Common Boneset

Eupatorium perfoliatum and Rudbeckia subtomentosa 'Henry Eilers'Mid-August pocket meadowUpdating a favorite program today (Native Plants for Pollinators), I figured that I needed to add Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) to the mix.It's been a standout in the pocket meadow (aka pollinator patch)...

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Pocket meadow in mid-August

Eupatorium perfoliatum (Common Boneset), Eutrochium purpureum (Joe-Pye), various Liatris species, Heliopolis, Parthenium integrefolium (Wild Quinine), and three different Vernonia species are welcoming pollinators of all sorts in the pocket meadow in mid-August. Not to mention the Brazilian sage...

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Native perennials at my local hardware store

A great selection of perennialsI was delighted to find a wonderful selection of native perennials at my local Ace Hardware (on Merrimon Ave.) in Asheville today. I guess I'd missed them before - Lawrence, the staff member in charge, doesn't have a lot of space, but as he told me, in our nice conversation...

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Immature butternut squash

Hmm, I'm thinking my butternut squash experiment is a winner.  I don't have room for regular butternut squash vines to ramble all over the garden, nor do I have room to store mature butternuts through the winter.  I've been musing about squash growing for ages.My friend who has a large kitchen...

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A monarch, pipevine swallowtails, and goldfinches

There was a monarch visiting the Heliopsis and Joe-Pye in the pocket meadow in front of the house today. I didn't manage to get back out quickly enough to get a picture, but as I did come out (with iPhone in hand),  a goldfinch was feeding on purple coneflower seeds, and left quickly, with...

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A welcome bit of rain and tree frogs

Thunderstorms passed through this afternoon and evening, bringing some welcome moisture.  It's been continually dry for weeks now, warm (and hot) sunny days in succession.Fortunately, my perennials are pretty tough, but still, the Joe-Pye and Phlox need water after a week and half of heat and no rain. Not to mention the veggies!The rain today brought out the nocturnal symphony -- tonight, largely...

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Ready for fall vegetables

One drawback of planting late is that my tomatoes, squash, and beans are still going strong. It continues to amaze me how disease and pest-free that they've been this summer.  No bean beetles, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, etc.late summer beans and squash There's just now a bit of powdery...

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