JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I've had some great pollinator activity lately!
Native Gardening
- Thread starter JBtheExplorer
- Start date
j.w
I Love my Goldies
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2010
- Messages
- 33,091
- Reaction score
- 20,356
- Location
- Arlington, Washington
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- USDA 8a
- Country
We have "Murder Hornets" showing up here in our state and nearby in B.C now, yikes! First one found in Blaine Wa. two more found in Eastern Washington and one found up in British Columbia. They are very bad for the Honey Bee populations. Not too wonderful for people either if they bite/sting you.
We have had more show up after this video below was made in May.
We have had more show up after this video below was made in May.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Last year, I saw a rush growing in one of my newer birdhouse gardens. Appears to be native Path Rush. Hoping to collect seeds from it this year and get more growing in my gardens
Pearl Crescent on Butterflyweed
Monarch Caterpillars
Bee and fly on Lanceleaf Coreopsis.
Not good, but I'm even more worried about the Asian longhorned beetle that was found in South Carolina. It can kill trees, including Maple, Elm, Birch, Poplar, Willow, and others. If it does to those trees what the Emerald Ash Borer has done to Ash, we are going to be in serious trouble.
Pearl Crescent on Butterflyweed
Monarch Caterpillars
Bee and fly on Lanceleaf Coreopsis.
Not good, but I'm even more worried about the Asian longhorned beetle that was found in South Carolina. It can kill trees, including Maple, Elm, Birch, Poplar, Willow, and others. If it does to those trees what the Emerald Ash Borer has done to Ash, we are going to be in serious trouble.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I've got a bunch of little garden projects I've been working on but not really posting about.
This tiny garden was all Blanket Flower. As much as I hated getting rid of the Blanket Flower, I decided to try something new this year.
The leaves you see up front are Partridge Peas. The blooming plant is Purple Poppy Mallow. I also have a few other species in here including Blue Grama, Blue-eyed Grass, Prairie Smoke, and Royal Catchfly. I'm really liking how the leaves of Partridge Pea go well with the blooms of Purple Poppy Mallow.
I'm also working on adding more natives to the front yard. Here's Kalm's St. John's Wort that I grew from a cutting two years ago. I've got a few of them in the front yard now, and this is the first to bloom. I've also added Purple Poppy Mallow to this area.
This tiny garden was all Blanket Flower. As much as I hated getting rid of the Blanket Flower, I decided to try something new this year.
The leaves you see up front are Partridge Peas. The blooming plant is Purple Poppy Mallow. I also have a few other species in here including Blue Grama, Blue-eyed Grass, Prairie Smoke, and Royal Catchfly. I'm really liking how the leaves of Partridge Pea go well with the blooms of Purple Poppy Mallow.
I'm also working on adding more natives to the front yard. Here's Kalm's St. John's Wort that I grew from a cutting two years ago. I've got a few of them in the front yard now, and this is the first to bloom. I've also added Purple Poppy Mallow to this area.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I was photographing my Hoary Vervain when a Ruby-throated hummingbird flew in for the Scarlet Bee Balm.
You can see it in the upper left.
You can see it in the upper left.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
My main native garden is getting its summertime color!
Oh, and I'm finding Black Swallowtail caterpillars!!
Oh, and I'm finding Black Swallowtail caterpillars!!
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 44,419
- Reaction score
- 29,209
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
Great garden you have created! @JBtheExplorer
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Took some video of it today.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
A lot of Monarch activity every day. I know we're well into the migration now. Depending on the weather, I should still see them for another month or so.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2011
- Messages
- 7,257
- Reaction score
- 4,819
- Location
- near Effingham, Illinois
- Hardiness Zone
- 5b
Bumble Bees and butterflies. Love this time of year!!! Saw my first ever Zebra Swallowtail here in Ohio. I was super excited to have witness that!!!
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2011
- Messages
- 7,257
- Reaction score
- 4,819
- Location
- near Effingham, Illinois
- Hardiness Zone
- 5b
JB would you have any scarlet bee balm seeds to share? I first saw this native plant in Gatlinburg TN blooming in early August this year. I found what I felt was a mature seed head and grabbed some seeds, but so far my stratification and wet paper towel have not produced a sprout so thinking I grabbed them too early.
thanks!
thanks!
mrsclem
mrsclem
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2008
- Messages
- 5,363
- Reaction score
- 4,816
- Location
- st. mary's county, md.
- Hardiness Zone
- 7A
- Country
Love the zebra swallowtails , found out their host plant is the pawpaw tree, native to Kentucky. Got some seeds but no luck with germination. Have blazing star, hello hello butterfly bush and 2 more honeysuckle plants coming next week. Got butterfly garden almost cleaned!
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2010
- Messages
- 44,419
- Reaction score
- 29,209
- Location
- Frederick, Maryland
- Showcase(s):
- 1
- Hardiness Zone
- 6b
- Country
I have a ton of seed heads out in the yard, let me see if they still have seeds in them.
JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
Mine are the 'Jacob Cline' hybrid, so I believe the flowers won't produce viable seeds or something like that. I remember reading something about that when I first got it, so I've never tried to collect them. It's one of the reasons I was hesitant to buy it. I really don't like hybrids, but I made the exception for that one.