​Native encore: Amsonia tabernaemontana (eastern bluestar)
In late spring, when many native pollinator plants have either just finished or are just thinking about blooming, amsonia is putting on a real show. Its starry, powder-blue flowers top fine-textured foliage, growing 2-3 feet tall.. Drought-tolerant once established, this deer-resistant favorite is attractive to many bees,moths and butterflies. For the best display, plant en masse in full sun. Once flowering is over, gardeners can trim off the top 6 inches or so to create a tidy mound, and wait for the second act– a stunning display of brilliant gold autumn foliage.

In the May garden, the classic combination of yellow and blue can bring to mind the striking colors of a Van Gogh painting. The contrast provided by a brilliant yellow cloud of golden ragwort, surrounded by blue and purple waves of Jacob’s ladder and woodland phlox, is every bit as dramatic as the bold strokes in his Starry Night landscape.
Golden ragwort, a perennial in the aster family, is valued for its ability to thrive in moist or dry conditions, in both full sun or light shade, and produce flowers from mid- to late spring. This adaptable plant naturalizes rapidly, the foliage providing an excellent semi-evergreen ground cover for those tricky areas.
A typical golden ragwort plant stands 1-2’ tall. While the basal leaves grow larger, an attractive purple stem grows from the center of the plant. The small, almost fern-like leaves on the central stalk are dramatically different from the heart-shaped basal leaves. These are typically purple on the underside, providing a glossy contrast to the bright spring green on top.
Multiple flower heads create an airy spray of golden yellow floating above the leaves. Golden ragwort functions as a host plant for the threatened northern metalmark butterfly, and the nectar and pollen of the flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators
A welcoming stand of golden ragwort can be found blooming on the edge of the SBG’s Woodland Garden. Add some golden ragwort to your palette of plants and you’ll be guaranteed a splash of spring color!
Photo: Center for Sustainable Environment, fandm.edu

​The ubiquitous hanging basket has seemingly become as much a part of Mother’s Day as breakfast in bed or a nice brunch out. Choices range from a single dramatic blaze of color to an artistically arranged ‘bouquet’ effect. But most have one thing in common–they feature hybrid petunias.
Petunias have been bred in a wide variety of stunning colors, and those colors, along with their tubular shape, can make them attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. However, hybrid petunias contain very little nectar and pollen–and pollinators who visit them usually leave wanting much more!
Instead, consider choosing plants that offer both beauty and rich supplies of food for pollinators. There are many to choose from. Using the popular “thriller–filler-spiller” formula, you might choose salvia (Salvia farinacea), pentas (Pentas spp) or snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) for your tall “thriller". Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), bidens (Bidens laevis) or ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum) serve as excellent “fillers”. And lantana (Lantana camara), moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora) or even bee-loved herbs such as oregano or thyme provide dramatic “spiller” power, as well as plenty of pollen and nectar.
But if you really love those baskets of petunias, go ahead and indulge! Just be sure to plant plenty of nectar-rich blooms nearby. That way, you can enjoy both a lovely display and a host of satisfied pollinator customers. Happy Mother’s Day from the SBG!
Photo: Rebecca Niver, Unsplash

​At this time of year, homeowners may notice large, seemingly aggressive bees dive-bombing their decks or porches. These are likely carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa), the largest native bees in the US.
These gentle giants get their common name from their habit of using their strong mandibles to excavate precisely rounded tunnels inside wood. They prefer soft, weathered wood for this purpose, such as standing dead trees. If this is not readily available, some species (like our eastern Xylocopa virginica) may decide to take up residence in fence posts or structural timbers such as fascia,decks or porch railings, and become a minor nuisance. Small piles of sawdust or smears of frass (excrement) are a tell-tale sign that carpenter bees are at work! To deter them, simply apply a fresh coat of paint or stain to any exposed or weathered wood surfaces.
Inside the tunnel, the female deposits loaves of ‘bee bread’—balls of pollen and nectar-- upon which she lays her giant eggs (up to 15 mm long!). She forms partitions between each egg cell by mixing her saliva with sawdust, creating a substance very similar to particle board. Thus, each larva is supplied with ‘a room of its own’, along with all the food it will need to grow.
In spring, you’ll often see several of these large bees zooming about, buzzing loudly. They may seem threatening, but these are just territorial males who are out to impress the ladies. And rather than representing a threat to us, they’re all talk—male carpenter bees don’t even have stingers!
In our gardens, carpenter bees are generalists and may be found foraging and pollinating a wide variety of plants.
Photo: Amy Helser

Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
The name of this attractive native shrub derives from its exfoliating bark, which produces a fascinating variety of shades from red to brown, making it especially valuable in the landscape for winter interest.(A fine example can be seen in the SBG’s Shrub Showcase garden.)
Ninebark grows to 5-8 ft tall and 6-10 ft wide, but can be pruned for a more bushy habit. Like most natives, it’s not fussy, tolerating a wide variety of conditions, but does prefer full sun to part shade, and is a great choice for wet areas. Deer resistant, it requires little care once established.
As a member of the Rosaceae family, its flowers are similar to those of spirea (another family member) and are very attractive to pollinators. Its glossy red fruit is popular with birds, and its brilliant fall color makes it an outstanding native alternative to barberry. Finally, it’s the host plant for several species of moth caterpillars.
If you weren’t lucky enough to snag one of our free ninebark shrubs at the SBG this weekend, check your local nursery or plant sale. Ninebark is definitely worth your while!
Photo: Pixabay

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Although it's still a little too early to do much work in the pollinator garden, you can profitably scratch your gardening itch this week by addressing early spring weeds.
One of the biggest offenders in our area is garlic mustard (Alliaria petiola), shown in the photo. This pernicious weed is native to Eurasia and was introduced in the mid 1800s. It has triangular, toothed leaves and tall stalks which produce small white flowers. It spreads its seeds far and wide by the wind and gains a foothold on roadsides and in fields and disturbed areas by emerging earlier in spring than many native plants. By the time native species are ready to grow, garlic mustard has blocked their sunlight and outcompeted them for moisture and vital nutrients. Additionally, garlic mustard is allelopathic, meaning that its roots release chemicals that inhibit or prevent the growth of surrounding plants. Needless to say, this is a plant you don't want in your landscape. Fortunately, it's fairly easy to pull, especially when it's first emerging in the spring.
By contrast, its lookalike golden ragwort (Packera aurea) is a lovely and obliging native plant. In early spring its leaves look quite similar to garlic mustard, but are more oblong and often have glossy purplish undersides. A central stalk with fat purple buds will emerge from the basal leaf cluster, eventually erupting into a cloud of yellow blooms. It's a carefree and rewarding groundcover for your garden--both for you and your pollinator friends!
Author, photo: Lisa Schneider