_9gAiI-1LwE2QlzsvF4dNoKB00qSmhEr3cLhqJY7l4DQVyRjJGU9Vh9MASz0eBI8ioFzs/w640-h454/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-21%20at%2011.14.52%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There's beauty in a winter garden</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>Let me tell you a little about my garden. I garden in middle Tennessee in what's known as the Central Basin. The garden soil is shallow clay that is wet in the winter and dry in the summer. The native plants I've chosen are adapted to
the environment and
conditions at here and provide food, nesting and/or
shelter for mammals, reptiles, birds and insects. Humans seem to
appreciate it, too.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinInT6qWyYFzuVGUKASvNPZbDtJ843iCDi_enSDNGztxgecCB1N6f9PMHhpDM3bjOXo6JtqV1lny53-LHEhJl15KVB44cyvhWPQrrTRMuJt-uGSuJSFtv188UmuSjuN_o-bWC_P9mxlsR-65uPSkll-tkvJ_YZ4QKcF2KKbzOYvkNT7cliaxvfYcbz/s640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.17.28%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinInT6qWyYFzuVGUKASvNPZbDtJ843iCDi_enSDNGztxgecCB1N6f9PMHhpDM3bjOXo6JtqV1lny53-LHEhJl15KVB44cyvhWPQrrTRMuJt-uGSuJSFtv188UmuSjuN_o-bWC_P9mxlsR-65uPSkll-tkvJ_YZ4QKcF2KKbzOYvkNT7cliaxvfYcbz/w640-h486/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.17.28%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Hypericum frondosum</i> in early winter color</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The sunniest bed is along the driveway where the soil is especially
shallow! One visitor commented on all the containers with a kind of <i>"What the heck!"</i>
tone. Yes, there are a lot, but it's the only way I can plant my
wildflower beauties that need either deeper soil or winter drainage.
There would be no <i>Agastaches </i>and <i>Salvias</i> in my garden
without containers, nor could I grow native Iris. The rough and tumble
native plants like the ex-asters, goldenrod, <i>Verbesinas</i>, Fleabanes, River Oats, Bottle brush grass and cup plant battle it out for garden dominance among the <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2018/07/wildflower-wednesday-growing.html" target="_blank">containers</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqUsGMAaM_zvtD8YuV-SlDEdh8UJF3JKbM1jatT21O_4-x2nO36TkXfJCatwWbFHvTDY7FOZrp77twAtcxgOLMX2Cq2bpHogJcISGkUmtxYrsrmMoGfp0M4MjKNWXMCvI2tCGUNkkZPBNYZQY-UYeX-mUsoy-zCwJsZV9kAapshN5tJqGFxzVefa9/s640/P4300009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQqUsGMAaM_zvtD8YuV-SlDEdh8UJF3JKbM1jatT21O_4-x2nO36TkXfJCatwWbFHvTDY7FOZrp77twAtcxgOLMX2Cq2bpHogJcISGkUmtxYrsrmMoGfp0M4MjKNWXMCvI2tCGUNkkZPBNYZQY-UYeX-mUsoy-zCwJsZV9kAapshN5tJqGFxzVefa9/w640-h480/P4300009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There are even more containers than this!<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The guidelines I use are simple. There's no shaming. Guidelines<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2013/09/its-your-garden.html" target="_blank"> encourage me to plant for critters not just plant pretty flower faces.</a> My guidelines can be applied (with appropriate modifications) no matter where you <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ue8kgISocOoI34GMaWiX2RWEEf11NtuYhvHNwaCOTjelwDKjKYptzOUnurmThKv5A4mNPXDZmDaX1xp2ckVz-lafdcCiJuTrC8lIoU1gOmEwoLvrOvNn5KY7JC1V5oOnhflDRSn4ib_wJLpFWbKHsqQUu2Ij7X_wA7uzgKUVOlWZVLHPLc8HDhqm/s554/DSCF7187.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="554" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ue8kgISocOoI34GMaWiX2RWEEf11NtuYhvHNwaCOTjelwDKjKYptzOUnurmThKv5A4mNPXDZmDaX1xp2ckVz-lafdcCiJuTrC8lIoU1gOmEwoLvrOvNn5KY7JC1V5oOnhflDRSn4ib_wJLpFWbKHsqQUu2Ij7X_wA7uzgKUVOlWZVLHPLc8HDhqm/w640-h508/DSCF7187.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cardamine diphylla </span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;">autumn and winter groundcover</span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Plan and plant for a year round garden by wisely choosing the plants. </b></span><br /></p>
<br />
It's taken me a very long time, but, I finally feel as if I have found
the right combination and balance of perennials, annuals, biennials,
small trees and shrubs that can thrive in the shallow clay soil that is
too dry during the summer and too wet during the winter. Nearly every
plant at Clay and Limestone has been chosen with birds, insects and
other critters in mind. <br />
<br />
<i>Simply said: Choose plants that have good wildlife value.</i><br />
<p> <b>These are the questions I ask myself when plant shopping-at nurseries or online. </b><br />
</p><ul><li>Does it make sense for my garden conditions?</li><li>Is it a source of nectar or pollen or a host plant for pollinators? </li><li>Is it a food source for birds, insects or mammals? </li><li>Will it add to plant diversity in my critter friendly garden?</li><li>Is it native or garden friendly (a non invasive plant)? </li><li>Have I included plants that bloom in the early spring and some that bloom until late fall<i> </i>to help critters getting ready for winter?</li><li>Have I included shrubs and evergreens? (They provide structure to the garden and cover and food.)</li><li>What worked this past year? Should I plant more? </li></ul>
<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Wait until spring to clean the garden</b></span><br />
<br />
Gardening friends it's time for us to help our neighbors understand that
there's no need to clean up their gardens in late fall. Birds, bees,
beetles, butterfly, beneficial insects and small mammals need our "messy
gardens". They overwinter under leaves, tuck themselves in the peeling
bark of trees, nestle at the base of plants and even nest/overwinter in
the stalks of many wildflowers. Clearing the garden kills the insects
and that means our resident birds won't have as many insects to feed
their young come spring. Not only do the critters miss out, but, we
don't get to see how beautiful our gardens can look when/if it snows.<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AF3lqWlnCvI/W_wgKSz_aHI/AAAAAAAApQ4/9a-PBahof3IHIj9qCC5tyZlya5Ss6n7EwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.31.54%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1197" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AF3lqWlnCvI/W_wgKSz_aHI/AAAAAAAApQ4/9a-PBahof3IHIj9qCC5tyZlya5Ss6n7EwCEwYBhgL/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.31.54%2BAM.png" width="478" /></a> </p><p> </p><p>When you let native wildflowers like <i>Echinaceas, Rudbeckias</i>, cup plant and
the Symphyotrichum stand all winter the seeds are consumed by Goldfinches and
other seed eating critters. The stems of many wildflowers, like <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2014/07/wildflower-wednesday-in-praise-of.html" target="_blank">cup plant</a> are perfect nest sites for overwintering insects~especially small bees.<br />
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4KA7eZtC_g/W_w3LOLOFHI/AAAAAAAApRk/oUwtxgV2-rEDJmzAu5zfNjf7e1dV-73NgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.21.06%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4KA7eZtC_g/W_w3LOLOFHI/AAAAAAAApRk/oUwtxgV2-rEDJmzAu5zfNjf7e1dV-73NgCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.21.06%2BAM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Native grasses left standing are beautiful, but, also provide shelter and protection for small mammals and birds. <i>Goldenrods</i> support a curious little <a href="http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/the-gall-of-that-goldenrod.html">Goldenrod Gall Fly</a>
that makes it's winter home on the stem of the plant. If they aren't
eaten by Chickadees during the winter the fly emerges in the spring to
start this process all over. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HcHNK0J_es/W_wv_0V7b3I/AAAAAAAApRY/6uK5eJv8iFMD2ile1037cBdknQbvDpAmQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B11.39.49%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1061" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6HcHNK0J_es/W_wv_0V7b3I/AAAAAAAApRY/6uK5eJv8iFMD2ile1037cBdknQbvDpAmQCLcBGAs/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B11.39.49%2BAM.png" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Decaying stems play a roll in the winter garden. The older foliage of a <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/11/wildflower-wednesday-polystichum.html" target="_blank">Christmas Fern</a>
collapses into the leaf litter as the year progresses toward winter.
This accumulated detritus of decaying fronds helps to stabilize the
soil and prevent or lessen erosion. The built up mass is also a
protective habitat for ground feeding and ground nesting birds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgbd6hxSZuQ/W_wexLkaXxI/AAAAAAAApQk/2WD2lpEoQUMpu5W7gCQ3uj9FlIusGYNhQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.25.14%2BAM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wgbd6hxSZuQ/W_wexLkaXxI/AAAAAAAApQk/2WD2lpEoQUMpu5W7gCQ3uj9FlIusGYNhQCLcBGAs/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2018-11-26%2Bat%2B10.25.14%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Leave some leaves! </b></span><br />
<br /> I can't leave all the leaves that fall in my garden, we wouldn't be able to get up the driveway, but, I leave
a lot. Over the years the decomposed leaf litter has improved the soil
while providing a nice layer of mulch for some winter protection. I do
relocate leaves from the stone paths and driveway by gently raking to wooded areas in the garden where they decompose and
provide a habitat for beetles and caterpillars. Bees over winter in leaf litter so I try to minimize leaf raking. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MPLnDDAXenU/W_xhqkGLFYI/AAAAAAAApSg/MWYIqhBP5TgR1TpqL0K3m-eKZFVt0FpmwCLcBGAs/s1600/PB260018%2B2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MPLnDDAXenU/W_xhqkGLFYI/AAAAAAAApSg/MWYIqhBP5TgR1TpqL0K3m-eKZFVt0FpmwCLcBGAs/s640/PB260018%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Create a brush pile, leave a snag or allow a fallen tree to remain in the garden</b></span><br />
<br />
Living trees provide food, shelter, nesting, resting places, perches
for hunters and a "reproductive site" for hundreds of different kinds
of insects. <br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLc8kSmUa04/WomNXjyPl-I/AAAAAAAAlP8/BfkU2rz7UswFLK3kK0e2qQlAZekV6hM1gCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF6027.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OLc8kSmUa04/WomNXjyPl-I/AAAAAAAAlP8/BfkU2rz7UswFLK3kK0e2qQlAZekV6hM1gCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF6027.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">When a tree dies, good things continue to happen. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Dead trees have an enormously important role in forests. Trees fall for
a variety of reasons: disease, lightning, fire, animal damage, too
much shade, drought, root competition, as well as old age. A big oak
in my garden was struck by lightening a dozen years ago and limb by
limb it's been falling down.<br />
<br />
The <b>snag</b> that remains still provides shelter and nesting for a
number of critters; while the limbs on the ground are a perfect shelter
for small animals such as rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels and a
habitat for beetles, termites and other insects. <br />
<br />
If you haven't space for a fallen tree, you can create a brush pile for
the wild critters that live in your garden. Insects, spiders, bees,
reptiles, and small mammals love brush piles and birds will visit in
search of insects.<br />
<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Always provide water, it's as important in the winter as it is in the summer</b></span><br />
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKgeLnr0cJE/W_xej3Oh2aI/AAAAAAAApSU/whwK8VDdwCUQ5h8fvJE-LhfWQ34-HgKaQCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCF6899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YKgeLnr0cJE/W_xej3Oh2aI/AAAAAAAApSU/whwK8VDdwCUQ5h8fvJE-LhfWQ34-HgKaQCLcBGAs/s640/DSCF6899.jpg" width="618" /></a></b></div><p>
<br />
Birds need water every day and if you live where there's no snow cover
(yes, birds can eat snow), then, birds need your help even more. I have
two heated birdbaths and I always have visitors at them. If you haven't
access to an electrical outlet, you can look for a solar bird bath
heater. Get frost proof bird baths. Concrete baths crack if they
are not heated. Keep the baths clean and if possible place them in a
sunny spot.<br />
<br />
The birds will thank you for it and so will all the critters that visit or live in your garden year round.<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/11/take-time-to-sit-in-your-garden.html" target="_blank">Take time to sit in your garden and enjoy what you have created</a></b></span><br />
