Garden Experiments
For the love of gardening and wildlife habitat
Hot, dry conditions require drought-tolerant plants. Find the best drought-tolerant plants for your garden.
I’m in love with all salvias. They grow really well and are so popular with hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. And did I mention they are beautiful? That’s the perfect combination for my garden. The pineapple sage is no exception. Attract Butterflies with Pineapple Sage This past summer, it was a delight to discover that cloudless …
Continue Reading about Pineapple Sage Brings Fall Color & Butterflies
You've probably seen the bright yellow-gold blooms of goldenrod along roadsides, in ditches, or fields. This plant is prevalent throughout most of the U.S., except in some northwestern states. It's a plant with a lot of wildlife benefits. Native Range There are about 120 different species of goldenrod and most of them are native to the U.S. …
Continue Reading about Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) Benefits Wildlife
The little purple-blue flowers of common blue violet are blooming all over my grass under the trees, where it stays moist for long periods of time. I always try to mow around them as much as I can so that I can enjoy the wildflowers. They bloom in early spring into early summer, from April to June and sometimes July. Common Blue Violet Plant …
You'll see beautiful, tall southern magnolias anywhere you go in my state. They are nearly ubiquitous in front of antebellum homes in the South, which is a testament to their popularity during that time in our history. I love the sweet, gentle lemon scent of the blooms and the large white petals. It's a bonus that the trees are evergreen, so …
Continue Reading about Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)
I love the flowers of false garlic, which bloom in large numbers, but as the blooms fade, the grass-like leaves are quite abundant. I prefer not to have them in my flower beds, but I leave them blooming in the lawn and will not cut the grass until the blooms are done. It blooms in early spring in sunny locations with well-drained soil. It can …
Butterflies and bees love coneflowers in the genus Echinacea. You are probably familiar with purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), but many cultivars are now available in various colors: red, pink, white, orange, yellow, cream, green, and gold. There are even Echinacea flowers with double blooms. Natives vs Cultivars Echinacea is native …
Continue Reading about Echinacea species – Flowering plants for bees, butterflies, and birds
