Minted
The Perennial Plant Association recently named clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) as its 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year, and […]
Plants
Pining for You
With most of our native trees standing stark and bare at this time of year, evergreens like hemlock and pine
Layer Up!
These cold winter days are a great time to plan your 2025 pollinator garden. It’s tempting to dive right into
Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Stealing a kiss under the mistletoe is a well-known Christmas tradition. But mistletoe is not just a holiday decoration–It’s vitally
Pollinator Puzzle
When poinsettias appear in the stores, it’s a sure sign that the festive season is upon us. But why are
On a Wing and a Prayer
The distinctive seedpods of milkweeds (Asclepias spp) are produced in late summer. At first a fresh green, they have turned
Best Supporting Act
It’s beginning to feel a lot like autumn, and right on cue, the leaves are beginning to don their magnificent
Falling for Fall
“Bringing the outside in” is a popular decorating trend, and autumn is a great time for it, offering many interesting
Staying Power
A must for any pollinator garden, aromatic aster (Symphotrichum oblongifolium) produces masses of purple flowers in the fall which bloom
Milkweed Loves Monarchs
That’s right–not only do monarchs need milkweed to survive, but some ecologists believe that milkweeds may rely on monarchs as
King of the Meadow
Growing anywhere from 2 to 10 feet tall, it’s no wonder that another common name for tall meadow rue (Thalictrum
Prairie Powerhouse
The bright yellow flowers of prairie coneflower (Ratibida spp) feature heavily drooping petals that flutter in the slightest breeze, grouped
Anise? Hyssop?
Neither an anise or a hyssop, this member of the mint family has the characteristic square stems of its tribe.
Smell of Success
“Its flowers are very fragrant and when in season, they fill the woods with their sweet exhalations and make it
A Honey of a Plant
At the SBG, we’re often asked, “What kind of honeysuckle is OK to plant”? People are increasingly aware that non-native
Name That Native!
Blooming now, the broad, flat clusters of elderberry (Sambuca spp) are an attractive nectar source for a wide array of
Sweet Native
Many pollinator gardeners have learned that some popular ‘pollinator’ plants are really not that great for the habitat, such as
Smooth Move
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is a wonderful native hydrangea that is the host for the stunning hydrangea sphinx moth (Darapsa
Way Down Yonder….
Pawpaw (Asiminia triloba) could once be found growing all over the eastern half of the US, especially favoring the rich
Sweet Violet
A North American native, Canada violet (Viola canadensis) delights us in spring with its fragrant white blooms. A good choice
Spice it Up
We crave the bright colors of spring after a long, grey winter, and native plants are always happy to oblige!
Sign of Spring
Pussy willow (Salix discolor) is a welcome sight as one of the earliest signs of spring, and it’s perhaps the
Double Duty
At the SBG, amsonia is one of our favorite double-duty native perennials, with its lovely blue spring flowers and brilliant
SOS–Save Our Seeds!
It’s hard to believe, but it’s time for many of our favorite pollinator plants to set seed. And now’s the
A Regal Pair
“Purple and gold, the heraldic colors of the king and queen of the meadow, a regal procession in complementary colors”.
Regular Joe
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp ) is in full bloom at the SBG, and pollinators are taking full advantage of
Parsley Worms?
Gardeners know: Those colorful swallowtails munching away on your dill, fennel or parsley can eat the entire herb down to
Suddenly Susans
The cheerful faces of ‘black-eyed Susans’ set gardens and roadsides ablaze at this time of year. The genus name Rudbeckia
A Tale of Two…Monardas
Scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma) is a most decorative member of the mint family. The common name ‘bee balm’ refers
Mind the Gap
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) is an easy-going native that should be in every pollinator garden. Its blooms fill the gap
The gall of it
The winter landscape offers a chance to focus on interesting sights that are often hidden by the blooms of spring