</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Revel in the beauty</li><li>Appreciate your hard work</li><li>Enjoy the critters</li><li>Celebrate your successes, don't focus on defeats<br /></li><li>There's always a list and there's always a project, just be in the now</li></ul><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV0iqDhOklW8OCK14Vkdn0Rq1dBnREeG5z5WFwuDAOPkm3pinlsABm4mCPbgQTy3hCRySWm4wMZYpErEMeRzvlHyGNiQ8cgHntGulFIT6LXGjtpyOmB9PILPOiHcVn-hxgZCMjiKsFc8A30LdfCVw5HV8w4R5NHnmUdhMgU5nazhxw0eMGD0JeEe1/s586/DSCF7015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="586" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV0iqDhOklW8OCK14Vkdn0Rq1dBnREeG5z5WFwuDAOPkm3pinlsABm4mCPbgQTy3hCRySWm4wMZYpErEMeRzvlHyGNiQ8cgHntGulFIT6LXGjtpyOmB9PILPOiHcVn-hxgZCMjiKsFc8A30LdfCVw5HV8w4R5NHnmUdhMgU5nazhxw0eMGD0JeEe1/w640-h480/DSCF7015.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>xoxogail</p><p> </p><p>PS <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>7. NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER USE PESTICIDES. I MEAN NEVER!</b></span> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1FpL1aqX3z4Tc4AQy7rdlLVpdGUUg0ufRD70SPJyrP_Lro1HkQvoFO7cLBuO7rvEpD-Q08Ve6Eu_Us8YRE2oNcsRxmmmGFMj9QuK50q6Q_TsmzYnEgW16wYg8MWu0LS2pC8w49gZe85OeWp8hjW1eGFospYPIz9lw45uchm1Xn_8IX51-nTrQaSR/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1FpL1aqX3z4Tc4AQy7rdlLVpdGUUg0ufRD70SPJyrP_Lro1HkQvoFO7cLBuO7rvEpD-Q08Ve6Eu_Us8YRE2oNcsRxmmmGFMj9QuK50q6Q_TsmzYnEgW16wYg8MWu0LS2pC8w49gZe85OeWp8hjW1eGFospYPIz9lw45uchm1Xn_8IX51-nTrQaSR/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>I invite you to join WW and share your wildflowers and other native plants no
matter where you garden~the UK, tropical Florida, Europe, Australia,
Africa, South America, India or the coldest reaches of Canada. It
doesn't matter if your WW star of the month is blooming or not. It doesn't matter if we sometimes share
the same plants; how they grow and thrive in your garden is what
matters most.<br />
</p><br /><br /><h4><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </span></h4><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Keep a nature journal:</span><span> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join your state native plant society.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span><span>world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-68336304913080477292022-10-26T05:00:00.037-05:002022-10-26T09:38:40.788-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Trees and Shrubs in a Native Habitat<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFfoNeyZx6zUCW2rq79juzPwLgCb0giW555TecOHXymlp_ljJIsUmpSZHo1bvJuRPknYO5GsbxrfmztJJr_hjGMZFdGIM2qUc1lUdW_q42vSB6n3mr7LaysKxk0K7ttsAqjgaTowmZJox33ax4UVhYHkoeMk35wqc5pP7TTTisECliVum0O9cAIEf/s640/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFfoNeyZx6zUCW2rq79juzPwLgCb0giW555TecOHXymlp_ljJIsUmpSZHo1bvJuRPknYO5GsbxrfmztJJr_hjGMZFdGIM2qUc1lUdW_q42vSB6n3mr7LaysKxk0K7ttsAqjgaTowmZJox33ax4UVhYHkoeMk35wqc5pP7TTTisECliVum0O9cAIEf/w640-h480/addtext_com_MjMwMTQxNzQ2Njg.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;">It's October and Nashville is in a moderate to severe drought. The blue wood and white frost asters are still blooming and the shrubs and trees are showing color deeper and sooner than usual. I've been watering to insure that the impossible to replace 50, 60 and 70 year old trees have a chance to survive until rain returns. They've been soldiering on and they all deserve to be Wildflower Wednesday stars and so they are!<br /></span></span></span><p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ctUyslH7JWhq8mJKkbG_MXGOPFteHGRLv3goY7sVJtTatDjjgEYzg_yiN5q61VCGHuUNGt9kGtn_gbCJXyINh5a1WPPFl4cgB-kTdrkP2P1g3Yq5jjfSGSKvbXGOEs9L5kgkS2kwmccIEhYF505Mb-uB3gtR6ZDcfrKJPhetQMQvnxnoNhjDSSKd/s4410/PB210072.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3429" data-original-width="4410" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ctUyslH7JWhq8mJKkbG_MXGOPFteHGRLv3goY7sVJtTatDjjgEYzg_yiN5q61VCGHuUNGt9kGtn_gbCJXyINh5a1WPPFl4cgB-kTdrkP2P1g3Yq5jjfSGSKvbXGOEs9L5kgkS2kwmccIEhYF505Mb-uB3gtR6ZDcfrKJPhetQMQvnxnoNhjDSSKd/w640-h498/PB210072.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hydrangeas, Hamamelis</i> and Hickories above the wildflowers<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Back when I was a new gardener, I often thought of shrubs and trees as incidental in a garden. They were mere supporting players to my beloved wildflowers. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">As my knowledge about how important native plants were to critters grew, my definition of what made a garden plant valuable changed. A pretty flowered face was no longer enough to allow admittance to my garden, plants needed to have wildlife value.</span></span></span><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaza8l6_MxqvQRyxtwJY6exy0FIA9grXOX5l9TgSSU0-2f0ksBXgJ5LT2RYVDSGG9Q8TUt-DCzecQDu-EUppOuURZClPfKpYh7MZ9_j-byiAepdYMBcWh7yegJ-48-dx0NVbtrh1BK3wsyIrz18a8UNoLEcxfC0yy-fxsdAD6jLe6dpHWyK8x8e3a/s4608/PB110306.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaza8l6_MxqvQRyxtwJY6exy0FIA9grXOX5l9TgSSU0-2f0ksBXgJ5LT2RYVDSGG9Q8TUt-DCzecQDu-EUppOuURZClPfKpYh7MZ9_j-byiAepdYMBcWh7yegJ-48-dx0NVbtrh1BK3wsyIrz18a8UNoLEcxfC0yy-fxsdAD6jLe6dpHWyK8x8e3a/w480-h640/PB110306.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Native wisteria welcomes visitors<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">Native trees and shrubs are more </span><span style="color: black;">than mere supporting players. They are in fact the be-alls and end-alls for our garden critters. </span>In the drama of a native habitat there are no bit players. The canopy, the understory, the herbacious layer and the ground cover are all part of a diverse ensemble. All the players are essential; all provide food, nesting and shelter for mammals and birds; they're host plants for a variety of insects that are a primary food source for birds, bats, small mammals, amphibians and even other insects that you want in your garden. They are<span style="color: black;"> the ecological basis upon which life depends. That means everything ...including us.</span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTBhs-iVefhG1rfD22BX-HIHEDb6Q0UdtPgG_UwizIuStHswOckoqq1Mqh1MyN13xLd7sV_CYZFjOYjbDPq_P1xr2KdaSFnFK8cnaF79lVZMtgA6OnE8kstweuZPtv2CmcUOs5dddfOv1WXNXKr_a8o29rXkLKEcGwEEdPYqdcJxABqodf_iNRMAO/s4608/PB210109.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTBhs-iVefhG1rfD22BX-HIHEDb6Q0UdtPgG_UwizIuStHswOckoqq1Mqh1MyN13xLd7sV_CYZFjOYjbDPq_P1xr2KdaSFnFK8cnaF79lVZMtgA6OnE8kstweuZPtv2CmcUOs5dddfOv1WXNXKr_a8o29rXkLKEcGwEEdPYqdcJxABqodf_iNRMAO/w480-h640/PB210109.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://edgeofthewoodsnursery.com/species-spotlight-bur-oak" target="_blank">Bur oak/Quercus macrocarpa</a> and Serviceberry/<i>Amelanchier</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;">We moved here 35 or so years ago I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to have so many native trees. I appreciate them now more than ever. I've written about some of them and you can follow their links to learn more. Some trees have links to nature sites.<br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gf8znmRYsC4XfxYH57X-4URwzNvnWlj5wRXs8wJeLb4V28-LN7Y_DtQnWb1DH9HcAvFulk-FQ42Y2oF8OoOamLm5-zV_e78kCnbhcW8SHjG_2euERLy3vaJbSuIhBInZf8e4WNf8DUghyUo5MHi0AU0vvhi0mLe-RtBRZZOCiyVaSYT-LSoHFYwB/s640/DSCF2209.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-gf8znmRYsC4XfxYH57X-4URwzNvnWlj5wRXs8wJeLb4V28-LN7Y_DtQnWb1DH9HcAvFulk-FQ42Y2oF8OoOamLm5-zV_e78kCnbhcW8SHjG_2euERLy3vaJbSuIhBInZf8e4WNf8DUghyUo5MHi0AU0vvhi0mLe-RtBRZZOCiyVaSYT-LSoHFYwB/w640-h480/DSCF2209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/02/wildflower-wednesday-winged-elm.html" target="_blank">a winged Elm/<i>Ulmus alata</i></a><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHTOAgv4HVeky1uBbcYEW9GzaQbqAOtnWUbabn9s6GkjNWakXnJ8e-JR6RkaYGdCTheW0iK7dLn6PhLCcZ4HnTnb84-3cWnwaSs1xNAlKPnkrU-VWl0RRT1R8qmUZZls9UmX1hoql6LKQFgXM9G03WSYLT7Tj-e_QtEKeNBPl6d1QD8AiSKY7-ng0/s640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.07.12%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHTOAgv4HVeky1uBbcYEW9GzaQbqAOtnWUbabn9s6GkjNWakXnJ8e-JR6RkaYGdCTheW0iK7dLn6PhLCcZ4HnTnb84-3cWnwaSs1xNAlKPnkrU-VWl0RRT1R8qmUZZls9UmX1hoql6LKQFgXM9G03WSYLT7Tj-e_QtEKeNBPl6d1QD8AiSKY7-ng0/w640-h486/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.07.12%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/shagbark-hickory" target="_blank"> Shagbark Hickory/<i>Carya ovata</i></a><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeYMAhcuG8Rervnjny6VOVkBSkpESsNB333WHZ36Juzny5OfviHevfpiRz6IwFIZz6KOANHY7vmBpp82KZ7AUi0obzF59NOilylVq-F2wWwrDlWhrzMlNwJRcPL4nQTimmrpGqNXj1_l1uKuLz8TempeygD3MxC8Zz6dfVTBvp-XSodpu6t8Jyniy/s640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.23.32%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeYMAhcuG8Rervnjny6VOVkBSkpESsNB333WHZ36Juzny5OfviHevfpiRz6IwFIZz6KOANHY7vmBpp82KZ7AUi0obzF59NOilylVq-F2wWwrDlWhrzMlNwJRcPL4nQTimmrpGqNXj1_l1uKuLz8TempeygD3MxC8Zz6dfVTBvp-XSodpu6t8Jyniy/w476-h640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%203.23.32%20PM.png" width="476" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><i> <a href="https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/redbud.htm" target="_blank">Redbud/Cercis canadensis</a></i></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><i> </i><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5lKUBnRdSSlg6Pbee9drPwYMCwS3cy81i_EEtH906nIhMf5WmGJ3RUXVDZlhajRq0wlwlfxS0tvpCnGohpLeSh3gq4vxXVEpLkWAIC84EZ1r4YCOFPEItzmPvcoIsmhfplG1DQ6pKcG6GAPTg0xmo4yxiHdFpDlzCp5NDEbG25X9S6SIH5MRIgxf/s640/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%204.14.22%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="528" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5lKUBnRdSSlg6Pbee9drPwYMCwS3cy81i_EEtH906nIhMf5WmGJ3RUXVDZlhajRq0wlwlfxS0tvpCnGohpLeSh3gq4vxXVEpLkWAIC84EZ1r4YCOFPEItzmPvcoIsmhfplG1DQ6pKcG6GAPTg0xmo4yxiHdFpDlzCp5NDEbG25X9S6SIH5MRIgxf/w528-h640/Screen%20Shot%202019-11-25%20at%204.14.22%20PM.jpg" width="528" /></a></div><br /></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/11/wildflower-wednesday-ostrya-virginiana.html" target="_blank">Hop Hornbeam/<i>Ostrya virginiana</i></a><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hAMU3EhIoOd4bqis8vUT8uhUEA2qxwFn9Nq8hzEM5e-bOun03oy9yAl5RXtY05ZkVliQjFX88j47QrGHuHc0zTsRj94Rke5Y_dMvlYkVE-2owOUXEfr5c3GZ1yRPB1nAUxycWSAXQj6acKQLVC6kZrUKAU_6pTi-R0Z3yLRKX44bn-EIYRjYnEoy/s4608/PB060035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hAMU3EhIoOd4bqis8vUT8uhUEA2qxwFn9Nq8hzEM5e-bOun03oy9yAl5RXtY05ZkVliQjFX88j47QrGHuHc0zTsRj94Rke5Y_dMvlYkVE-2owOUXEfr5c3GZ1yRPB1nAUxycWSAXQj6acKQLVC6kZrUKAU_6pTi-R0Z3yLRKX44bn-EIYRjYnEoy/w640-h480/PB060035.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/wildflower-wednesday-dogwood-not-just.html" target="_blank">Dogwood/<i>Cornus florida</i></a><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTofDL4Lav-KFqBmygbTlU7DdjZrStyUecnWFAAqkC2WV84bJ137Q47lp0pZHwhqUbRaIfl8dBoU6qVqXJT4DwaWCZwAkT-wsk35IlFfKIi6sKj1f8fP3E3R-2VfiNlzZYFoWkfxpPQF_uBwX_aHoX-8zF8SJDtCxQOJckaiK1DRzDPJvgW5saYe8/s640/PA112182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="640" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTofDL4Lav-KFqBmygbTlU7DdjZrStyUecnWFAAqkC2WV84bJ137Q47lp0pZHwhqUbRaIfl8dBoU6qVqXJT4DwaWCZwAkT-wsk35IlFfKIi6sKj1f8fP3E3R-2VfiNlzZYFoWkfxpPQF_uBwX_aHoX-8zF8SJDtCxQOJckaiK1DRzDPJvgW5saYe8/w640-h568/PA112182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;">Back when we bought this house there were lovely canopy trees but there wasn’t an understory shrub to be seen and my beloved blue wood asters and other natives were hidden from me on the far edges of the yard.</span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9XEm3nuKztELttPOw2kQe-aaQlScr77MuD6OqwFkSWblHS8-Ti-na3aM4O41VIoGWYzrFerxK4aTL91IHfBPCADzDr81C6ak2kcACAFqfHSNAPl2wqTCmbljh9LAq18XAvqERcrMa4C4Vc_YCi1nnQLoWSxeZhkMnSd5EQSNXOzkfeyspLSh9_-j/s640/DSCF7199-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="625" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9XEm3nuKztELttPOw2kQe-aaQlScr77MuD6OqwFkSWblHS8-Ti-na3aM4O41VIoGWYzrFerxK4aTL91IHfBPCADzDr81C6ak2kcACAFqfHSNAPl2wqTCmbljh9LAq18XAvqERcrMa4C4Vc_YCi1nnQLoWSxeZhkMnSd5EQSNXOzkfeyspLSh9_-j/w626-h640/DSCF7199-1.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/09/wildflower-wednesday-euonymus-americanus.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Euonymus americanus</i>/Hearts a bustin</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)">It took time and a lot of research but, I figured out that my garden is a </span><span>Central Basin woodland with dryer, heavier and more neutral soil. Natives really made sense. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)">I
began to plant the ones that could take my garden conditions. Even some
that could happily grow in containers, because, when I say there's
shallow soil, I am not kidding. <br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIyKjQPIJSEAzQj0d8J45FXO0pZSmMz743UiwmsR2of8kboHnwnYFVh5P7c4iQD7YAaEP76eqFnl3pwqsl6MfUA5I88Q33ScRfqs1EF3a2F5rcePf6XPmYPQ4nRrr-Y2dnJ0aHR8uIlZMg63dl5AS8SXqmGOC7mW_ekNtfwFg8auh4YOweM5tIjv1/s640/DSCF9042.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="640" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIyKjQPIJSEAzQj0d8J45FXO0pZSmMz743UiwmsR2of8kboHnwnYFVh5P7c4iQD7YAaEP76eqFnl3pwqsl6MfUA5I88Q33ScRfqs1EF3a2F5rcePf6XPmYPQ4nRrr-Y2dnJ0aHR8uIlZMg63dl5AS8SXqmGOC7mW_ekNtfwFg8auh4YOweM5tIjv1/w640-h532/DSCF9042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/10/wildflower-wednesday-rhus-aromatica.html" target="_blank">Rhus aromatica</a> </i></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXN96qaNCG3pJ3tOYtckzg_0MnJeB0b7IqeTHI5Y2I-bI06q05-JqUgrQmgksSl0waADETDmzPTGfkA_kUWkRG2QFbnP_4soKZxD0QO2im8etQdHKhLIyGIAKpKgKC-ttrqVTN4he6WgOTDap2F5ZtwxPyUOBLUOst35a2do7t1cR8ykL-Ic12kyF/s1600/DSCF8992.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXN96qaNCG3pJ3tOYtckzg_0MnJeB0b7IqeTHI5Y2I-bI06q05-JqUgrQmgksSl0waADETDmzPTGfkA_kUWkRG2QFbnP_4soKZxD0QO2im8etQdHKhLIyGIAKpKgKC-ttrqVTN4he6WgOTDap2F5ZtwxPyUOBLUOst35a2do7t1cR8ykL-Ic12kyF/w480-h640/DSCF8992.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2008/10/spicy-yellow-fall.html" target="_blank">spicebush/<i>Lindera benzoin</i></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"> </span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">After
