The new porous paver pathway is much more welcoming, environmentally friendly and easier to maintain.
Category: 2018
November 2018 Plant Order
Fortunately, we were able to obtain some plugs to help cover that large, scary blank area: 50 Solidago puberula (a pretty native goldenrod, sometimes called “downy goldenrod”) and 25 Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry, a fantastic native groundcover).
Also couldn’t resist picking up some Eutrochium maculatum (Joe Pye weed) and Iris versiclor for the wet areas beyond the pond.
Under Construction
The excavation for a new garage left a terrifyingly blank swath of dirt. It’s a bit late in the year for a cover crop. We’ll have to come up with a solution soon.
Goodbye, Cement
A huge, straight, cement pathway was dug up and hauled away.
More Lawn Alternative
Even though these grasses and sedums in the front yard are not native, at least their pink blooms provide welcome fall color. The best part is, we no longer have to mow this whole area. Large tulip ornament was a Costco find.
Monarch Ecloses
It was a monarch, indeed. Looks healthy enough! Hopefully, it will have just enough time to migrate.
Rescued Chrysalis
We rescued a chrysalis that had fallen from our deck. I think it may be a monarch.
Monarch Caterpillar on Milkweed
Monarch butterfly caterpillar on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, one of my favorite architectural plants – we grow a lot of it. It was a “buggy” summer, however, the upside to that is we had a ton of monarch and other butterflies in the garden this year.
This Used to Just be Grass
In front yard, formerly lawn, is an easily maintained combo of purple smokebush, andromeda, bearberry, rudbeckia and lambs ears against a background of native dogwood.
So much prettier than lawn!
Fall Blooms
Another spontaneous native combination -a volunteer rudbeckia looks great against a purple-leaved ninebark that was purposefully planted.
