Pretty Penstemon

Penstemon glaber var. alpinus

Winding Down the Summer

This plant is loving the dry sand pile, once shoved here accidentally by the snow plow when it was covered with snow looking like a snow pile not a sand pile.

Echinacea tennesseensis

The native Sulphur Flower is also a sand lover and is spreading a carpet of richly textured leaves around the Tennessee Coneflower. The deer seem to leave alone. They have eaten just about everything else this summer.

The Beginning of Fall

The Dogwood is starting to turn a wonderful red color against the rock wall of the house. The mornings have been crisp and fall is in the air.

Moving In

It looks like the bluebirds are going to move into the birdhouse!! We had Tree Sparrows for 2 years, who were fun to watch dip and dive after insects. But how exciting to see the flash of a bluebird.

Red Lollipops

Gaillardia pulchella

Prunus besseyi

Splashes of Yellow

After all the rain, the grass is an intense green which is the perfect offset for Arnica and - oh, yes - Dandelions. The Thermopsis montana, is the jewel of the meadow this time of year.

Thermopsis montana

Habitat Hero

My meadow has been recognized as a Habitat Hero garden. Everyone should Be a Habitat Hero.

"it offers an example of restoring habitat crucial to the survival of songbirds and pollinators and meets most or all of these five criteria:

• provides layers, shelter and nesting opportunities,
• offers natural food sources (emphasizing native and regionally adapted plants),
• provides fresh water for drinking and bathing,
• is water-wise and energy-efficient,
• relies on no or minimal pesticide use, including control of invasive species. "

Scroll down to see the post about the Blum meadow on the 2014 Awards page.