#Artemisia frigida

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

My Garden Flowers Part 5

All photos mine. The blue flax is edited for colour since the camera didn't catch it and washed it out. The curlytop smartweed is edited for contrast and the scarlet bee balm is edited for colour since that phone camera sucked.

In order of appearance:

121. Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) Flowering for the first time this year! I hope she gets pollinated.

122. Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) Finally got this thing to flower. She doesn't live very long and my first two attempts grew just fine but didn't flower and therefore didn't reseed. Here's hoping this one does.

123. Lakeside Daisy (Tetraneuris herbacea) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

124. Fringed Sagebrush (Artemisia frigida) Took me several tries, including the wrong species sent, before I got one to take off but she survived the winter and is doing nicely this summer!

125. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Sadly she didn't make it through the winter and I'll have to try another area, but she certainly looked nice while she was here.

126. Gray-Headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) Flowering for the first time this year! Also my first successful attempt as BOTH my previous plants were cut where I had them. Two in a fucking row. She doesn't even look that weedy. I don't know what the fuck.

127. Narrow-Leaved Vervain (Verbena simplex) Sadly she didn't survive the winter. Trying her in another place and she seems to like it so far.

128. Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa) Well, she certainly understood the assignment to prettify that area, though I had no idea she'd spread so much. My other Oenothera species are much more well-behaved. lol

129. Streamside Fleabane (Erigeron glabellus pubescens) Lovely little thing in the small spot I have her in. An ideal small space plant.

130. Green Comet (Asclepias viridiflora) Now she flowered last year but didn't make pods in spite of all the ants who came to visit. Hoping she'll make pods this year!

131. Spike Goldenrod (Solidago simplex) She looked nice here but didn't survive the winter. I'm trying one in another spot.

132. Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) Not pictured as I haven't got any pictures yet.

133. Blue Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

134. Clammy Groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla) She also spread much more than I expected, but I don't mind. Potentially lots of ground cherries!

135. White Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) A bit leggy as a bush, though that might be due to where I have her, but the flowers are yet again white and lacy and loved by pollinators.

136. Curlytop Smartweed (Persicaria lapathifolia) I didn't plant that, and wish I had gotten a better photo of her because she sadly never reseeded until this year, and her daughter is not quite as impressive as she was.

137. Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) She is no longer with us as of this year and I'm not sure why. I've planted fireweed in that spot now and we'll see how she does. Maybe I'll plant slender mountain mint in the back instead.

138. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

139 Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) Every year I end up with more! Springtime flower only and then she fruits.

140. Canada Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) one of the relatively safe members of the buttercup family. You can pop a flower or two into your mouth for a refreshing sweet snack.

141. Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum) Probably the most showy of her genus. Avens flowers tend to be small white or yellow on leggy stalks, but prairie smoke has red parts around white flowers that eventually become fluffy seedheads, hence the name. Plus the leaves turn red in the fall so very nice all around.

142. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) She can get leggy in the summer, but the bright yellow flowerheads are nice in spring.

143. Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis) She didn't make the winter. Again I think it was too dry. She may have reseeded, however, or else I've let a clump of crabgrass stay for far too long.

144. Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) She's another one I had to get from a Manitoba company because no one in Ontario was selling this species (some do now though). She is thriving!

145. Wild Mint (Mentha arvensis) The area I have her in is fairly dry and blocked by sidewalk. She does occasionally get in the cracks but is otherwise well-behaved in her enclosure. The same cannot be said for the one I gave to my friend for her landlady's plant war. Apparently she's taken over the neighbourhood. Well done, native mint.

146. Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) She lived well for one year in that area and then never again. I'm trying her in a different spot where she hasn't flowered yet but seems to like it.

147. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) That's a cultivar. I did eventually manage to get the wild type, but don't have a picture yet.

148. Canada Garlic (Allium canadense) In my humble opinion these are much tastier than ramps. They usually don't make flowers, opting to make bulbs instead, but this was a nice exception. They're springtime only, though.

149. Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus) I rescued her from a fallow area. Sadly she didn't reseed but I don't feel bad because that area is completely under development now and her offspring wouldn't have made it anyway. I gave her a chance.

150. Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

[ghostoffuturespast]

26 July 2024 - Friday Field Notes

It's been really hot and dry out here on the prairie lately but I've been finding some pops of color here and there.

This one is Oppositeleaf Bahia (Picradeniopsis oppositifolia) and a new one I learned recently. Funny, how you learn something and you suddenly start seeing it everywhere. It's been popping up all over the native plant garden at work since we cleared out all the old vegetation. Short and cute, it doesn't like being crowded out by taller plants.

Prickly Poppy (Argemone polyanthemos) - still one of my favorites. Has these beautiful white crepe flowers, lots of spines, and toxic yellow sap. Delicate and deadly.

Bee Balm or Wild Bergamont (Monarda fistulosa) - planted a bunch of this in my front yard and I'm looking forward to it blooming next year. Fingers crossed. Great hardy perennial pollinator plant that can get up to 5 feet tall and is found in most of N. America. It's in the mint family. This one is safe from the Rabbits and other large herbivores, not from Cutworm Caterpillars though.

I'm sure I've talked about this one before as it's also a favorite - Fringed Sage (Artemisia frigida). I always ID this one by smell. Not a true sage, but has a very fragrant woody sage-like aroma. I'd roll around on these if it wouldn't smush the plant.

Such a niche Milkweed that it doesn't even have a Wikipedia page... Plains Milkweed (Asclepias pumila) is one of the smallest Milkweed species with a max height of 1 foot. Almost all the members of Asclepias are toxic (containing cardiac glycosides) which is kinda funny since the whole genus is named after Asclepius who is the Greek god of medicine. Which isn't to say cardiac glycosides don't have medicinal uses, but they also have a long history of being used as poisons.

Hairy Evening Primrose (Onethera villosa) - found a bunch of this growing down by the creek which I'd never seen before. The leaves and stem are covered in hairs (hence the name hairy) which are quite soft. Many prairie plants have hair on them to help reduce transpiration (water loss from stomates - which are the pores in the leaves and stems of plants. Stoma are used for gas exchange, kinda how like we breath). As soft as this plant is, I don't think it's as soft as...

Velvetweed (Onethera curtiflora)! I think this one wins on the softness scale. The Hairy Evening Primrose and Velvetweed are both members of the primrose family. While it has a very apt common name, this plant does feel like velvet, it's also known as "Lizard-tail Guara" since it's got these whippy flower stalks that well, look like lizard tails.

[nemfrog]

Artemisia frigida, prairie sagewort. The ecological relations of roots. 1919. 

Internet Archive

[bad-and-brujii]

Repost via @linda.the.ethnobotanist: Here are there are three traditional plants used for #toiletpaper by Indigenous peoples of the Great Plains. 1) On the left we have Artemisia frigida, fringed sage or pȟežíȟota waštémna. Pros: soft, nice sage odor, plentiful...Cons: pokey stems...Sidenote: an amazing tea for regulating menstrual cycles and for balancing estrogen during menopause. 2) On the top right we have Verbascum thapsus, mullein, or hiŋtȟúŋtȟuŋ phežúta. Pros: soft, strong, wipes away yucky stuff really well. Cons: the hairs can irritate some sensitive folx. Sidenote: excellent lung support for some. 3) On the bottom right is the most often used toilet paper of the Lakota Ambrosia trifida, annual ragweed, or čhaŋȟlóǧaŋ uŋzípakhiŋte (literally means “the plant used to wipe the butt”). Pros: very cleanly, plentiful, large sheets of leaves Cons: feels like a cat’s tongue. Sidenote: the tea is used treat pneumonia, fever and cramps. #traditionalplants #plantmedicine #sustainabletoiletpaper https://www.instagram.com/p/B9v7kpdn9stAeOvKAL65pCc9BqGzGoituAfZW40/?igshid=lynyxf143tdv

[strigops]

finally cut back my unruly spiderwort/tradescantia, it was getting out of hand. gained 3 baby cuttings and the ability to actually see out the window after the carnage.

also stole an errant artemisia frigida that popped up in the community garden and was in danger of being weedwhacked, hopefully it’ll do well on the porch, they’re on of my fav native colorado plants!!

