Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are highly beneficial insects that pollinate native wildflowers, fruits, vegetables, and many agricultural crops. They’re large robust insects with an easily identifiable black and yellow hairy abdomen. Hundreds of branched hairs pick up and transfer pollen from flowers. About 50 species of bumble bees inhabit North America. They share some common traits […]
Archive for the ‘Native Plant’ Category
Unique Life Cycle Of Bumble Bees
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2015
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Bumble bees, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Native wildflowers, Perennials, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Wildflower 
Comments Off on Unique Life Cycle Of Bumble BeesBuying/Planting A Live Christmas Tree
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2015
A living Christmas tree—one that’s planted outdoors after the holidays—has become a tradition with many families to commemorate a birth or someone’s passing. Purchase a live Christmas tree and plant it in your landscape after the holidays. Pre-dig a planting hole ahead because outdoor weather may not be suitable for digging. For safety sake, fill it with leaves or mulch to prevent freezing or […]
Posted in Christmas trees, Container growing, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Buying/Planting A Live Christmas TreeWinterberry Holly Brightens Winter Scene
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2015
To escape from dreary days this winter, brightened up your landscape with deciduous hollies. Among a long, long list of deciduous holly species, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is the superior choice (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Inconspicuous white blooms in spring are followed by red, orange, or yellow berries in fall. Compared to their evergreen […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ilex (hollies), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winterberry holly Comments Off on Winterberry Holly Brightens Winter SceneFive Summer Perennials You Will Love
Posted by Hugh on November 10th, 2015
In the past few years several great performing perennials have caught my eye. Some are exceptional landscape performers exhibiting long bloom period and exceptional disease resistance. All are hardy in Zones 4-9. Here are five of the best: Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit coneflower mix (Echinacea purpurea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’) offers a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container growing, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Summer Perennials You Will LoveTips On Sowing Milkweed Seeds
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2015
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka butterfly weeds, are tuberous rooted perennials native to the Eastern and southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). It grows in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides. A clump of milkweed plants grow 1- 3 feet tall and spread 1 ½ feet wide. Unlike other milkweeds […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflower, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tips On Sowing Milkweed SeedsNew England Aster A Great Pick For Fall Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2015
New England (NE) Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), aka Michaelmas Daisy, is a long-lived native perennial from the east shore west to New Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Flowering time is from August to October. It is a favorite choice for prairie restorations, roadside plantings, and wetland sites. This large aster species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, winter hardiness Comments Off on New England Aster A Great Pick For Fall GardenLandscape Trees With Messy Fruits
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2015
Fruit avoidance is on the mind of many property owners when purchasing trees and shrubs for their yard. Many like crabapples, mulberries and Chinese (kousa) dogwoods produce fleshy or pulpy fruits that mess lawns, walkways and stain parked cars. Many, not all, are non-native and foraging birds and […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bottlebrush buckeye, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Crabapple, Garden Maintenance, Ginkgo biloba, Hackberry (Celtis), Messy Fruits, Mulberry (Morus), Native Plant, Norway spruce (Picea), Ornamental fruit, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Walnut Comments Off on Landscape Trees With Messy FruitsShould You Plant In Fall?
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2015
Should you plant in the Fall? It depends what region you live in, what month in fall, and what species you’re planting. If you live in the mid-Atlantic, coastal New England, or Southeastern U.S., fall is an excellent time to set most hardy plants. Most (not all) trees, shrubs, perennials, […]
Posted in apple varieties, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Cranesbill (Geranium), Dogwood (Cornus), Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya spp.), Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia stellata, Magnolia virginiana, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Perennials, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Roses, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), Walnut, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Should You Plant In Fall?Critter-Resistant Flower Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2015
Who doesn’t love colorful flowering bulbs in the early spring garden? Unfortunately, many gardens are terrorized by flower-devouring deer or bulb-chomping squirrels, voles and other critters. When utilizing smelly sprays, expensive fencing, or firearms are not options, plant a wide choice of flower bulbs that critters don’t like. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Camassia, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Colchicum, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), Tulips, Voles, Winter aconite (Eranthis), winter hardiness Comments Off on Critter-Resistant Flower BulbsSix Notoriously Weak Wooded Trees
Posted by Hugh on September 18th, 2015
Almost any time is a good time to plant trees – weather permitting. Sort through many great choices and avoid planting weak wooded species. These six tree species are generally short-lived, messy, and insect and/or disease susceptible. A few may also be designated invasive in your state. […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Bradford Pear, Disease prone, Elms (Ulmus), Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mimosa tree (Albizia), Native Plant, Poplar (Populus spp.), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Root suckering, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Weak wooded, Willows (Salix) 1 Comment »
