Bloom Day What’s Blooming for Bees May

CosmosThis month’s Bloom Day is a native plants for native bees theme once again. I’m a lazy gardener I’ve decided. All of the shrubs presented here are low maintenance, prune and shape if you wish or let go if you don’t feel like it. Basically I just dig a hole (having good soil in the first place), plop a plant in the ground, put it on my drip line and let it rip. These guys are stout and can take abuse. In spring I do go through a bit of shaping and trimming but nothing major, as well as keep the surrounding area clear of invasive plants. Japanese honeysuckle is my nemesis in my zone 7b woodland garden. I can personally recommend these plants to any gardener who would like a care free, wildlife friendly landscape.

Chionanthus virginicus Fringe tree

Chionanthus virginicus, Fringe tree or Old Man’s Beard bloomed early this month to my surprise. They are known to flower at a young age and I got lucky. This specimen had only been planted last fall and she is about 5′ tall, so I wasn’t expecting blooms. What a show she put on and the hummingbirds loved her! This is a female, which is not as showy as the male plant but she will get lovely, larger blue berries that attract birds if she managed to get pollinated. I do have a male as well but he is too young to bloom yet.

Chionanthus virginicus Zones: 3-9 is a small tree or shrub reaching 12′ to 20′ feet. Grow in sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well drained soil. Mine is grown as an understory tree with dappled sun, located in a drier site and doing fine. Fall color is yellow and can be showy.

Hydrangea arborescens Smooth hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens, Smooth hydrangea. Oh yes it starts out that lime green. I love this plant! The flowers are huge and take their time opening so it prolongs the bloom season a bit. This stunning native has several cultivars which usually range from 3′ to 5′. Finally a native shrub that comes in a more compact size. Hydrangea arborescens can be grown in zones 3 to 9 and requires part shade. Water requirements are average and like a hydrangea is a drama queen so will tell you when it needs a drink. The bees love it! It’s another low maintenance native shrub with no serious insect or disease problems. I don’t touch this plant until about January when I finally clip off the dead blooms before the next season’s growth begins. Blooms on new wood so you can prune or not depending on how you wish it to be sized. A must for the woodland garden.

Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf Hydrangea Alice

Hydrangea quercifolia, Oakleaf Hydrangea Alice. I can’t get enough Hydrangea quercifolia. What’s not to love about this native shrub? They just grow and grow with little care, the flowers are magnificent and turn a beautiful papery golden brown later so you don’t need to be clipping dead blooms. Bees are all over the blossoms. The bark is exfoliating and twisty so even in winter it’s pretty. The fall color is just WOW. See: Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Hydrangea quercifolia can be grown in zones 5 to 9, requires part shade and will reach 6 to 8′. That’s what the tell me anyhow but I have seen them at 12′ with an equal spread so take this with a pound of salt, make room for this beauty. It’s low maintenance with no serious insect or disease problems, medium water requirements. The above photo is an Alice cultivar, which looks exactly the same as my species specimen but I will say that Alice bloomed more profusely.

Hydrangea quercifolia Oakleaf Hydrangea	Snowflake

Hydrangea quercifolia, Oakleaf Hydrangea Snowflake. So I decided to find out what all of the fuss is about with the Snowflake Oakleaf Hydrangea. Now I know. It’s certainly different with the second bloom. Wish I’d bought two. Of course to stuff another Oakleaf on my property I’m going to need to buy the neighbors land for more room.

Itea virginica, Virginia Sweetspire Henry’s Garnet is a favorite of native bees. They are busy on the fragrant flowers all day. Itea virginica can be grown in zones 5 to 9, full sun to part shade and has medium water requirements. Mine is grown as an understory plant with dappled shade and is thriving. It’s low maintenance with no serious insect or disease problems. I don’t prune, fertilize or touch this guy and he’s happy. I grow it for the bees and the fall color, which ranges in the oranges and yellows with red. Itea virginica is a wonderful, trouble free native shrub for the woodland garden.

