Spring is an exciting time for any gardener, and as a native plant enthusiast I’m always quick to take a walk around my yard and check to see what’s emerged, what’s growing, and what is gearing up to bloom soon. The amount of early spring growth can depend greatly on the age of the plant. […]
Spring
Maple Trees (Red, Sugar, etc.) as a Host Plant for Caterpillars
If you’re told to picture a pollinator garden, you’ll probably imagine a sunny patch of wildflowers and not necessarily a single big tree. But although their flowers aren’t as showy as our native perennials, trees are hugely important host plants for a wide variety of butterflies and moths. Native trees typically host way more species […]
Is My Great White Trillium Dead? When Does It Typically Emerge in Spring?
Great White Trillium (trillium grandiflorum) is one of the most beloved spring ephemerals in many areas of the US, including my own state of Ohio where it’s the state wildflower. In this article I’ll share answers to some important questions about growing it based on my own garden experience in combination with the research I’ve […]
Should I Worry About Unseasonably Early-Growing Native Plants?
Due to this year’s warm winter (which is, of course, not a one-off but rather a look into the future with a changing climate), many regions of the United States are seeing much earlier emergence and growth of a variety of native perennials. For a couple of weeks I’ve been excited to walk through my […]
Sedum Ternatum (Woodland Stonecrop), a Great Native, Evergreen Groundcover
Recently I took a walk through my winter garden looking for green. Most of what I saw were invasive groundcovers that are ubiquitous in my area (English ivy, vinca) and other aggressive introduced annuals like purple deadnettle. It’s a good time of the year to get ahead on some weeding without thinking too hard because […]
All About Eastern Red Columbine: Conditions, Growth, Transplanting and More
Columbine (aquilegia) is one of those garden-worthy native perennials that can be used in many different types of designs from the natural-looking to the formal. The genus contains nearly 70 different species, and you can find columbine at most mainstream garden centers. These eye-popping flowers in a wide variety of colors have many names like […]
On the Trail: Spring Ephemerals vs. Lesser Celandine
Recently I’d been a bit disheartened hiking in some natural wooded areas near my house and seeing invasive bush honeysuckle and lesser celandine taking over and suppressing everything else including the spring ephemerals I love to see at this time of year. One Dayton-area Metropark I enjoy visiting is Wegerzyn Gardens just to the north […]
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus Sericea) Budding Out in Spring
Recently I was excited to see some new leaves on my red osier dogwood (cornus sericea). These tiny light green leaves will darken as they enlarge to ovals of about 5 inches long. These leaves were spotted right at the beginning of April in SW Ohio. In general, the buds of cornus sericea will leaf […]
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea): An Early Spring Emerging, Summer Blooming Wildflower
Purple coneflowers (echinacea purpurea) are one of my absolute favorite plants in my native garden. They are extremely adaptable, resilient and drought-tolerant, and bloom over a long period from summer into fall. A Look at Growing Purple Coneflower in All Seasons And they’re truly an “all-season” interest perennial because they typically emerge relatively early when […]
It’s Early Spring for Emerging Natives in the Midwest
In my garden it may be alternating between balmy spring weather and freezing cold temperatures and there’s still snow in the forecast for March, but numerous plants have nevertheless been emerging here in the Midwest (SW Ohio to be more specific). These pictures were just taken in early March, showing that spring-flowering plants in my […]