dozens of years of tweaking and experimenting, I think that there is a
pretty good balance of canopy trees, understory trees and shrubs that
thrive along with the wildflowers in the shallow clay soil that is dry
during the summer and wet during the winter.</span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"> In many cases there are
multiples, because more of a beautiful and ecologically helpful shrub made sense. Most
of the shrubs have multi-season interest and some have seeds/berries
that last long into winter.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKZxo86dGkgMbzjYtlJMzvpFZSGMotaPIL-jLqDVf7FvEZIaFBXGSDdMaZLISvr0OZ9Oms5cBrm_-C_ENb0F25X8j_ULNlcmAHA-sV-1jUdz0SAn5sxvY8Rigm2N_5w7AS_JTxls9BdUCu1Gd_pqX-Bnq6jMT6KSt5oBm4kuCyWaotqCL41Bjpzr9/s640/DSCF3160.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKZxo86dGkgMbzjYtlJMzvpFZSGMotaPIL-jLqDVf7FvEZIaFBXGSDdMaZLISvr0OZ9Oms5cBrm_-C_ENb0F25X8j_ULNlcmAHA-sV-1jUdz0SAn5sxvY8Rigm2N_5w7AS_JTxls9BdUCu1Gd_pqX-Bnq6jMT6KSt5oBm4kuCyWaotqCL41Bjpzr9/w480-h640/DSCF3160.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2013/11/wildflower-wednesday-in-praise-of.html" target="_blank"><i>Hamamelis virginiana</i></a> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sBHHT73ljuQFsHb7eBPicSUK35Z1kqc6pKd5dkh8vQU_llsJhBsECS5_mnkNGNHkMI1jGpux91H9f_b13igl5rq_dfL3lbDYFcIb9aGZ7XzzS1INPuaiLlsQ0B3VxJCADfpa_31By9Bu3dhva9_NvGkbrEL-4eVVWwnVfbtJpplR0zQ1IIVCKLUp/s4608/PB110319.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3sBHHT73ljuQFsHb7eBPicSUK35Z1kqc6pKd5dkh8vQU_llsJhBsECS5_mnkNGNHkMI1jGpux91H9f_b13igl5rq_dfL3lbDYFcIb9aGZ7XzzS1INPuaiLlsQ0B3VxJCADfpa_31By9Bu3dhva9_NvGkbrEL-4eVVWwnVfbtJpplR0zQ1IIVCKLUp/w640-h480/PB110319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=hyqu3" target="_blank"><i>Hydrangea quercifolia</i></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJNE4nVWnT7iZaRN7g5NTwccG7SLAuVE9iPlb1MihrGGXrPLGycvoswRGWDX76Y-h6bzJxYCvoxWO33zlvzWLW7HTQEML23oZXYTmlCJ6LGmxgg89gNRp1EK74Tdb1AbFmEdSvxn5hGcpFWq3_ZWE4KCIS7dUceAUJhbTf-OEgOJ5pEqqTYlKbWZ4/s640/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.17.28%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="640" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJNE4nVWnT7iZaRN7g5NTwccG7SLAuVE9iPlb1MihrGGXrPLGycvoswRGWDX76Y-h6bzJxYCvoxWO33zlvzWLW7HTQEML23oZXYTmlCJ6LGmxgg89gNRp1EK74Tdb1AbFmEdSvxn5hGcpFWq3_ZWE4KCIS7dUceAUJhbTf-OEgOJ5pEqqTYlKbWZ4/w640-h486/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.17.28%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2013/12/hypercolored-hypericum-takes-center.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Hypericum frondosum</i></span></a><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="-moz-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0YDC1BvoQyMgNONoaSn7PcMiJy7RN3EKaMBi7r1mLbp6Xl_HRjA11WBkYZHxEM0N1P-mh2JfBzDeZ7crbtEIU9cM76LczkkODrRBt8NVK0IehI4_8sLC4dNPQUN0mhAvRMRHAIi2u9ISHV8wzj07wpMqz9Nj4havralVYvhNGHVXyuGwVeVy9y7g/s640/PA242675.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0YDC1BvoQyMgNONoaSn7PcMiJy7RN3EKaMBi7r1mLbp6Xl_HRjA11WBkYZHxEM0N1P-mh2JfBzDeZ7crbtEIU9cM76LczkkODrRBt8NVK0IehI4_8sLC4dNPQUN0mhAvRMRHAIi2u9ISHV8wzj07wpMqz9Nj4havralVYvhNGHVXyuGwVeVy9y7g/w640-h480/PA242675.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/07/i-heart-hydrangea-arborescens.html" target="_blank"><i>Hydrangea arborescens</i> </a>and Vernal witchhazel</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"><br /></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnk7alRuPKk9hvQv2id95BRxkl5DZrRnVmHkeIohbFFzQbvgpuxDirrU1OeaARcsOI2uLgpBpSuxHpU2gHisFU9T9dQ3SzfcLMK7B-wARpYTgTWk6AwLZtYy46D1-vvnPpL41H5_fdS7Q6L-cIUCt7D_28vLdXnh5LTWX29n01ysF1qTtunmDJIdi/s640/DSCF5734.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpnk7alRuPKk9hvQv2id95BRxkl5DZrRnVmHkeIohbFFzQbvgpuxDirrU1OeaARcsOI2uLgpBpSuxHpU2gHisFU9T9dQ3SzfcLMK7B-wARpYTgTWk6AwLZtYy46D1-vvnPpL41H5_fdS7Q6L-cIUCt7D_28vLdXnh5LTWX29n01ysF1qTtunmDJIdi/w640-h480/DSCF5734.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/12/thanks-rusty-blackhaw-for-absolutely.html" target="_blank">Rusty Blackhaw/<i>Viburnum rufidulum</i></a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz5v8OqFeBWhTL5BXC8vklHvH8u-RbywnRBSh7D5m1g1GMG3HoQS_rkqO1XygPdsiu_1LLgBciDUPBmssJLjPYEqDPakxJdngz65PnsFbOj6X4cPUXJ3Kg3LQXHpXC7PqNWvElETucay2kpPtNu7lGiqkdy9aA-yAIvoBl03LEue7yfKepcozTJBZ/s400/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.56.47%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="400" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgz5v8OqFeBWhTL5BXC8vklHvH8u-RbywnRBSh7D5m1g1GMG3HoQS_rkqO1XygPdsiu_1LLgBciDUPBmssJLjPYEqDPakxJdngz65PnsFbOj6X4cPUXJ3Kg3LQXHpXC7PqNWvElETucay2kpPtNu7lGiqkdy9aA-yAIvoBl03LEue7yfKepcozTJBZ/w640-h558/Screen%20shot%202016-11-22%20at%206.56.47%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span><span><span><span><i>Aronia/Photinia arbutifolia</i></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.847)"><br /></span></span></span><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>My husband, Michael, aka, Mr No I Don't Garden, likes to ask me how many plants I have planted. I have no idea! I do know that this post doesn't begin to include all of them. Nor does it include all the trees that were here. <br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0oXNSh2IzECxin9LnsTkUP47mL70gf1GK3iXJs363OEwqumGLZQ4kAs_RozK0wm-wlVFqz1Aqc2FFnoax4Z6VgmC5EP-BaNNLUFGvG6NyGgjLEBbJF3SyztMLLpEI6OurXJufxe-3iNiUBQZ51WjregK9Dn7yphspwW9uvJmlFRT5U-ONiebKB8S/s4608/PA030350.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0oXNSh2IzECxin9LnsTkUP47mL70gf1GK3iXJs363OEwqumGLZQ4kAs_RozK0wm-wlVFqz1Aqc2FFnoax4Z6VgmC5EP-BaNNLUFGvG6NyGgjLEBbJF3SyztMLLpEI6OurXJufxe-3iNiUBQZ51WjregK9Dn7yphspwW9uvJmlFRT5U-ONiebKB8S/w640-h480/PA030350.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rhus glabra</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Planting natives that make sense for your garden conditions will mean that your essential players might be different from mine. Why natives? Because they are absolutely the </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: black;">be-alls and end-alls</span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> if you want to <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a> and that's what my garden is all about. It doesn't hurt that they are all darn good looking for most of the year.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy Wildflower Wednesday.</span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">xoxogail </span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Welcome to Clay and Limestone's <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a> celebration. WW is about sharing and celebrating wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they are in bloom or not, and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants. It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your link/url with a comment. <br /></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;"><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5fyoY2rm11Sq8FhbmOEngm68qduL4HVj48lm6kx2m3YOoPiUctltlSf0thHIRj0LaEQdHz4U4x2I-o3nj2Txtr9maXaaP9jCNF6gCGkoMK_YWqXOTHl529B6qGc1lVT3ABRzNOJ6onc-dLxPgPkCp95hmGt263-8dwIms4I7t2XR7SDCcBqB1uIP/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5fyoY2rm11Sq8FhbmOEngm68qduL4HVj48lm6kx2m3YOoPiUctltlSf0thHIRj0LaEQdHz4U4x2I-o3nj2Txtr9maXaaP9jCNF6gCGkoMK_YWqXOTHl529B6qGc1lVT3ABRzNOJ6onc-dLxPgPkCp95hmGt263-8dwIms4I7t2XR7SDCcBqB1uIP/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><h4><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </span></h4><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Keep a nature journal:</span><span> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join your state native plant society.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span><span>world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span>If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><br /></span></div><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-14901032075022207952022-09-28T05:00:00.043-05:002022-09-28T06:58:40.827-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Callicarpa americana <i>Callicarpa americana </i>is a wildly beautiful flowering shrub.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLIs2UYYr4M/XZ-FiaWW0gI/AAAAAAAAsT8/FP0TVJIznEIxDau-qKrcxRzPRFGUMmvhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/P9160003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLIs2UYYr4M/XZ-FiaWW0gI/AAAAAAAAsT8/FP0TVJIznEIxDau-qKrcxRzPRFGUMmvhgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/P9160003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>
<br />
Even with the gorgeous berries/drupes stripped from the plant by hungry birds, the leaves are a lovely chartreuse and still glow in the garden. The arching stems with the yellowing leaves looks especially lovely as fall continues. <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsmCy7uq7nJrqWd52Y2D97LmgYRIM-Z2rX0eTuK3D7GDc8-n9gFcslbh-MPD3kUCbSwXxv7Y-b7yKS-QbESfY9ZCjKgIMpER0yLFgUaD4RG_IJJi2ALNd6zWWDJMNpxL6vlCmAHYrAMlsgvcnjG_nvr9_GaOU2itSRLcPAK5Kwa0k6efUiBFm47O7/s4201/PA290012.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3428" data-original-width="4201" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsmCy7uq7nJrqWd52Y2D97LmgYRIM-Z2rX0eTuK3D7GDc8-n9gFcslbh-MPD3kUCbSwXxv7Y-b7yKS-QbESfY9ZCjKgIMpER0yLFgUaD4RG_IJJi2ALNd6zWWDJMNpxL6vlCmAHYrAMlsgvcnjG_nvr9_GaOU2itSRLcPAK5Kwa0k6efUiBFm47O7/w640-h522/PA290012.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">leaves turn light yellow in the fall</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I don't mind that from November to March it's a leafless deciduous shrub. If you plant it in your garden know that it is<span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"> one of the latest native shrubs to leaf out in the spring. This is because the new leaves are sensitive to frost and have evolved to wait until the danger of frost has passed before they start growing (<a href="https://www.growingwildnursery.com/products/callicarpa-americana" target="_blank">source</a>). Isn't nature marvelous!</span></span></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mbocZMPdqVx3OWY3N_bFgMesxglC7JKGG4H6iqDCIcegoryXDx1OhtRdTg9mtyvLwloDXUTUUMI_ir_FaTpiXu-HTgWfBPiJQZ2Yrn9WXnDKttrrxEtsBf-ywcgUMkinKZzG2ZGYvkZoQ9nAQFond-wxWubAwN4xIpV1mgF77frpI_ow_0yJtaSp/s4608/P7190018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mbocZMPdqVx3OWY3N_bFgMesxglC7JKGG4H6iqDCIcegoryXDx1OhtRdTg9mtyvLwloDXUTUUMI_ir_FaTpiXu-HTgWfBPiJQZ2Yrn9WXnDKttrrxEtsBf-ywcgUMkinKZzG2ZGYvkZoQ9nAQFond-wxWubAwN4xIpV1mgF77frpI_ow_0yJtaSp/w480-h640/P7190018.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">diversity in the garden</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">In case you're wondering, this is not the first time a native shrub or tree has been a Wildflower Wednesday star. But, it is the first time I've shared one when the garden is still full of blooming wildflowers. </span></span>It's important that we who garden for wildlife make sure we have energy foods beyond pollen and nectar. Critters who visit and or live in our gardens need them, but they also need seeds, nuts and berries that are fat and protein rich. Trees and