Clarkia elegans Elegant Clarkia

Clarkia elegans, Elegant Clarkia is a native annual which I seeded for the heck of it and the bees and hummingbirds adore it. This plant requires a bit of water I have found, and being the low maintenance gardener that I am, I’m not sure that I will grow it again. My woods are mostly oak so quite dry and my understory plants are on a drip irrigation system. The idea of hand watering confuses me – I have to remind myself that I have a chore to do. I’ve gotten very spoiled!

Mexican Hat

Erm…well I thought this was Ratibida columnaris, Mexican Hat but I’m not sure any more. It’s coming up at the base of an oak, let’s see if it hats out soon. The bees visit frequently and I know that it is a native so I’m happy they showed up. The bright yellow spots are quite cheerful on the forest floor.

Viburnum nudum Winterhur

Viburnum nudum, Smooth Witherod Winterhur Female. These are just passing and the bees are still all over her. I don’t have a male but my female still produces beautiful deep pink and blue to purple berries which the birds love. With the birds eating the berries it means no dead heading blossoms, just a spring tidy up with a pair of scissors. The fall color is amazing, reds to purples.

Grow Viburnum nudum in full sun to part shade, zone: 5 to 9. It reaches 5′ to 12′ with an equal spread. Low maintenance, no pruning or dead heading. Water requirements are average and it can be grown in my zone, 7b, with a little more shade than in norther climates. The sun here is fairly strong so a little goes a long way.

On a note, I also have Viburnum nudum Count Pulaski and it hasn’t even begun to bloom yet. This cultivar flowers much later than the others I have grown, and somehow manages to get pollinated. Don’t ask me what’s doing the job but it produces berries so the birds, bees and I are all pleased.

Where to purchase:
Kinsey Family Farm, Gainesville GA, pick up only. Twitter: @KinseyFarm. This is where I purchased the Hydrangea arborescens.

Mail Order Natives – Mail order only.

Nearly Native Nursery, Fayetteville, GA. Pick up and mail order.

Wilkerson Mill Gardens – Pick up and mail order.

Posted in Bees, Shrubs | 2 Comments »

Bloom Day What’s Blooming for Bees April

I dedicate my bloom day photos to native plants for native pollinators.

Aronia melanocarpa Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa Chokeberry Autumn Magic. Can a habitat garden have too many native chokeberries? Not only is Aronia a spring food source for bees, in the fall they produce berries which are a preferred food source for birds. The autumn color is stunning.

Neviusia alabamensis Alabama Snow-wreath

Neviusia alabamensis Alabama Snow-wreath. Native to the southeastern United States and in my opinion, a lovely, underused shrub. Alabama Snow-wreath is a trouble free, thicket-forming shrub reaching 3-6 ft. in height and width. It has exfoliating orange brown bark and the flowers are showy, feathery stamens. Grow in part shade. A favorite if native bees.

Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry

Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry ssp. is an outstanding native wildlife shrub. The blossoms make for a favorite pollen source for bees, soon followed by a berry food source for birds. The bark is exfoliating on this 15′ shrub and the fall colors are just stunning.

Halesia tetraptera Pink Carolina Silverbell

Halesia tetraptera Pink Carolina Silverbell Arnold Pink. These are just about to open on my baby specimen but the bees are already on it. When the flower opens it will look like tiny, spreading wings from a tale of garden faeries. Native to the central and southern United States, a mid size tree reaching 20-30′. Trouble free, grow in part shade with moist loamy soil.

Cornus florida dogwood

Cornus florida Flowering dogwood. Lucky me, there are several naturalized specimens of native Cornus florida on my property. After the bees get done with it, beautiful red berries will appear for the birds. They are always a favorite tree for migrating birds in the fall.

Posted in Bees, Shrubs | 6 Comments »

Raising the Bat House

Yesterday was a good day. We were able to help our neighbor raise a bat house in his backyard. I’m all for that, more bats means less bugs. This particular style house is a rocket box and you can find the plans to build your own at: Rocket Box Bat House Plans.

Bat House

First, the bat house had been mounted on a 16×4x4 pressure treated post.

Bat House

A 3′ hole was dug where the house was to be located.

Bat House

Some cement mix and water was poured in the hole before the 4×4 mounting post would go in it.

Bat House

The bat house was raised! Yippie!

Bat House

Temporary braces were nailed to the post to keep the house level while the cement dries. The base of the mounting post had been set in a thick plastic trash bag to help keep it dry. This is not mandatory.

