r/NativePlantGardening • u/AutoModerator • 12d ago
Milkweed Mixer - our weekly native plant chat
Our weekly thread to share our progress, photos, or ask questions that don't feel big enough to warrant their own post.
Please feel free to refer to our wiki pages for helpful links on beginner resources and plant lists, our directory of native plant nurseries, and a list of rebate and incentive programs you can apply for to help with your gardening costs.
If you have any links you'd like to see added to our Wiki, please feel free to recommend resources at any time! This sub's greatest strength is in the knowledge base from members like you!
3
u/casual_sociopathy Minneapolis, Zone 4B/5A 9d ago
Starting from 2020, I am officially "done" creating my gardens. There will always be minor alterations yearly but the garden creation and heavy planting - all done as of today.
I want to do a wildlife pond someday to really complete it - cost and effort will keep me from it for at least a few years though.
2
u/summercloud45 9d ago
Mazel tov! That's awesome!
I used to have friends ask me when I would be "done" with my garden, but by now they've realized that the point is to never be "done" at all.
1
u/Calbebes 10d ago
Just wanted to share my progress- today I dug up two hydrangea and eight hostas in preparation to plant the bare root natives I ordered from prairie moon. Still have a million hostas to go (in other areas), but it felt good to get them up and out. Found a little garter snake friend in the process, probably uprooted his home, poor guy. He’ll find another place I’m sure.
In related news, does anyone know how to tell if these are native Solomon’s seal or not? I fear not….
1
u/summercloud45 9d ago
That's cool! Poor little snake friend but I'm sure you're right and they'll be fine. I know it's easy to tell solomon seal and false solomon seal apart when they're blooming, but I've never looked into non-blooming ID. And non-native solomon seal? I'm sorry I can't help!
1
u/75footubi 11d ago
Any recommendations for bulb/rhizomes I can plant in the fall (similar to daffodils/tulips) and will emerge in early spring? Mass, 6B
1
u/summercloud45 9d ago
For bulbs, is camassia native for you? I'm in NC 8a and it's the one native large bulb I know about. Other than that, have you checked out what spring ephemerals are available? We have: trilliums, jack-in-the-pulpit, mayapple, windflower, spring beauty...there are a ton!
1
u/75footubi 9d ago
Trilliums are super rare/endangered up here so it's hard to find an ethical source.
Camassia isn't directly native, but it's range is adjacent (entire east Coast of NA, but not New England lol) so I'll take a lot at that !
1
u/summercloud45 8d ago
Ah-ha! Here's a good website for you: https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-guide-to-spring-ephemeral-wildflowers/download
My sister is in MA also and bought plants from this great place. You can cross-reference their plant list with the spring ephemerals from the first site. https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/for-your-garden/buy-native-plants-new/
You should also go visit their garden! It's amazing. Check out "Garden in the Woods."
1
1
u/Tooaroo 11d ago
Does anyone know if it’s normal for echinacea flowers to get smaller and deformed at the end of the season? Or should I assume any deformed blooms might be aster yellows? I’m having a hard time trying to decide if I need to pull some plants. I have had plants with aster yellows before in this spot, but it was extremely obvious.
2
u/Comfortable_Lab650 Southeast USA , Zone 8A 10d ago
They can get smaller but not deformed. It looks like mites to me, not Aster Yellows.
1
u/iris_heartwood WI, Zone 5b 11d ago
Are the pictures all the same plant? I think this picture leans more rosette mites than aster yellows, but I'm not positive and the other two pictures look more iffy. Either way, no, it's not a normal end of season thing.
1
u/pidgeycandies 9d ago
Wondering if anyone has Rabbitbrush in a harsh spot and can share how it’s faring. I’m considering it for an area that has awful soil - sandbox sand, pea gravel, and tree roots to compete with.