shrubs are essential plants in a biodiverse garden.<i> </i>They are host plants for moths and butterflies, provide nesting sites for birds and small mammals and have nuts, berries and seeds that a variety of critters rely upon. Here's something to consider, Doug Tallamy suggests we plant trees and shrubs before we plant flowers and grasses!<p></p><p><i> </i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75cDTzYPQN9hp-ZzbPK44Z7dDVAdTcybtTEm4IYpWGlqZD-AqobQx8GXreDImeIrLaypqnv3WBF83klP7_oLlIzJd4D_6x6Mi633_fujXAADbaDmB1F7EQtSrL8vzNSI4JvOH6qO-rLY7qeEvLxOxqMN7QVIxnOLs127Pd-Q9YB9kJF6iIVSc_T8/s4608/P8220008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75cDTzYPQN9hp-ZzbPK44Z7dDVAdTcybtTEm4IYpWGlqZD-AqobQx8GXreDImeIrLaypqnv3WBF83klP7_oLlIzJd4D_6x6Mi633_fujXAADbaDmB1F7EQtSrL8vzNSI4JvOH6qO-rLY7qeEvLxOxqMN7QVIxnOLs127Pd-Q9YB9kJF6iIVSc_T8/w480-h640/P8220008.JPG" width="480" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i> </i></p><p><i>Besides, this beautiful berried shrub is gorgeous during September!</i></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8OtkcgGYV7qcPvw7sScKzToRO5rd4zpp5uINpETU6VFBhADj7A47WmaNNSv5nqV4Q80Ac9_b7zkyv7DbxbjPKW5LQfuNfe8SfX9pqI5-FlRUp0jTLppniaLH8jY9ACRE_Q16CQYi1e2uMIGF9SNNd0E8mN30ZL1d4E_LVLtN9fz1VUGSE0OfDUlS/s4260/P6280057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3422" data-original-width="4260" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8OtkcgGYV7qcPvw7sScKzToRO5rd4zpp5uINpETU6VFBhADj7A47WmaNNSv5nqV4Q80Ac9_b7zkyv7DbxbjPKW5LQfuNfe8SfX9pqI5-FlRUp0jTLppniaLH8jY9ACRE_Q16CQYi1e2uMIGF9SNNd0E8mN30ZL1d4E_LVLtN9fz1VUGSE0OfDUlS/w640-h514/P6280057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">small clusters of lavender-pink flowers open in late spring to early summer</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">No one would deny that the berries of <i>Callicarpa americana</i> are stunning, but, some folks don't appreciate the flowers and refer to them as insignificant. Yes, they're small, but, they are not insignifigant. Once it blooms<i> Callicarpa americana</i> turns on its charm. </span></span><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">The sweet clusters of lavender-pink flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators.<br /></span></span></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJxsjGPMmmrcxaRlLuX16Qq5TrM1WVy2Ye4lRMfmz3TVtAJhiGyHLy4XFeOEO1VZaBdBD-kjlZMiOcGCaUNLewtU6wGdLWkYrajQVTWcdCcLtkL6wBY2vnTVESpXBo4nMR8FuErIS7NjS0FP4DapfTpmihsjvkLh7kGz2Brv03bxpo8BWAneuo8p9/s1584/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-26%20at%208.00.33%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1584" data-original-width="1324" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJxsjGPMmmrcxaRlLuX16Qq5TrM1WVy2Ye4lRMfmz3TVtAJhiGyHLy4XFeOEO1VZaBdBD-kjlZMiOcGCaUNLewtU6wGdLWkYrajQVTWcdCcLtkL6wBY2vnTVESpXBo4nMR8FuErIS7NjS0FP4DapfTpmihsjvkLh7kGz2Brv03bxpo8BWAneuo8p9/w534-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-26%20at%208.00.33%20PM.png" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">It's a host plant for the Spring azure butterfly (seen above) and the <br /></span></span></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBzpIFwe0lK0wPCNuBv2FzEHQMvBFltwneZ-c1EYHmGSw5R1XohvUyMjAtFuM8ZGcRgoxO-kZStao79H44yod2_MveDbSX8uqhH3tS54SuaoLm3WLDq7UUed1JXRY80PiSft7wuNxptvHtqeg896NrViFetsRCjZcaRwA-W_6NtPJyuQUnflpOoxH/s640/DSCF4547.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="640" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBzpIFwe0lK0wPCNuBv2FzEHQMvBFltwneZ-c1EYHmGSw5R1XohvUyMjAtFuM8ZGcRgoxO-kZStao79H44yod2_MveDbSX8uqhH3tS54SuaoLm3WLDq7UUed1JXRY80PiSft7wuNxptvHtqeg896NrViFetsRCjZcaRwA-W_6NtPJyuQUnflpOoxH/w640-h502/DSCF4547.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"> Snowberry clearwing
month (an important insect protein for baby birds). </span></span></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi610vXUNX0NKtkr9iSdmnDZsvcEX3gwmXwXZ2fAiuDuKh502k6UI1gUJV5RaCermoPwWwPJSxbXJb4rNIZqcwIZODh3OzgjwCtem2cYsmhl-DCsco1SmVgu_MwWHeePameWZINqJFQ0QNbBNXGPEXjMftwIxihBeUSVsa7SImgbIVWybDAWCBU8FcQ/s1840/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-27%20at%207.07.59%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1840" data-original-width="1680" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi610vXUNX0NKtkr9iSdmnDZsvcEX3gwmXwXZ2fAiuDuKh502k6UI1gUJV5RaCermoPwWwPJSxbXJb4rNIZqcwIZODh3OzgjwCtem2cYsmhl-DCsco1SmVgu_MwWHeePameWZINqJFQ0QNbBNXGPEXjMftwIxihBeUSVsa7SImgbIVWybDAWCBU8FcQ/w584-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-27%20at%207.07.59%20PM.png" width="584" /></a></span></span></div><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">The flowers open over several weeks and once the flowers are pollinated berries/drupes begin to appear.</span></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfZWybi-1O27chfprIStPIYZ93HO4qG-euPZTqH8e6OQefVNSRH-DDTiFcUEeoqxkWNW1ZwfohSChff6ACbvI3wC6jxGscjGbIT4Kjal7wzEvzr5nOcBXec9XOfQc0J73Cgar8pg25_Rk3zBw6Ek1JvSn6zSyGRx0uS1JoBr-qk3WeNvvSnzxWC8V/s3865/P8150057.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3326" data-original-width="3865" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfZWybi-1O27chfprIStPIYZ93HO4qG-euPZTqH8e6OQefVNSRH-DDTiFcUEeoqxkWNW1ZwfohSChff6ACbvI3wC6jxGscjGbIT4Kjal7wzEvzr5nOcBXec9XOfQc0J73Cgar8pg25_Rk3zBw6Ek1JvSn6zSyGRx0uS1JoBr-qk3WeNvvSnzxWC8V/w640-h550/P8150057.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"> In late July the berries begin to darken. </span></span></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeLCpyKEnre2An2LegMs8glOYQ6dGU31-lUs7rgW9G6XFaD5sqrc4Kh4GExoMT1Jgmpj9oaj4h-EhMyH0wSN3YZ3korgxkeoKeMO1Has9Njz64APQ-PuuyLHezoSqxjpS6FQot5xfC_yAKfB_8cJj82a2_nhH7N_47kHuFyPhKA3xjRwiOeNKZII3/s4608/P8220010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeLCpyKEnre2An2LegMs8glOYQ6dGU31-lUs7rgW9G6XFaD5sqrc4Kh4GExoMT1Jgmpj9oaj4h-EhMyH0wSN3YZ3korgxkeoKeMO1Has9Njz64APQ-PuuyLHezoSqxjpS6FQot5xfC_yAKfB_8cJj82a2_nhH7N_47kHuFyPhKA3xjRwiOeNKZII3/w640-h480/P8220010.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="ILfuVd" lang="en"><span class="hgKElc">The color appears to many as magenta and to others as </span></span>rosy
pink, violet-purple or even neon violet. Whatever you call it, the color is stunning. The
fruits remain attractive for a long time, but rarely last beyond the first frost. In my garden, robins, thrushes, bluebirds and other songbirds have been stripping the berries away for the last several weeks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmvw6Yytr1g/XZ-F6QNomYI/AAAAAAAAsUE/0UzLMOt1CwwUhqpwKBsEczNifz2YCWHrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/PA100170.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hmvw6Yytr1g/XZ-F6QNomYI/AAAAAAAAsUE/0UzLMOt1CwwUhqpwKBsEczNifz2YCWHrwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/PA100170.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> This southeastern US native can grow 6 feet or more, especially if it's situated in a sunny, moist, well draining spot. Curious to see where it might thrive here at Clay and Limestone, it's planted in several different environments in the garden, most under canopy trees that have roots that suck up moisture that the plant needs. They have never gotten as big or as floriferous as the one I planted in the sunny Susans' bed where it gets regular watering during the summer, but each of them have flowered and berried providing food for pollinators and birds anyway.<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX34sVhZ1JzKHtlQHYYfVwUfrQhBvMJs2vmBRubX6gdvvYdHgHMA41SgSP4fYkrzAIu9REUW66JcJeyuX7WKSDQPRtNyMZ1GA8UB7egTthxwKGH4L6auwi373sPd0cR3lyl70gBcoE5hBnutDAvSSeUNxKHeeWskPthnpC5pffhpFe7zapGxCr1eOf/s1496/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-26%20at%201.11.49%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1246" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX34sVhZ1JzKHtlQHYYfVwUfrQhBvMJs2vmBRubX6gdvvYdHgHMA41SgSP4fYkrzAIu9REUW66JcJeyuX7WKSDQPRtNyMZ1GA8UB7egTthxwKGH4L6auwi373sPd0cR3lyl70gBcoE5hBnutDAvSSeUNxKHeeWskPthnpC5pffhpFe7zapGxCr1eOf/w534-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-26%20at%201.11.49%20PM.png" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Beautyberry, Goldenrod, Gaura, African Blue basil late September</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> American Beautyberry has a lot going for it.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>it's a robust and fast-growing native shrub </li><li>has an amazing display of bright magenta berries in the fall. </li><li>sweet pink flowers attract pollinators</li><li>berries attract birds </li><li>drought tolerant (once established) <br /></li><li>easy to grow</li><li>grows in a variety of soils <br /></li><li>host plant for a moth and butterfly</li><li>a chemical extract may repel ticks, fleas and mosquitoes (<a href="https://hsu.edu/pages/academics/ellis-college-of-arts-and-sciences/biological-sciences/arkansas-nature-trivia/the-american-beautyberry-a-possible-mosquito-repellent/" target="_blank">source</a>)</li><li>fruit makes a delicious jelly, syrup, or wine</li><li>flowers on new growth so feel free to prune<br /></li></ul><p><b>The Particulars:</b></p><p>Botanical name: <i>Callicarpa americana</i></p><p>Common name: American Beautyberry <span class="markedContent" id="page168R_mcid10"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 90px; top: 723.17px; transform: scaleX(1.00904);">or purple beauty-berry. In Greek </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 90px; top: 742.177px; transform: scaleX(1.00346);">the genus name <i>Callicarpa</i> means callos, “beauty” and </span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 90px; top: 761.383px; transform: scaleX(1.00177);">carpos “fruit”</span></span></p><p>Family: <i>Lamiaceae </i>formerly of the Vervain (<i>Verbenaceae</i>) family<br /></p><p>Type: Deciduous shrub with arching branches and a loose, open habit</p><p>Native Range: Southeastern United States: South-eastern N. America - Florida to Texas and north to Oklahoma and Arkansas. <br /></p><p>Zone: 6 to 10 </p><p>Height: 3.00 to 6.00 feet (or more)<br /></p><p>Spread: 3.00 to 6.00 feet </p><p>Drupes/ flowers of blue, violet, pink, or white are arranged in clusters on the stems between the leaves. <br /></p><p>Bloom Time: June to August </p><p>Flower: Flowers small, pink, in dense clusters at the bases of the leaves, clusters usually not exceeding the leaf petioles. <br /></p><p>Fruit: <span class="markedContent" id="page168R_mcid29"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.993px; top: 797.045px; transform: scaleX(1.00533);">In August or September, clusters of small purple</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.993px; top: 816.252px; transform: scaleX(1.00325);"> to magenta or drupes encircle the woody stems. Each</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.993px; top: 835.458px; transform: scaleX(1.00357);"> </span></span><span class="markedContent" id="page168R_mcid29"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.993px; top: 835.458px; transform: scaleX(1.00357);">small berry in the cluster contains two to four seeds about</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.993px; top: 854.664px; transform: scaleX(1.00219);"> 1/16 in. long.</span></span> </p><p>Plant description: The elliptical to ovate shaped leaves have an opposite arrangement with saw toothed margins. The underside of the leaves may be covered with wooly like hairs. The stems are slender, gray to reddish brown, and terete or four sided. It has arching branches and a loose, open habit.</p><p>Sun: Full sun to part shade </p><p>Water: Medium </p><p>Maintenance: Medium </p><p>Landscape Uses: Border, Cascades, Erosion control, Foundation, Massing</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4fglMcmn9PZ30Eleq0Jkbn0IzPQZxpB1txyUMp-zjnGIr30Br9Tlu2dYxSUDU9AXXsDL-l1JYvhlAWtrBn8_GCgaD2ZK_1fvUbd-3BK_YKZV4YIZ-7rMh9D9nBv_uofKKTa21ysXmvslar-knl87bMQUmjRoh0d13hcGDBT1BwZx-F84fOJZ9sKv/s1646/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-27%20at%207.07.22%20PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1646" data-original-width="1256" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4fglMcmn9PZ30Eleq0Jkbn0IzPQZxpB1txyUMp-zjnGIr30Br9Tlu2dYxSUDU9AXXsDL-l1JYvhlAWtrBn8_GCgaD2ZK_1fvUbd-3BK_YKZV4YIZ-7rMh9D9nBv_uofKKTa21ysXmvslar-knl87bMQUmjRoh0d13hcGDBT1BwZx-F84fOJZ9sKv/w488-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-09-27%20at%207.07.22%20PM.png" width="488" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seeds might be ready to harvest</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Wildlife value:The fruit is high in moisture content and is an important food source for more than forty species of songbirds including the American Robin, Brown <span class="markedContent" id="page168R_mcid17"><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 202.82px; transform: scaleX(1.00881);">Thrasher, Purple Finch, and Eastern Towhee. The drupes</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 222.026px; transform: scaleX(1.00281);"> or clusters are eaten by armadillo, foxes, opossum,</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 241.232px; transform: scaleX(1.00324);"> raccoon and squirrels. White tailed deer consume the fruit</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 260.438px; transform: scaleX(1.00358);"> in the fall after leaf drop. They also browse the leaves in</span><br role="presentation" /><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 279.644px; transform: scaleX(1.00361);">summer when highly preferred foods are not available.</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 298.851px; transform: scaleX(1.00307);"> Protein content of the leaves ranges from 18 percent in</span><span dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="font-family: serif; font-size: 16.6px; left: 539.998px; top: 317.858px; transform: scaleX(1.00239);"> spring to 8 percent in fall. (<a href="https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/etpmcfs10015.pdf" target="_blank">source</a>)<br /></span></span></p><p>Comments: Winter Interest. Tolerates Clay Soil<br /> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0wFcpwVxSs6k4jerMmSQMyTe7Acthczl0Nm5F9CJg2q1wDLegOWwAQj5dMq6xGMz884RPxhWkAF6g9qz_cA-H3m6SqTl5e6mKPNnNIIU1dqh9Oy-0sggPK-cX9oDRUHWHGI4LdNjFMXQVqwXBeNEYbFC_qK--oC_8_lIw26fKc8WwNLCkhz2S-86/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0wFcpwVxSs6k4jerMmSQMyTe7Acthczl0Nm5F9CJg2q1wDLegOWwAQj5dMq6xGMz884RPxhWkAF6g9qz_cA-H3m6SqTl5e6mKPNnNIIU1dqh9Oy-0sggPK-cX9oDRUHWHGI4LdNjFMXQVqwXBeNEYbFC_qK--oC_8_lIw26fKc8WwNLCkhz2S-86/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>So for much appreciated garden bling, plant Beautyberry...and I don't mean the Asian non native shrub! Trust me, the pollinators will visit and the birds will be all over it.</p><p>xoxogail </p><p><b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you
comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></p><h4><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </h4><p></p><p><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </p><p><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a></span></span><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-20257273082049567512022-08-24T05:00:00.022-05:002022-08-24T05:00:00.203-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Rudbeckia triloba<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPuIfYWT3p_IvaVWw29nUzs7-EKYgPrGHwiFNl8Tw67p2Bu8GX9TYq_FrjjcPfw8xbM2k-K8tr9rWk2RupN7NtAuyQp06INH6dEfuj280dwXMmQNRVO930sMco8GqlDQImviKTCfqjKjJPPiQJnxzFybleLS89SyPyd321ZAWElZ-QDm7_UIRXhA/s640/Screen%20Shot%202018-07-23%20at%203.26.10%20PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="640" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElPuIfYWT3p_IvaVWw29nUzs7-EKYgPrGHwiFNl8Tw67p2Bu8GX9TYq_FrjjcPfw8xbM2k-K8tr9rWk2RupN7NtAuyQp06INH6dEfuj280dwXMmQNRVO930sMco8GqlDQImviKTCfqjKjJPPiQJnxzFybleLS89SyPyd321ZAWElZ-QDm7_UIRXhA/w640-h498/Screen%20Shot%202018-07-23%20at%203.26.10%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Susans are summer sizzling beauties and
if you've heard me say this once, you've probably heard me say it a
dozen times: <i>I cannot imagine gardening without them.</i> In fact, I can't imagine gardening without the <i>Rudbeckia</i> family of beauties. When you garden in the middle south you learn to plant and appreciate
these rough and tumble golden yellow beauties. Especially in our hot and
dry summers. The yellow composites keep this garden floriferous when the <i>Phloxes</i> are beginning to look puny, the Joes have faded and the ex-asters
haven't broken into song. All with their golden yellow flowers are must haves in the middle to deep south in our blazing sun. They don't fade or melt in the intense sunlight.**
<span class="ui_qtext_rendered_qtext"></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01M22J8c0_cL4GSRMPw03-mlqn2yno4-Z_h4S4ea9dO41o4GpylQmhfTC8oh2qJJsiDyNBMbLl8RmXjPzEVEEuyX2_f77Wst0-xDIvaTQSkFyLqhLWgYRVlqOVHGbgZjJIQzAOfvM6pRtJ9FVvtupTGDoX_CqzEXdoJomvyr5AisEPcEXWBrYwMAr/s1396/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-23%20at%208.13.30%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="1136" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01M22J8c0_cL4GSRMPw03-mlqn2yno4-Z_h4S4ea9dO41o4GpylQmhfTC8oh2qJJsiDyNBMbLl8RmXjPzEVEEuyX2_f77Wst0-xDIvaTQSkFyLqhLWgYRVlqOVHGbgZjJIQzAOfvM6pRtJ9FVvtupTGDoX_CqzEXdoJomvyr5AisEPcEXWBrYwMAr/w520-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-23%20at%208.13.30%20AM.png" width="520" /></a></div><br /><span class="ui_qtext_rendered_qtext"><br /></span><p></p><p> I didn't need to learn to appreciate yellow or the <i>Rudbeckias.</i> I am crazy about the entire genus! They're my go to late summer flowers. They're
reliable, easy to grow, low maintenance and with the many different
species to choose from, you can have flowers from June to frost. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Mpe-4fVvpHyZjcE6PiCQJTk5gTGGxlXoFc5ZYu-8kw1s5oRVMw-5Cmb4dawfxs1ru88MoLjgONehXfuKH87GbNaAsJbL_l6rbRkAHvaO8kR0lXpnDDbk2XJmK9LfVTn9TUH9swwGYsNIbVqhoaz3Fmqcmjdew0o5FXS1-DHR0PP5VVkVanUMkjq8/s1772/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-23%20at%208.15.12%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="1632" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Mpe-4fVvpHyZjcE6PiCQJTk5gTGGxlXoFc5ZYu-8kw1s5oRVMw-5Cmb4dawfxs1ru88MoLjgONehXfuKH87GbNaAsJbL_l6rbRkAHvaO8kR0lXpnDDbk2XJmK9LfVTn9TUH9swwGYsNIbVqhoaz3Fmqcmjdew0o5FXS1-DHR0PP5VVkVanUMkjq8/w590-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-23%20at%208.15.12%20AM.png" width="590" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Growing in a container</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p><b>One of my favorites in this delightful clan is our Wildflower Wednesday star<i>, Rudbeckia triloba</i>. </b><i>Rudbeckia triloba </i>also known as the brown eyed or brown-eyed Susan, thin-leaved coneflower or three-leaved coneflower is a species of flowering plant in the family <i>Asteraceae</i>, native to the Central and Eastern United States. It is often seen in old fields or along roadsides. It's been in my garden since, well, forever, most likely transpooped by a visiting bird. While it is a short lived perennial, it never fails to reseed, sometimes in the perfect spot (like the first photo in this post). It's anywhere from 2 to 3 foot tall/wide to 4 to 5 foot wide/tall. It's happiest in full sun and moist well drained soil (so many things are). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDWANIGVox9smDbNQ4-QqytcqGFZfmUxlIzmVF0dUE6eM0_aC2kfPWo5XWrdH_SNC29kVsVFvBdEH-1vmwC0lE1oUAJvKBzx2EhTaqCCHZ03hSW7owvEFHA4D0zcBq925Se7PRCjaOrajE9ddugrF8Mypgi1B-xY6XDv89v9ttXN62i_luvOB74lq/s4608/P8230020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDWANIGVox9smDbNQ4-QqytcqGFZfmUxlIzmVF0dUE6eM0_aC2kfPWo5XWrdH_SNC29kVsVFvBdEH-1vmwC0lE1oUAJvKBzx2EhTaqCCHZ03hSW7owvEFHA4D0zcBq925Se7PRCjaOrajE9ddugrF8Mypgi1B-xY6XDv89v9ttXN62i_luvOB74lq/w480-h640/P8230020.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">smaller plant in dry full sun</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Brown eyed Susan is an easy peasy plant to grow. Just scatter seeds and voila... To encourage more blooms deadhead the flowers. I let the seeds fall where ever and transplant them while small. Songbirds, especially American Goldfinches, eat the seeds in the fall, so, I don't deadhead them. The <i>Rudbeckia triloba</i> flower is smaller with fewer petals than either <i>R hirta</i> or <i>R fulgida</i>. The bushy plants are more floriferous than all the Rudbeckia.Which is a fabulous gift in late summer before the ex-asters bloom.<br /></p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzoCVQsAOb0ZQpdW7wBwrw5OXGDsJzRJwIJFmnEg-NMLifA-Q7H4PFT3w5qvpOMjljuL3Il3rlb2b4xCc61Ixow2heAVYn2FkBUDsQ3f5l5TRsrhpy3ECEsdVK2nwoULD7uw0u47ltgbXzz_pYRNXak6dDcTyHvBkAHZxZiiPBv9v8-I0O0FN7-D7/s592/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-22%20at%208.21.30%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzoCVQsAOb0ZQpdW7wBwrw5OXGDsJzRJwIJFmnEg-NMLifA-Q7H4PFT3w5qvpOMjljuL3Il3rlb2b4xCc61Ixow2heAVYn2FkBUDsQ3f5l5TRsrhpy3ECEsdVK2nwoULD7uw0u47ltgbXzz_pYRNXak6dDcTyHvBkAHZxZiiPBv9v8-I0O0FN7-D7/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-08-22%20at%208.21.30%20PM.png" width="226" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/brown-eyed-susan-rudbeckia-triloba/ " target="_blank">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>Another difference is in the leaves. They have 3 lobes and a rosette of leaves that originate at
the base of the stem and persists through the winter, creating an attractive
winter ground cover. <br /></p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6BJHhWvAof1nUteu7Z90xXcHm35azGTK5UHFSohUkymg0VSmjtiHmZ3jVZtXf07cCu78-i6AX8JFBdg9lsUprC66M7j6ZQy2R0U0HujV6t7AfVAu4AKim1SJRe71YWpRd9sjjGe2Q8TNNMlsij6y4FjHUDeTj1xRUwRphN4qTwXqj0nml5X_hgiQ/s4134/P8230043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4134" data-original-width="3145" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6BJHhWvAof1nUteu7Z90xXcHm35azGTK5UHFSohUkymg0VSmjtiHmZ3jVZtXf07cCu78-i6AX8JFBdg9lsUprC66M7j6ZQy2R0U0HujV6t7AfVAu4AKim1SJRe71YWpRd9sjjGe2Q8TNNMlsij6y4FjHUDeTj1xRUwRphN4qTwXqj0nml5X_hgiQ/w486-h640/P8230043.JPG" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brown eyed Susan, partridge pea, milkweed and frostweed</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><b> Why plant this beauty?</b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>It's easy peasy</b></li><li><b>great wildlife value</b></li><li><b>fills the space it's planted in</b></li><li><b>golden color in late summer with cool purplish stems</b></li><li><b>color does not fade in sunlight, especially intense summer sun<br /></b></li><li><b>rosette of leaves in winter<br /></b></li><li><b>plays well with other wildflowers</b></li><li><b>untouched by deer</b></li><li><b>floriferous and will rebloom when deadheaded </b></li><li><b>self shows</b></li><li><b>transplants easily</b></li><li><b>Can survive some drought </b><br /></li></ul><p> </p><p>Look at that list of positives! I am always shocked when I hear gardeners pooh pooh yellow composites. These are mainstays in my garden. One of my favorite English garden designers, Carol Klein, had this to say in an article about growing Rudbeckias: "<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3304598/How-to-grow-Rudbeckia-fulgida.html" target="_blank">Some gardeners are snooty about yellow. I used to be one of them</a>." Here's another tidbit from the UK: <i>Rudbeckia triloba</i> has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. I love when our plants get raves across the pond! </p><p>As I said earlier..."golden yellow flowers are must haves in the middle to
deep south in our blazing sun. They don't fade or melt
in the intense sunlight." </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>The Particulars</b></span></p><p>Family: <i>Asteraceae</i></p><p><i>Rudbeckia triloba </i></p><p>Common Names: Brown Eyed Susan</p><p>Habitat:<i> Rudbeckia triloba</i> occurs from Vermont to Florida and west to Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah and Texas. This species is indigenous to Blackland prairies, savannas, thickets, woodland edges and clearings, edges of fens, creek and river banks, disturbed prairie remnants, abandoned fields, roadsides and railroad right-of-ways. Plants occur in high quality natural areas but are found more often in disturbed sites. <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://www.newmoonnursery.com/plant/Rudbeckia-triloba" target="_blank">New Moon Nurser</a>y)</span> </p><p>Height: 2-5 ft </p><p>Spread: 2-3 ft </p><p>Spacing: 3 ft </p><p>USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8</p><p>Maintenance: Prefers moist well drained soil, but can deal with drought once established <br /></p><p>Bloom Color: Yellow with brown cone</p><p>Comments: This is a fabulous plant for naturalizing in a meadow, or wildflower garden. Deadhead to keep it blooming. Leave some seeds for the birds. <br /></p><p></p>Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators with nectar and pollen in the blooms. This is a larval host plant for Silvery Checkerspot (<i>Chlosyne nycteis)</i> caterpillars which have one brood in the north and two broods from May-September in the rest of its range. This plant also supports Wavy-lined Emerald (<i>Synchlora aerata</i>) larvae. The adults feed on nectar from red clover, common milkweed, and dogbane. Songbirds, especially American Goldfinches, eat the seeds in the fall.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcz7dLkSqg-QGkTx1-CR2jUH9GuJwJ_1dWDqYpOjaM1hxKlICSyP0hcmeKZYvMFQpRH1jMYryaVNOHQWXCiaFUy6GVKPWMG-gIoHmsvTVCHHo_OHGlN_jFeqpuLwlll5IHA-XZik8spatbsM9WqQakYUyRAOyaaO7eMe4QbD_b2B3LeVGwMQgE2qKv/s3580/P8230008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3061" data-original-width="3580" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcz7dLkSqg-QGkTx1-CR2jUH9GuJwJ_1dWDqYpOjaM1hxKlICSyP0hcmeKZYvMFQpRH1jMYryaVNOHQWXCiaFUy6GVKPWMG-gIoHmsvTVCHHo_OHGlN_jFeqpuLwlll5IHA-XZik8spatbsM9WqQakYUyRAOyaaO7eMe4QbD_b2B3LeVGwMQgE2qKv/w640-h548/P8230008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>My friends, please embrace <i>R triloba</i>. You won't be sorry, you'll have fabulous golden color in the late summer. Let it
naturalize to create a mass planting that will delight you and the critters until frost. </p><p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGbPXmL2CYK7qBnrDp1b6nBDN98C7i0BRcNjumxnMtP1yHkz8pZHzn8JqhaNVe23beuvAWuzYF8VdWxhKKMmFwBZyLHeEn6DOmqoI_RppILJmuj5vGImx_89zliLAwE3MPgFd5se0OfEjeAJzAA4znd4yXSB2OEYMPm_U9IrEnCg0k3n3h-1EJ8mU/s4608/P8230034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGbPXmL2CYK7qBnrDp1b6nBDN98C7i0BRcNjumxnMtP1yHkz8pZHzn8JqhaNVe23beuvAWuzYF8VdWxhKKMmFwBZyLHeEn6DOmqoI_RppILJmuj5vGImx_89zliLAwE3MPgFd5se0OfEjeAJzAA4znd4yXSB2OEYMPm_U9IrEnCg0k3n3h-1EJ8mU/w480-h640/P8230034.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It plays well with other wildflowers</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>xoxogail</p><p> **Let's talk about sun light for a bit. Our sun isn't brighter in the
south, it just feels that way because the angle of the sun strikes the
earth more directly here (and other southern cities) than cities in the
north. The closer you get to the Equator the more directly the sun
strikes the earth. <span class="ui_qtext_rendered_qtext">I think this affects how we experience colors and frankly, we need intense colors to deal with the sun light. </span></p><p> <b>Welcome to Clay and Limestone's </b><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a> <b>celebration. </b><b>I
am so glad you stopped by. WW is about sharing and celebrating
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. Join us on
the fourth Wednesday of each month. Remember, it doesn't matter if they
are in bloom and, it doesn't matter if we all share the same plants.