Bat House

Before securing the braces, the men checked to make certain the post was straight.

Bat House

With the post level, the men then filled the rest of the hole with cement mix and water.

Bat House

All straight and braced.

Bat House

After a few days the support braces will be removed and the plastic trash bag trimmed to ground level.

Bat House

A job well done.

More Information:

For installing a bat house and bat house placement, please visit the experts at Bat Conservation International.

For questions about bats in general, please join the Bat House Forums. The bat community is a small one but here I have found very experienced bat hosts. It’s a very friendly group and all of my questions have been answered by people who have been doing this a long time.

Posted in Bats | 6 Comments »

Build a Butterfly Puddle

build a butterfly drinking spot in the garden

Have you ever noticed how butterflies gather on moist spots in a garden? This is known as puddling. Butterflies pull the moisture and minerals they need out of the damp soil. Males are known to be drawn to these puddles frequently, seeking salts salts and minerals which heighten their libido and encourage breeding.

You may easily make your own butterfly puddle in a backyard by by filling a small bowl, dish or flower pot bottom with sand and adding water until the sand is soggy. Make sure the bowl is at least 16″ wide or you will be adding water to it often as it evaporates, and the larger size will also allow for more butterflies and allow for them to find it easily.

Select a spot in the garden and dig the bowl into the ground to a level that is flush with the dirt. You could as well simply set the bowl on the ground, or on a pretty rock or over turned clay pot, but I have found that digging it in helps to keep the evaporation rate down a bit and in Georgia, that is an issue!

Add about a tablespoon of composted manure or mushroom compost to the sand, and there is the option to throw in a small pinch of salt to attract male butterflies. The bowl can include decorative river stones as well as some flat surfaces such as clam shells for the butterflies to sun bathe on.

It is also recommended to to add a bit of rotting fruit such as banana, apple or pear slices. Supposedly this attracts butterflies quite successfully, but honestly I have not tried this yet. It is advised not to change the fruit supply too frequently as butterflies prefer it somewhat fermented.

If you liked that post, then try these...

Make a Garden Butterfly Puddle

Posted in Butterflies, Projects | 6 Comments »

Native Perennials and Annuals in My Garden

Monarda punctataThis is part II of Garden Smackdown’s Play Natives Forward, my list of perennial and annual plants which I am attempting to establish this growing season. Last year I concentrated on understory trees and shrubs (in the Year of the Shrub), and the year before that it was cleaning up invasives and thinning trees (in the Year of the Canopy). This will be the Year of the Flower.

For me, native flowers is a learning process. I have only just begun to get it slightly straight but what a joy it is to figure out! At this time my garden is bare of smaller ground plants which should naturally occur so I am attempting to build that layer up. Ground nesting and foraging birds need them for quality habitat, as do turtles and herps for safely moving about the woodland floor. Some are sun plants meant to begin a meadow area on a large, hard to access steep bank I never wish to manage. I have plans, big plans.

Next year will be The Year of the Grass, or maybe Fern, then there are Brambles…I better live a long time to get this done.