It's all about celebrating wildflowers. Please leave your url when you comment. I love your comments, so thank you for leaving them.</b></p><div class="plant-info-item"><div class="clb-custom-footer-meta additional-plant-info"><h4><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </h4><p></p><p><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </p><p><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a><br /></span></span><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div></div></div><p><b></b></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-68600983708467067312022-07-27T05:00:00.680-05:002022-07-29T14:12:12.657-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: Clematis viorna<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0qIt3z6tJ4pte6FB7U6NshCaGxZvM3o8OIs0QdTNZPqT6zc8qkBGHleVCnLWbFu8UkolXfGCOKdxPI1wAWbbJJEKAsrNwj7es-T4UFyDrmPrmSioNF9_xvKMO-lUsnx1NiARJiwqJK8vxvYM2NUp7KyQi06zlACu0eL9vTTDLr8lt8pVuc7YQudT/s1145/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.57.41%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1033" data-original-width="1145" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0qIt3z6tJ4pte6FB7U6NshCaGxZvM3o8OIs0QdTNZPqT6zc8qkBGHleVCnLWbFu8UkolXfGCOKdxPI1wAWbbJJEKAsrNwj7es-T4UFyDrmPrmSioNF9_xvKMO-lUsnx1NiARJiwqJK8vxvYM2NUp7KyQi06zlACu0eL9vTTDLr8lt8pVuc7YQudT/w640-h578/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.57.41%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love Clematis and when I discovered that there were native Clemmies I had to have one or two or more. So far I've planted three in my garden: <i>Clematis virginiana, C pitcheri and C viorna</i>. I wasn't surprised to find out that like other <i>Clematis</i> they can be placed in groups that determine how and when to prune. <i>Clematis viorna</i> is our star and it fits in group 3, which means it blooms on new growth and you need to give it a hard pruning in late winter. Be sure you've harvested seeds or enjoyed their frothy fall look before pruning.<br /><p></p><p><i><b>But, I digress</b></i>, let's start with getting you acquainted with this delightful herbacious vine native to rich wooded banks and thickets throughout the north, central and eastern United States. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSv0mjeN-wmc5pTkK4UtfiXM9yZkEkJVLKT6yoFRZ7YErylEkrPAGtFFLNiYzp_dawzfnvjJzXQ23OqMpva-NaqG4PURUnLI70IQGr_RL3368NQTVsQ7nJwdrM6b-1Kws2BpnyXC15y9E55vSA5CG9fOdf6vp9VcDCazgla_d8X-Kwn_9dUItupSw/s1420/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.58.57%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1108" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSv0mjeN-wmc5pTkK4UtfiXM9yZkEkJVLKT6yoFRZ7YErylEkrPAGtFFLNiYzp_dawzfnvjJzXQ23OqMpva-NaqG4PURUnLI70IQGr_RL3368NQTVsQ7nJwdrM6b-1Kws2BpnyXC15y9E55vSA5CG9fOdf6vp9VcDCazgla_d8X-Kwn_9dUItupSw/w500-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%201.58.57%20PM.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><p><i>Clematis viorna</i> has many common names, but the one I am most familiar with is Leatherleaf. It's a delicate looking vine given to irregular branching that will scramble across the woodland floor looking for someplace to climb. Expect it to reach ten to twelve feet in your garden when given a sturdy structure. "The scattered 1 inch flowers are mostly solitary at a branch tip or a leaf axil. Each is
purple-rose in color, the usually 4 sepals (no petals) being very thick
and fleshy (leathery) with the shape of the flower being a
"closed-looking" vase or urn with slightly turned up sepal tips, usually
facing downward." The tips are creamy white. (<a href="https://auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php?id=2262" target="_blank">source</a>)</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HbUBsj9Kg5S5anPsAYAReKPIsJLjFikO3Z4C4R8lvkXLOm6l86d4TY_Y9IBbc08x25--FoJ-TzfqEAD7el0FGoQW4xi0XeLNbEPPuhweK0RMbbknvWpxi4H4Vb-zyWffytIlq8cSLvv1bB7X9itn5mK8AjF1n7WpAlJkmOhaiFiFoGcgOw-_tYLZ/s1030/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%209.48.19%20AM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1030" height="556" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4HbUBsj9Kg5S5anPsAYAReKPIsJLjFikO3Z4C4R8lvkXLOm6l86d4TY_Y9IBbc08x25--FoJ-TzfqEAD7el0FGoQW4xi0XeLNbEPPuhweK0RMbbknvWpxi4H4Vb-zyWffytIlq8cSLvv1bB7X9itn5mK8AjF1n7WpAlJkmOhaiFiFoGcgOw-_tYLZ/w640-h556/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%209.48.19%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/clematis-viorna/" target="_blank">Photo by <span class="attribution">Fritz Flohr Reynolds</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>One of the many characteristics that I love about Leatherleaf is its long bloom time. The first bloom at
Clay and Limestone was May 26 and it still has buds
today. That's three months of charming flowers, cool buds and delicate twining stems.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclaMc5MXrIWxEPUIQcQOtV1zeDsYfw1GZb69Y1w2uHckJJesuaJ5_EMpj-r1o4s2UxdwXDM3l4PffU9RFa6fa2VpYPPX6y5SCLnyvZfG8_ohv2K3Gh8WtCx7BkKrqVWoL78Uo_Y4Ws6IwQbe3zWseVjfff9_5_weiNCFlbjvg9fa0NJ5nsBwGPHAj/s1582/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.25.37%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclaMc5MXrIWxEPUIQcQOtV1zeDsYfw1GZb69Y1w2uHckJJesuaJ5_EMpj-r1o4s2UxdwXDM3l4PffU9RFa6fa2VpYPPX6y5SCLnyvZfG8_ohv2K3Gh8WtCx7BkKrqVWoL78Uo_Y4Ws6IwQbe3zWseVjfff9_5_weiNCFlbjvg9fa0NJ5nsBwGPHAj/w582-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.25.37%20AM.jpeg" width="582" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">last week in July 2022</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p> It climbs by twining petioles/leaf stalks, so give it a structure or even a shrub to climb on that will accommodate its mature growth. The
flowers attract hummingbirds, bees and butterflies and then
mature to become beautiful, dramatic seed heads for birds to enjoy. The
achenes with their feathery tails extend the attractiveness of the vine
into the fall, so hard prune it once the seeds have been collected, eaten or
wind dispersed. (<a href="https://www.curenursery.com/plants/clematis-viorna/" target="_blank">source</a>)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eoytYBsBW04Pcru5QTxJbGpNfrQaXRyyK3S2q4R_iuguwjThP6JnWMS8aMKyOSQLONJwKBy6lOINpt9uenHvJ0VnsM4G4wsC6H9RBkx0jw9tyseu9ZiExkxPGESsSaSfrXNlW_asj_qdW8zSwpkYYtvgxFE0lqLnbr0HdKESxgHSoGYZbMUy5mx4/s1688/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.47.59%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1688" data-original-width="1322" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eoytYBsBW04Pcru5QTxJbGpNfrQaXRyyK3S2q4R_iuguwjThP6JnWMS8aMKyOSQLONJwKBy6lOINpt9uenHvJ0VnsM4G4wsC6H9RBkx0jw9tyseu9ZiExkxPGESsSaSfrXNlW_asj_qdW8zSwpkYYtvgxFE0lqLnbr0HdKESxgHSoGYZbMUy5mx4/w502-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.47.59%20AM.jpeg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seeds starting to feather fluff up which helps the wind disperse them</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's happily growing in a large container in morning sun where I can see it every day and keep it well watered. It likes moist, rich soil that is well-drained. Clematis viorna is a classic woodland plant and would have gotten lost in my habitat of rough and tumble wildflowers which I manage by letting them go to battle for garden dominance. Also, it needs to be watered regularly in what has turned out to be a brutal summer of drought and heat.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_g4PMknDgc7_shKNSIZlasH4TeoMy4QysfgseAZNtx-Io2RU3rlxqCdzGq_SgwuDkr2yUo32gWaS9jSIUAbmpzolCBW-YtHa82kfJ_C0zNEQ1zZy3iRLuTgiXP83h2OSn1z4XrytOOSG8axckEW0EZSMCKYCQKbTTK2SNskwTMwDZgwGWTVhsKRBf/s1101/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%202.10.17%20PM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1101" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_g4PMknDgc7_shKNSIZlasH4TeoMy4QysfgseAZNtx-Io2RU3rlxqCdzGq_SgwuDkr2yUo32gWaS9jSIUAbmpzolCBW-YtHa82kfJ_C0zNEQ1zZy3iRLuTgiXP83h2OSn1z4XrytOOSG8axckEW0EZSMCKYCQKbTTK2SNskwTMwDZgwGWTVhsKRBf/w640-h614/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-24%20at%202.10.17%20PM.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I plan to collect and sow seeds, eventually planting them among the smooth <i>Hydrangeas</i> and <i>Hamamelis vernalis. </i> I think it will look smashing scrambling along the ground and eventually climbing into the shrub's branches. Planted in that bed assures that this delicate Clemmie will get the filtered sunlight and moist soil that makes it happy. </p><p>I sure hope you give this sweet <i>Clematis</i> a try. It's worth the hassle of trying to locate one online! Nashvillians try GroWild. While you are looking try a few other native Clemmies. Thanks for stopping by.</p><p>xoxogail<br /></p><p><b> <span style="font-size: small;">The Particulars</span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Scientific Name:</span></b> <span class="scientific-name"><i>Clematis viorna</i></span> L.</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Common Names:</span></b> Leatherflower, Vasevine, Northern Leatherflower</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Family Name:</span></b> <i>Ranunculaceae</i> (Buttercup Family)</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Plant Type:</span></b> <span style="font-weight: normal;"> A small, mostly non-woody, herbaceous perennial vine</span>.</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Light Requirement:</span></b> <span class="clb-custom-definition" title="6+ hrs/day direct sun, not necessarily continuous.">Full sun</span>, <span class="clb-custom-definition" title="4-6 hrs/day direct sun.">Partial/sunny</span>, <span class="clb-custom-definition" title="2-4 hrs/day direct sun.">Partial/shady</span></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Bloom Times:</span></b> May, Jun, Jul, Aug</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Flowers
(or reproductive structures):</b> Single, bell-shaped, perfect flowers 1"
across by 2" long, in various shades of pink, violet to dull purple,
with thick, fleshy, reflexed, petal-like sepals (no petals), creamy
white interior. </span><br /></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span class="plant-info-item-type">Flower Color:</span></b> Pink/rose</span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Soil Conditions:</b> Moist, well-drained soil with a neutral to a slightly alkaline pH. </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fruit:</b> Large seed head with many individual seeds, each seed attached to a fuzzy plume of a tail for wind distribution. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfk0ySDtq9H0J49_HyxdHKxsgfXjdNAA0V9mqSUWvK18Ve1QIW2AcGMtIOqbsX_Y1iuZiVGcn1w1JKK00yalTuf8F6V97pg24m5L19lo9-huoGiRCd714HJ-tuOrTXp-wSS80__3sYNq-3hO-OtNYZ2_Hf0RabR5iOoYcFG6zhKx8GP05ndQwDVTT/s2096/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.48.22%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2096" data-original-width="1584" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVfk0ySDtq9H0J49_HyxdHKxsgfXjdNAA0V9mqSUWvK18Ve1QIW2AcGMtIOqbsX_Y1iuZiVGcn1w1JKK00yalTuf8F6V97pg24m5L19lo9-huoGiRCd714HJ-tuOrTXp-wSS80__3sYNq-3hO-OtNYZ2_Hf0RabR5iOoYcFG6zhKx8GP05ndQwDVTT/w485-h640/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.48.22%20AM.jpeg" width="485" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Natural Distribution:</b> rich woods, thickets </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvOfQTTluIP5hTjOPzB9hlwNozyuw8Gi2F5w3cQp22Ko8XU8A6eLqu0mL1uOVLuPV_awNTHj-MtWpIUjFn6gSPB1i38wKAiYM1Q7jGhaqjPPiBTfc145XhMVgYC36qQxH07XGqoB0k2OzSm5hxyqZ7UdAD9-QsziDzrLL5gHCnv2hTj98GkfO-ygM/s1964/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2011.15.17%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1964" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvOfQTTluIP5hTjOPzB9hlwNozyuw8Gi2F5w3cQp22Ko8XU8A6eLqu0mL1uOVLuPV_awNTHj-MtWpIUjFn6gSPB1i38wKAiYM1Q7jGhaqjPPiBTfc145XhMVgYC36qQxH07XGqoB0k2OzSm5hxyqZ7UdAD9-QsziDzrLL5gHCnv2hTj98GkfO-ygM/w640-h448/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2011.15.17%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>USDA Hardiness Zone:</b> 4 to 9 </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span>Comments:</span></b><span><span> Great for naturalizing, meadows. </span>Showy fruit, with great fall interest</span><span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="plant-info-item-type"> <br /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wildlife value:</b> Bumblebees pollinate the flowers. Other insects (thrips, midges) feed destructively on the flowers. Butterfly, moth and fly larvae feed on the foliage and stems. The foliage is probably poisonous to mammalian herbivores. All <i>Clematis</i> provide useful cover and nesting habitat for many songbirds in open wooded areas. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Attracts bees, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts birds, Showy fruit, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="plant-info-item-type"> </span></span></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pharmacology:</b> All parts of this plant are toxic, causing internal bleeding of the digestive tract if ingested in large amounts. Foliage has bitter taste and is therefore safe from pets. It is also reported to be deer resistant. </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Propagation:</b> From seed/Achene (dry, flat seed, in this case dark brown) or, by semi-hardwood cuttings, or by layering. </span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK2yxhVD5Nqx0z_qSS38W9Z-iKrmvrf1XH_3bP21vK99X5au_1PbqDakZjf4zFEX4VS7L2SlEFbuO_QaagxxQpmNRX-Rax_5V6xAQdpCUfb41Z52rRTRgfTWM7_8LI8ZX0pWBPzGgU475JqyOrKA--nTuHOretGLiNtaTd7laHI0x5xZcU_xtcl4b/s1139/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.31.32%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="886" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFK2yxhVD5Nqx0z_qSS38W9Z-iKrmvrf1XH_3bP21vK99X5au_1PbqDakZjf4zFEX4VS7L2SlEFbuO_QaagxxQpmNRX-Rax_5V6xAQdpCUfb41Z52rRTRgfTWM7_8LI8ZX0pWBPzGgU475JqyOrKA--nTuHOretGLiNtaTd7laHI0x5xZcU_xtcl4b/w311-h400/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-25%20at%2010.31.32%20AM.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="plant-info-item"><div class="clb-custom-footer-meta additional-plant-info"><h4><b>Don't forget our Wildflower Wednesday monthly challenge! </b> The first part of this challenge is to do something every month during
2022 that supports native wildflowers, pollinators, and the critters
that visit and rely on our gardens. The second part of the challenge is to post about it somewhere: Your
blog, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or even your neighborhood listserve. </h4><p></p><p><b><i>Why post it?</i></b> Because positive publicity is needed to
educate our friends, neighbors and communities about how important even
the smallest changes we make as gardeners can be for pollinators, birds,
insects and mammals that live all around us. </p><p><b>An incomplete list of things you might consider doing or changing in your garden</b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Shrink your lawn and make your planting beds larger.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
your favorite native perennials and shrubs. Leave them standing after
they've gone to seed to continue to provide for wildlife. What you plant in your yard makes a difference to wildlife. I <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/01/gardening-for-wildlife.html" target="_blank">garden for wildlife</a>
so every tree, shrub and plant is chosen with wildlife in mind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant
more natives and then consider planting even more. "A typical suburban
landscape contains only 20-30% native plant species. Try reversing that
trend in your own landscape by using 70-80% native species." (<a href="https://pollinatorgardens.org/2016/01/12/design-ideas-for-gardeners/" target="_blank">source</a>) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Commit to never, ever, ever, ever using pesticides in the garde<span>n.</span><span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Stay away from native plant hybrids and cultivars that are double
flowered. They are sterile and have no pollen or nectar for insects and
no seeds for the birds. If possible plant “true open-pollinated native
wildflowers”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you want to garden for wildlife and pollinators, don't let lack of
space stop you! Plant your favorite wildflowers in large containers.
You just might have the prairie or woodland garden you've always wanted...in a pot! </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span> </span><br />Create a water feature. Provide water year round that is accessible to birds, bees and other critters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><b><b><b> </b></b></b></b>Show some soil! Our native ground nesting bees nest in <i>bare</i> soil, so don't mulch every square inch of your garden. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Invite bugs into your garden. Plant annuals that attract <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial bugs</a>.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Learn to tolerate damaged plants. <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank"><b>Imperfection is the new perfect.</b></a> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't be in a rush to clean up the fall garden. Leave plant stalks and
seed heads standing all winter. Leave those fallen leaves or as many as
you can tolerate! Insects over winter in the fallen and decaying leaves.</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Leave
a layer of leaves as a soft landing material under trees for moths and
butterflies to over winter. Many caterpillars drop to the ground from
the trees in the fall.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Make a brush pile. Stack fallen brush, cut tree limbs, broken pots for ground beetles.
Ground beetles are excellent at eating "bad bugs'. They're also good
bird, toad and small critter food. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Rethink what you consider a pest. Lots of good bugs eat aphids. Spiders are important predators and bird food!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Add nesting boxes for birds. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Plant <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2016/11/wildflower-wednesday-celebrating.html" target="_blank">shrubs and small trees</a> that provide berries and nuts. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Keep a nature journal:</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> Observe visitors to the water feature, make note of when they visit.<span> Notice which flowers attract the most pollinators and which ones are just pretty faces. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Volunteer to remove invasives in a local part or natural area. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join your state native plant society.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Join <a href="https://wildones.org/" target="_blank">WildOnes</a> even if there's no local group.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take an online course on tree, fungi and wildflower id.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take a walk in your neighborhood and observe nature. To quote Joanna Brichetto in <a href="https://sidewalknature.com/" target="_blank">Sidewalk Nature</a> "Look Around. Nature is here, is us, our driveways, our baseboards, parks, and parking lots."<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Buy the best wildflower, butterfly and bird id books for your state.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Read nature books to your children and grandchildren. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Read!
There are hundreds of books on gardening for wildlife, the environment,
and rewilding our </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">world. There are delightful blogs with wonderful and
informative articles.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Turn off your porch lights, eave lights and uplights to help mammals, birds, critters that live in the dark survive.<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If you live in Nashville join the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1624263631095444" target="_blank">Facebook ReWild Nashville Group</a> and the <a href="https://middletennessee.wildones.org/" target="_blank">Middle Tennessee WildOnes </a><br /></span></span><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx5BAIAVzELGDlt3m2W9HucAS0UqPB-jLylx6EytnuGl3UpjuqPl7ljyHsng9X0iFiJXDv30YeqPAiinCrPSR5s2rm512zuBhg99uCBLJ6cODuXD0JG-YbbZQFijY-xVDbuO82o4uM7DSVzVDou_nhe503pDoTs--Nee1LhhsuLLXor2JfHJSVyKh/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="236" /></a></div></div></div><div class="clb-custom-footer-meta additional-plant-info"><p>Welcome to Clay and Limestone and <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html" target="_blank">Wildflower Wednesday</a>.
This day is about sharing wildflowers and other native plants no
matter where one gardens~the UK, tropical Florida, Europe, Australia,
Africa, South America, India or the coldest reaches of Canada. It
doesn't matter if we sometimes share the same plants. How they grow and
thrive in your garden is what matters most.</p><p></p><p>Please leave your links in comments, I am not using Mr Linky any longer.<br /></p></div><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-9701362416115351392022-06-22T05:00:00.154-05:002022-06-22T14:44:10.884-05:00Wildflower Wednesday: June Blooms and Their Pollinator Visitors<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNWj7tmNbIvinMJwkTgnbqeWo73MNpEVyypSKbl3t9WX446sZv_3WqodxS3pl3Ym5IUDL-6yjWtZzUVTfF-Vto0ufkbtgJHhp4BByq_XH5zwoaNNbP6aBhEtLQUWi1giAU_gAcoMRrpX_mAqa_TY0Ji6yi3Rbg5trGmYG1GpiPCHly1GI2ZMN9lwK/s2658/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-02%20at%207.13.46%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="2658" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNWj7tmNbIvinMJwkTgnbqeWo73MNpEVyypSKbl3t9WX446sZv_3WqodxS3pl3Ym5IUDL-6yjWtZzUVTfF-Vto0ufkbtgJHhp4BByq_XH5zwoaNNbP6aBhEtLQUWi1giAU_gAcoMRrpX_mAqa_TY0Ji6yi3Rbg5trGmYG1GpiPCHly1GI2ZMN9lwK/w640-h526/Screen%20Shot%202021-07-02%20at%207.13.46%20PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><b><b><b><i> </i></b></b></b> <i>I appreciate all the pollinators at Clay and Limestone, </i><i>but, my favorite has always been <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2009/09/taking-care-of-bzzzness.html">Bumbles</a>.</i><br />
<br />
We moved into this house in early fall 3 dozen years ago. The yard was a mess and there were no real garden beds, but the Summer Phlox and blue wood aster were still blooming. I was captivated
by the Bumbles who were actively working the flowers as much as I was by the
flowers. Those bumbles stole my heart. Over the years I noticed how hard they worked in the garden. They were the first pollinators up and about each morning and the last to leave each night. I
found them sleeping on flowers on cool mornings and watched them
nectaring and gathering pollen on the last of the latest blooming
ex-asters in November. They were a joy to watch and I wanted to learn all about them.<b> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(from <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2012/02/its-time-to-bee-gin-thinking-about-bees.html" target="_blank">earlier post</a>)</span></b> </p><p>Many years later and Bumbles still make me smile, but, so do a dozen other pollinators. To celebrate June Wildflower Wednesday and <a href="https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week" target="_blank">Pollinator Week</a> here are more wildflowers and their pollinator visitors<b>.<br /></b></p><p><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2020/07/wildflower-wednesday-summer-blooming.html" target="_blank">Phlox paniculata</a> and a Carpenter bee<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZW_XdTNr5DN1w--2skFbzHzb6U_6y9T26Hxtf0ORxXMaCsKiNwoo_i_gOCK_b4UOvv3lOoV-rO2dhJLUE43XVLV8pmBSJVf_z5Ou0kJI0Htef9MABXeRfGwLjp8ujmOKVrmvCgb_od7nxLyH_13rumyg3gZw1VLAcbn1nKlV91w7_oyURstL_mfU/s640/IMG_1974.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="640" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZW_XdTNr5DN1w--2skFbzHzb6U_6y9T26Hxtf0ORxXMaCsKiNwoo_i_gOCK_b4UOvv3lOoV-rO2dhJLUE43XVLV8pmBSJVf_z5Ou0kJI0Htef9MABXeRfGwLjp8ujmOKVrmvCgb_od7nxLyH_13rumyg3gZw1VLAcbn1nKlV91w7_oyURstL_mfU/w640-h552/IMG_1974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> Although, Bumbles are hard workers, they are not the only active garden visitors. When the Bumbles are slow to arrive Eastern <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/pollinator-week-xylocopa-virginica.html" target="_blank">Carpenter bees</a> are out and about visiting some of the earlier flowers. They are generalist foragers and are known to pollinate garden crops and garden plants. Who could not love these giant beauties. The menacing/dive bombing carpenter bee you encounter is only
protecting a nest. It's a male drone and he's all buzz and no sting! In the photo above you can see them "nectar robbing" Phlox.</p><p>The first <i>Phloxes</i> in this garden were here when I arrived. They
were the offspring of whatever the previous gardeners might have planted
30+ years ago and were all wonderful magenta flowered beauties. They
are still here, well, the offspring of the offspring are still here and
after years of letting species and cultivars go to seed, real treasures
have been produced in the crossings of the crossings.</p><p> Butterflies, moths (including Hummingbird and Sphinx moths) and skippers are the primary pollinators of <i>phlox</i>.
Their proboscis are long enough to reach the nectar at the base of the
narrow phlox corolla and pollen is carried to the next flower. In fact, Phlox has all the characteristics of a classic butterfly nectar flower. <br />
</p><ul><li>clustered flowers with a landing platform</li><li>brightly colored</li><li>open during the day</li><li>ample nectar producer </li><li>nectar deeply hidden in corolla</li></ul><p> Silvery Checkerspot on <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/06/gloriosa-daisies-for-national.html" target="_blank">Gloriosa Dais</a>y. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Zyly14uuLPF_7G9mkRGNFUed1m7C8TwDEvmphrVPATGjM57Iemi6Ry0FkA6_U8xDeVjbVPgPwjI5aS40kZU9VyXte784fJRP83zOoRmCdRW7sl62X9UvM6wMPR74JK7WOWiFRpP_hfPQcfPIYpc3DlresRq32EioWWHDdjnvVShoaopd0mWwBJ4/s640/Screen+Shot+2017-06-18+at+5.53.59+PM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="640" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ5Zyly14uuLPF_7G9mkRGNFUed1m7C8TwDEvmphrVPATGjM57Iemi6Ry0FkA6_U8xDeVjbVPgPwjI5aS40kZU9VyXte784fJRP83zOoRmCdRW7sl62X9UvM6wMPR74JK7WOWiFRpP_hfPQcfPIYpc3DlresRq32EioWWHDdjnvVShoaopd0mWwBJ4/w640-h570/Screen+Shot+2017-06-18+at+5.53.59+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p>The Gloriosas have most of the characteristics of their <i>Rudbeckia hirta</i>
parent, except the flowers are three times as large and their colors
are mixtures of pure yellow or bicolored, many with dark mahogany red
splotches at the base of the petals. Yes, I do love the many colorful varieties and the big flowers, but I also love that they're all <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2011/09/its-rough-and-tumble-wildflower-time.html" target="_blank">rough and tumble flowers</a> that can take the heat and humidity of our Middle South summers and continue to bloom until frost (deadhead them). Gloriosa Daisies do very well. </p><p>Butterflies, bees of all sizes, wasps, beetles and even little loper caterpillars rely on the many Susans for food, and shelter. Plant them in your garden and sit back and watch the pollinators. I've already seen small Carpenter Bees, Green Metallic bees, Bumbles and skippers visiting the flowers to feed and/or gather pollen. Above photo: Silvery checkerspots which can be seen in meadows and forest openings. <br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/07/wildflower-wednesday-partridge-pea.html" target="_blank">Partridge Pea</a> and Bumbles<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUh3fUa50nVv8zEkTRJYJKAOJwHqyzfGmwm2eBuCE1zUvNZmyaFt6BEMlQ9TveB2say_NepR4ABFyGRCOJcZCIc-w-GdNvhQihd6voRt0uniPHvXStZJtHOFYX0w05DQkElpo23kSLbh5J53ZnrOOwckPUOaXDYDL-AkDQ3umhQplBNVd-KekscsH/s640/P7241158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="640" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUh3fUa50nVv8zEkTRJYJKAOJwHqyzfGmwm2eBuCE1zUvNZmyaFt6BEMlQ9TveB2say_NepR4ABFyGRCOJcZCIc-w-GdNvhQihd6voRt0uniPHvXStZJtHOFYX0w05DQkElpo23kSLbh5J53ZnrOOwckPUOaXDYDL-AkDQ3umhQplBNVd-KekscsH/w640-h544/P7241158.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>First, cool thing: Those cool flowers, that the bumbles make a mad dash for every
morning, have no nectar, only pollen. The bees are attracted to the
food pollen on the purple anthers, and get dusted with the reproductive
pollen from the yellow anthers. Nature is amazing and plant
reproduction is so cool. Second, cool thing: Partridge Peas are not nectarless. Nectar is produced at the base of the leaf in tiny,
reddish-orange glands called nectares. Ants visit them regularly. Third cool thing: These are annuals and they will always be in your garden because they seed about so beautifully. Fourth cool thing: They're the larval host for Cloudless giant sulphur, Orange sulphur, Sleepy orange butterflies. See photo of Sulphur on Coneflower later in post.<br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2014/06/wildflower-wednesday-mint-you-and.html" target="_blank">Mountain Mint </a>and a fly<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMOQQqKWed_4M_mXiZ7bxISrejoMHAtDcVP0RLvgii3vA0jw3vm3WXIr8ZWiD1xS18pnEQB2BUi-CULVZYTE4-xYI83yg775nNwNQhVLwHPw7XTdvWDerQk1oo6cOIvSIgw0cxb0E8R6vLzTSwWWjLozUp-uUk8oNIjgEs1ZcdkeOvSOSO4xYcnjc/s2210/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-06%20at%208.00.36%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="2210" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMOQQqKWed_4M_mXiZ7bxISrejoMHAtDcVP0RLvgii3vA0jw3vm3WXIr8ZWiD1xS18pnEQB2BUi-CULVZYTE4-xYI83yg775nNwNQhVLwHPw7XTdvWDerQk1oo6cOIvSIgw0cxb0E8R6vLzTSwWWjLozUp-uUk8oNIjgEs1ZcdkeOvSOSO4xYcnjc/w640-h576/Screen%20Shot%202017-09-06%20at%208.00.36%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> The flowers of <i>Pycnanthemum muticum</i> might be small, but they are mighty! <br />
<br />
The researchers at Penn State's <a href="http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/lancaster/pollinator-friendly-garden-certification/2013-pollinator-trial-results" target="_blank">The Pollinator Trial</a>
found that Clustered Mountain Mint was the best plant for flowering
longevity; for pollinator visitor diversity; for sheer number of insect
visitors (78); and, for sheer number of bee and syrphid visitors. </p><p>...and yes, it's a mint so be prepared for it to move across your garden!<br /></p><p> </p><p>R<a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/07/wildflower-wednesdayruellia.html" target="_blank">uellia</a> strepens and a butterfly<br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOnuMGsOLojnoaTNsUvyiex5FELRS95wovDr2ngz7HUEJuQKHTWSYJ64U5JPc-QdGt2GmZksfv2TiFSSy7s0iSYPz91vDtVYXfkq3H_sto_AsQn0vMqa7Pgp3C-N0OtvH84gOPsdCVUIPo-aPUt3PwURTVfocY0A-xMQOVvf6c6eTDpIcM0wIws4W/s639/DSCF7629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="639" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOnuMGsOLojnoaTNsUvyiex5FELRS95wovDr2ngz7HUEJuQKHTWSYJ64U5JPc-QdGt2GmZksfv2TiFSSy7s0iSYPz91vDtVYXfkq3H_sto_AsQn0vMqa7Pgp3C-N0OtvH84gOPsdCVUIPo-aPUt3PwURTVfocY0A-xMQOVvf6c6eTDpIcM0wIws4W/w640-h564/DSCF7629.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Much to my sorrow, I have never, ever seen pollinators on a blooming flower, but, I've read that <a href="http://www.shout.net/%7Ejhilty/files/lt_bee.htm">long tongued bees</a>,
miner bees, carpenter
bees and parasitic bees are its primary pollinators. Apparently,
fertilization has been very successful in my garden, because the
progeny is all over. Maybe, the pollinators are sneaking visits when I
am inside. But, it's more likely as <a href="http://2013.botanyconference.org/engine/search/index.php?func=detail&aid=499" target="_blank">Researchers at a college in Missouri</a>, discovered: flowers of <i>R strepens</i>
open during the early morning dark hours, allowing pollination by moth
species. That's good to know. According to another source the
lavender-blue trumpets attract hummingbirds and butterflies, too. <a href="http://www.bobklips.com/latejuly2009.html" target="_blank">Here's a link to a site with a bee foraging on the flower! Let me tell you, I was thrilled to find it!</a> <br /></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/06/wildflower-wednesday-asclepias-syriaca.html" target="_blank">Asclepia</a>s speciosa bumble and Eastern Tiger swallowtail<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA-Oahbvyxnm4FKIWXiJ6k6JqYuiwDsft3MKuj4CeUZpLNLGV793xr6qq6SQ52ajy2PXQ46P1K4GGnDfGfyyUHug-9L5sUC2S4ugZbAVWJQfKB9A1zLOYPiwE47LVgMNxbCrDT0WMgHSaeQVUUHuIkNvIr6g-0NqxT-hhxECSKz01N-J-prI_2qbL/s640/P6200016.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="640" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA-Oahbvyxnm4FKIWXiJ6k6JqYuiwDsft3MKuj4CeUZpLNLGV793xr6qq6SQ52ajy2PXQ46P1K4GGnDfGfyyUHug-9L5sUC2S4ugZbAVWJQfKB9A1zLOYPiwE47LVgMNxbCrDT0WMgHSaeQVUUHuIkNvIr6g-0NqxT-hhxECSKz01N-J-prI_2qbL/w640-h634/P6200016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> <i> "Common milkweed is Nature's mega food market for insects.</i> Over 450
insects are known to feed on some portion of the plant. Numerous
insects are attracted to the nectar-laden flowers and it is not at all
uncommon to see flies, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, and butterflies on
the flowers at the same time. Occasionally hummingbirds will try,
unsuccessfully, to extract nectar. Its sap, leaves and flowers also
provide food. In the northeast and midwest, it is among the most
important food plants for <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/Monarch_Butterfly/index.shtml">monarch caterpillars (<i>Danaus plexippus</i>)</a>. Other common feeders are the colorful (red with black dots) red milkweed beetle (<i>Tetraopes tetraophthalmus</i>), the milkweed tussock caterpillar (<i>Euchaetes egle</i>) and the large (<i>Oncopeltus fasciatus</i>) and the small (<i>Lygaeus kalmia</i>)
red and black milkweed bugs. The latter two are particularly
destructive as both the adults and nymphs are seed predators. They can
destroy 80 to 90 percent of a colony's seed crop. The red (or
orange-red) and black coloration of most of these insects is known as <b>aposematic</b> coloration; that is, the colors advertise the fact that the organism is not good to eat." <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/asclepias_syriaca.shtml" target="_blank">Source</a></p><p>...and yes, this is an aggressive plant, so plant it where it can move around all it wants/can. <br /></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2017/05/wildflower-wednesday-spiderwort.html" target="_blank">Spiderwort </a>and a bumble <br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNprDrqgLpJyRMnBve0KIABC_P6QgX4YR6Cxp8bXgq1rxz9nBNaelEOjOH_0BKQLinXXz7X-_L0GR43mbsylfiAt8W2yFSWw_pM6M8ERWkDPkIpCgblibRwBUplOOTaeguK_XJXGSy6pIyzai36y54TZDo4p4bzpIHHo7NmNleUIRQjjboXPT6ikY/s1852/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-21%20at%209.16.42%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1852" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNprDrqgLpJyRMnBve0KIABC_P6QgX4YR6Cxp8bXgq1rxz9nBNaelEOjOH_0BKQLinXXz7X-_L0GR43mbsylfiAt8W2yFSWw_pM6M8ERWkDPkIpCgblibRwBUplOOTaeguK_XJXGSy6pIyzai36y54TZDo4p4bzpIHHo7NmNleUIRQjjboXPT6ikY/w400-h360/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-21%20at%209.16.42%20AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><p> </p><p>I love my garden in the early morning. Once the sun has made it past the
trees, it begins to spot light the shadier garden nooks. <i>Tradescantia</i> look their best in that cool morning sun. The sun light
makes those feathery violet hairs glow. Later in the day they're washed
out by the hot, bright light, but that is the case for many delicate
flowers. Spiderworts are pollinated by bumbles and that makes me really happy.