Agastache aurantiaca Agastache Apricot Sprite, P
Agastache cana Agastache Bubble Gum Mint, P
Agastache neomexicana Agastache Lavender Haze, P
Agastache rupestris Sunset Hyssop, P
Amsonia tabernaemontana Eastern Bluestar, P
Anemone virginiana Tall Thimbleweed
Arisaema triphyllum Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Asarum canadense Wild Ginger
Asclepias incarnata Butterfly Weed Soulmate, P
Asclepias purpurascens Purple Milkweed, P
Aster alpinus Aster Happy End, A
Aster azureus Sky Blue Aster, P
Aster novae-angliae New England Aster, P
Callirhoe triangulata Clustered Poppy Mallow, P
Campanula americana Campanula, Bi
Campanula rotundifolia Campanula Olympica, P
Cimicifuga racemosa Atropurpurea (?) Snakeroot, P
Clarkia elegans Elegant Clarkia, A
Cleome serrulata Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, A
Coreopsis basalis Coreopsis Golden Wave, A
Coreopsis tinctoria Coreopsis Dwarf Red, A
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos Picotee, A
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos Psyche White, A
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos Sensation Mix, A
Cosmos bipinnatus Cosmos Versailles Red, A
Dalea purpureum Purple Prairie Clover, P
Desmodium glutinosum Pointed-leaved Tick Trefoil
Echinacea purpurea Coneflower Amado, P
Echinacea tennesseensis Tennessee Coneflower, P
Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master, P
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy, A
Eupatorium purpureum Joe-Pye Weed, P
Gaillardia grandiflora Gaillardia Burgundy, P
Gaura lindheimeri Gaura The Bride, P
Geranium maculatum Wild Geranium
Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke, P
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Moulin Rouge, A
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Giganteus, A
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Ikarus, A
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Sun Gold, A
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Velvet Queen , A
Heuchera micrantha Coral Bells Palace Purple, P
Hydrastis canadensis Goldenseal
Layia platyglossa Tidy-Tips, A
Linum perenne lewisii Blue Flax, P
Lupinus succulentus Arroyo Lupine, A
Mertensia virginica Virginia Bluebells
Mitchella repens Partridgeberry, P
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, P
Monarda punctata Spotted Bee Balm , Bi
Nemophila menziesii Baby Blue Eyes, A
Phlox drummondii Drummond Phlox , A
Podophyllum peltatum May Apple
Ratibida columnaris Mexican Hat, P
Ratibida columnaris Prairie Coneflower, P
Ratibida pinnata Gray-Headed Coneflower, P
Rudbeckia hirta Cherry Brandy, P
Salvia coccinea Cherry Blossom, A
Salvia coccinea Scarlet Sage, A
Salvia farinacea Blue Sage, A
Salvia farinacea Strata
Salvia farinacea Victoria, A
Sanguinaria canadensis Bloodroot
Tithonia speciosa Mexican Sunflowe Torch, A
Uvularia grandiflora Bellwort
Verbena stricta Hoary Vervain, P
Vernonia fasciculata Common Ironweed, P
Veronicastrum virginicum Culver’s Root, P
Zinnia elegans Zinnia Red Cap, A

Posted in Perennials | 8 Comments »

Woodland Vegetable Gardener

squashToday I get to add a new category to my blog: Vegetables. Now I have never grown vegetables, in fact, I don’t “grow” annuals at all. I grow trees. You know, Dear Diary: today I planted a 1′ stick which shall one day be a Mighty Chestnut Tree (say it in caps). I’ll get back to you in 60 years and let you know how it goes. Any annuals which appear on my woodland floor grow where they may and are free to do as they wish. I’m a woodland gardener which is a bit of a different mindset. While most gardeners think in terms of annuals, perennials and vegetables, I think in terms of canopy, understory and ground.

However I follow Lisa G’s blog over at Get in the Garden. One thing that I can say about Lisa is that she can get anyone excited about growing anything. She’s charming, friendly and has hot pink rubber boots. What’s not to like about this woman? So reading her blog, watching her grow seeds then planting up her vegetable garden has made me want to give it a shot.

I do live with someone who knows vegetable growing. The Beau is a Guy’s Guy and grows tomatoes but I admit they alarm me a tad. I’m not used to things growing so freaking fast. You can hear them reaching and expanding at night even over the deafening sound of the cicadas. When I go outside in the morning and see that those tomatoes have grown a foot, it catches my attention. I’m from the land of kudzu, the plant that ate the south, so anything that grows that fast is scary. Yes a plant can smother your entire house over night and consume all occupants, it’s all very Stephen King and real. I keep the dogs away from the tomatoes.

So here begins my adventures as a woodland vegetable gardener. I started by studying Square Foot Gardener and figuring out what sort of space I was going to need as I’m sun challenged. That comes with the woods. I have canopy and canopy is a fickle thing – where there is sun one day, it can be gone the next. It is is an ever changing element. I realized that I was going to have to grow vegetables in patches in my forest where the canopy breaks a bit.

Still I want to try vegetables. The Beau, who knows a lot more about the topic than I do, advised that I’m “going to have to think out of the box on this one.” I’m thinking this means that I’ll be growing pole beans up the trunk of that huge eastern red cedar in the clearing.

Posted in Vegetables | 7 Comments »