Beautiful and unique flowers that are not terribly temperamental about
soil. They come in a kaleidoscopic palette of sumptuous colors. If tamed with a cutting back the plants can bush out and possibly rebloom.</p><p>...and yes, some can be aggressive. I don't care, I adore them.</p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2019/07/i-heart-hydrangea-arborescens.html" target="_blank">Hydrangea arborescens </a>and a bumble<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nwii_K9e43xnbiD7pygxR_isAMDeaNZP9rhAo6CfQQcVYP_p0jZ8pUY6lytwcmDXPSeGtruyRr9p1E2NZRV8PzZ0jIfGBaNdZJ880XruNjcXJ-xsbWz4Jmrpp29xXk9RGNG2fKQNBnSeUeQTleTEVwwrKLF7selx9bJqAu_dzR6yUPFQvX8zig6z/s640/Screen+shot+2017-02-19+at+9.10.34+PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="640" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2nwii_K9e43xnbiD7pygxR_isAMDeaNZP9rhAo6CfQQcVYP_p0jZ8pUY6lytwcmDXPSeGtruyRr9p1E2NZRV8PzZ0jIfGBaNdZJ880XruNjcXJ-xsbWz4Jmrpp29xXk9RGNG2fKQNBnSeUeQTleTEVwwrKLF7selx9bJqAu_dzR6yUPFQvX8zig6z/w640-h446/Screen+shot+2017-02-19+at+9.10.34+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> I love watching the Bumbles work a <i>Hydrangea arborescens</i> flower. They move so fast it's nearly impossible to get a good photo. <i>Hydrangea arborescens</i>, commonly known as smooth hydrangea or
wild hydrangea, is a gangly limbed deciduous shrub with large,
opposite, toothed leaves and grayish stems. The dome shaped flower
head is composed of sterile and fertile flowers that begin to bloom in
June in my garden. It's native to woodland slopes, hillsides and
stream banks in the Eastern US. I adore it.<p></p><p>Most of you know I garden for wildlife, so the wildlife value of plants I
bring into the garden are important. Wild hydrangeas have pretty good
wildlife value: they're pollinated by many species of native bees and
beetles and it's a host plant for two moths, <i>Darapsa versicolor</i>/Hydrangea Sphinx Moth and <i>Olethreutes ferriferana/</i>Hydrangea leaf-tier moth. I love that little carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.), Halictid bees,
masked bees (Hylaeus spp.), miscellaneous wasps, mosquitoes, Syrphid
flies, thick-headed flies, Muscid flies, dance flies (Empis spp.),
tumbling flower beetles, and long-horned beetles <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<a href="http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/hydrangea.htm" target="_blank">source</a>)</span> visit the flowers, but, watching a bumble bee race back and forth is fabulous.
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div><a href="https://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/06/wildflower-wednesday-embrace.html" target="_blank">Echinacea purpurea: Imperfection doesn't stop a pollinator</a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbvdMOfhGFq-DGXqt1uxP__nbCuJ1Acn4BcG4aNX05WU4-DkfAyBfWNpooFY29ucp8RQ9yyVX_N5lbOVjZfRU6kOpNLh06emwS8YxG5HabSBSiObEoMYIhlTUo9wpjh5HK7BAh8N82ygTLtMGgl7gMu5KPTs5U-PfHbNnAY7p1q4PO2F5zDXWtSup/s640/DSCF6021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbvdMOfhGFq-DGXqt1uxP__nbCuJ1Acn4BcG4aNX05WU4-DkfAyBfWNpooFY29ucp8RQ9yyVX_N5lbOVjZfRU6kOpNLh06emwS8YxG5HabSBSiObEoMYIhlTUo9wpjh5HK7BAh8N82ygTLtMGgl7gMu5KPTs5U-PfHbNnAY7p1q4PO2F5zDXWtSup/w640-h480/DSCF6021.JPG" width="640" /></a></p>Not one of these critters is bothered by the imperfect chewed on petals.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1S5-XWCT0NIISTPZYlfXXXRo1yn6APKNKqSPpfcYEymvevo0bkc2DxFZx_NM_HhgLEUoIjnVjvBJHPuR3Q_06QsLTP0aui3ZDzXNEKNNrF64DjrZcqI7B-QT2zEtqg2kJWnbBfBkqsWmCIZv8ncKcmqDUq5-j5gzdLnXHgLTXpQ68yJXpv1f7mTl/s640/DSCF2721.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="455" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1S5-XWCT0NIISTPZYlfXXXRo1yn6APKNKqSPpfcYEymvevo0bkc2DxFZx_NM_HhgLEUoIjnVjvBJHPuR3Q_06QsLTP0aui3ZDzXNEKNNrF64DjrZcqI7B-QT2zEtqg2kJWnbBfBkqsWmCIZv8ncKcmqDUq5-j5gzdLnXHgLTXpQ68yJXpv1f7mTl/w456-h640/DSCF2721.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly still sips nectar and bumbles collect pollen even on damaged flowers.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-hdBNn-5ZJajQLmkoNX2f6EX7bTGaZ2l4uIZELC6gRZV6X--kpf9eyru2JL5Gp4KFO33tJqRxPRTU87wWXU83x96Q-ReWHNupb5gMR8joGYsE8-yXx-ZxipsnH4dcf9sXSlpgQf5W--8ROPhOB3d0kVjTnF1DiaTWQavsuu4sJtp9-oOCkrgf9s3/s640/DSCF7505.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="640" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-hdBNn-5ZJajQLmkoNX2f6EX7bTGaZ2l4uIZELC6gRZV6X--kpf9eyru2JL5Gp4KFO33tJqRxPRTU87wWXU83x96Q-ReWHNupb5gMR8joGYsE8-yXx-ZxipsnH4dcf9sXSlpgQf5W--8ROPhOB3d0kVjTnF1DiaTWQavsuu4sJtp9-oOCkrgf9s3/w640-h512/DSCF7505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>We've been convinced by advertising that a garden should be perfect and
that insects are harmful and must be eliminated or they will damage our
flowering plants and make them ugly. I encourage everyone to reconsider beauty and to begin to appreciate the insect damaged
plant as providing food for a critter that may in turn be food for a
spider, another insect or a song bird. </p><p> A friend told me she use to pull the caterpillars off her fennel before
she knew they were Swallowtail butterfly cats. I told her what they were! New gardeners need to
make sure ugly bugs aren't <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">beneficial insects</a>
before you pluck them off or squish them. Some of the "good bugs"
include lacewings, lady beetles, minute pirate bug, soldier bugs,
assassin bugs, braconid wasps, tachinid flies, flower flies and aphid
mites. Their larva aren't always attractive!</p><p>So embrace imperfection in your garden!<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XH2kRM55kOv6lIdnjvuzLeOVNP9f3AwibgQQcKDDaURxJgqGhsdpzqqK2JJkrH88F-HcPfP4bXWbce_N1Bg2P7lg7aDkf7t2xXUsll3ANir-YBRWs1h8UWtpaWCENLCp_Uwg4NQG5D4qimDkaDkEBsXt5CRsUoJQlIlx1Km-eAnV3GRC4cL-_JGT/s400/DSCF7503.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="400" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XH2kRM55kOv6lIdnjvuzLeOVNP9f3AwibgQQcKDDaURxJgqGhsdpzqqK2JJkrH88F-HcPfP4bXWbce_N1Bg2P7lg7aDkf7t2xXUsll3ANir-YBRWs1h8UWtpaWCENLCp_Uwg4NQG5D4qimDkaDkEBsXt5CRsUoJQlIlx1Km-eAnV3GRC4cL-_JGT/w640-h540/DSCF7503.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><ul><li>You can help create a paradigm shift that redefines garden beauty to include imperfection.</li><li>You can refuse to be shamed or swayed by the judgement of perfection worshipers.</li><li>You can say no to pesticides that poison flowers and kill our important garden visitors.</li><li>You can let nursery managers know that you don't need or expect them
to offer "perfect plants" that have pre-treated with insecticides (often neonicotinoids).<br /></li><li><b>You just have to do it!</b> <br /></li></ul><p> Your garden will not be magazine perfect, but, pollinators don't care if
your flower petals are chewed on. They need flowers bursting with
pollen and nectar. Your garden will be <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2015/04/bugs-they-make-garden-good.html" target="_blank">teeming with life</a>.
Spiders will build webs; the beneficial insects will keep aphids in
check; pollinators will pollinate; and, birds will hunt the insects.<br />
<br />
It will be a beautiful imperfect garden, just as it's supposed to be.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYGrgP7qX9k/VYmgVArWNXI/AAAAAAAAZ44/auvkRepcZ6o/s1600/DSCF9301.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYGrgP7qX9k/VYmgVArWNXI/AAAAAAAAZ44/auvkRepcZ6o/s640/DSCF9301.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><i>When you let go of pesticides and embrace imperfection you become the change our world needs. </i></b><p> </p><p>I am so glad you stopped by. xoxogail<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36MtBGRWeeMIRgvfewlalaC1vvNnIcsMT-2KV7ExTWm-OjVPFlKzCOiGfELRAO3bG6koRN9xkAERODjIycnoJBGTC1WHk2uzAakcEoTvPhH_1Jrd--ZwOrfo4v4rDIYJF4gM8Mjb9K0mJEL5sNsL-8GCLFJezZGD2Luc-x_7D2O4Y2u-b4Uq8V78s/s236/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="236" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36MtBGRWeeMIRgvfewlalaC1vvNnIcsMT-2KV7ExTWm-OjVPFlKzCOiGfELRAO3bG6koRN9xkAERODjIycnoJBGTC1WHk2uzAakcEoTvPhH_1Jrd--ZwOrfo4v4rDIYJF4gM8Mjb9K0mJEL5sNsL-8GCLFJezZGD2Luc-x_7D2O4Y2u-b4Uq8V78s/w320-h287/Screen%20Shot%202017-06-27%20at%2010.31.51%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Want pollinators?~~Here's what we can do:</span><br /><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Plant
many different flowers that bloom over the entire growing season to
encourage different native bees to move into your garden.<br /></li><li>Plant flowers in drifts....It increases pollinator efficiency and looks prettier!</li><li>Plant the pollinator power house wildflowers for your neck of the woods.<br /></li><li>Plant night blooming and fragrant flowers.</li><li>Make peace with weedy lawn natives.<br /></li><li>Let our gardens be a little messy, so that there are nesting places and shelter. </li><li>If
you want to encourage a diversity of pollinators~~ you will need to
provide open areas (e.g. bare earth, large stones) where butterflies,
may bask, and moist soil from which they may get needed minerals. </li><li>Accept that not all pollinators are pretty and not all are well behaved; Wasps! Beneficial insect larva.<br /></li><li>Accept that when we invite pollinators into the garden, plants will get eaten and look ratty for awhile.</li><li>Remember birds and bats! Leave the insects alone.</li><li>Provide a water source with easy access for pollinators.</li><li>Plant oaks and other trees that support a lot of pollinators. <br /></li><li>NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER USE PESTICIDES.<b> I MEAN NEVER!</b><br /></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Welcome to <i> <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/2010/02/wildflower-wednesdayback-to-beginning.html">Wildflower Wednesday</a></i>.</b>
It's the fourth Wednesday of each month and time to celebrate
wildflowers from all over this great big, beautiful world. I am always glad when you stop by and I so appreciate when you make a comment. <br /></div><p> <br /></p><p><a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/p/all-about-clay-and-limestone.html">Gail Eichelberger</a> is a gardener and therapist in Middle Tennessee. She loves wildflowers and native plants and thoroughly enjoys writing about the ones she grows at <a href="http://www.clayandlimestone.com/">Clay and Limestone.</a> She reminds all that the words and images are the property of the author and cannot be used without written permission.</p><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="vertical-align:middle;border:0"/></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/ClayAndLimestone" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a></p></div>Gailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.com4