[wholehealthclinic]

~ ~~~ Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through a tick bite, which causes a bacterial infection. There can be a characteristic rash known as a bull's eye rash with associated virus-like symptoms. In order for Borrelia burgdorferi, (Lyme disease) to occur the tick must feed for around 36 hours. It can be extremely difficult to diagnose Lyme disease. However early symptoms can include flu like symptoms such as: • Fatigue, • Fever, • Chills, • Headache, • Rash, • Muscle pain and swollen lymph nodes, as they are common symptoms of a flu-virus. ~~~ On the whole one treats Lyme disease with antibiotics. For prolonged symptoms alternative medicine can be very effective. ~~~ Here are some effective organic essential oils, that might help eliminate the bacterium: • Garlic oil, • Clove oil, • Cumin oil, • Myrrh oil, • Tyme oil ~~~ Taking certain vitamins and minerals, can help improve energy levels and cellular repair, a small example of these are: • Vitamin C, • B12, • Coenzyme 10 and Folate, • Spirulina (a type of blue green algae) Chlorella (again a type of algae helps rid toxins from the body). ~~~ Herbs are also extremely and highly effective in treating Lyme disease, some of which are: • Osha root, • Rhodiola rosea, • Artemisia frigida ~~~ There are various types of herbs to treat Lyme disease, including treatments of all kind, some are more effective than others, as symptoms can vary from person to person. It's important that you receive guidance through a professional practitioner. . . . . #lymedisease #chroniclymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymediseasetreatment #lymesdisease #tickbite #garlicoil #cloveoil #cloveessentialoil #cuminoil #myrrhoil #tymeoil #osharoot #rhodiolarosea #artemisiafrigida #vitaminc #vitaminb12 #spirulina #coenzymeq10 #folate #bluegreenalgae #algae #fatigue #rash #headache #fever #chills #musclepain #swollenlymphnodes #bacterialinfection (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0BmzzDp14z/?igshid=1egah9vrwmw7x

[mbsposts]

Fringed Sagebrush by Sergey Via Flickr: (Artemisia frigida) Taken in Parkdale Park, Calgary, AB, Canada

[four-mile-canyon]

Prairie sagewort is Artemisia frigida (because it grows in cold places, apparently).  I think this is the one that’s supposed to affect women’s reproductive systems.  If taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, it’s supposed to be an abortifacient.  If taken during the third trimester, it’s supposed to induce labor.  Hopefully I’m remembering this correctly.

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

My Garden Flowers Part 4

All photos mine. The Pennsylvania pellitory is edited for because the plant app I took the photo in washed it out. The scarlet bee balm is edited for colour because that old phone's camera sucked.

In order of appearance:

091. Pennsylvania Pellitory (Parietaria pensylvanica) A common garden weed, but as it's native it can stay in some places.

092. Perennial Flax (Linum perenne) In spite of the name she sadly didn't come back or reseed. Shame because she looked really nice in that area. Oh well. I'll have to try in another spot.

093. Showy Tick-Trefoil (Desmodium canadense) She tricked me! I thought she hadn't made it as she hadn't come up by late June so I got another one and put her in a different area...only for this one to come up. And if you're thinking, oh, she's just a late bloomer, I should have waited, well, she came up in May this year. Because of course she did.

094. Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginiana) She smells like something you'd want to season steak or something with and would probably do very well at that but I've never cooked a steak before. Maybe I'll try her in pesto some day.

095. Devil's Tongue (Opuntia humifusa) She flowered for the first time last year and is flowering again this year!

096. Fragile Prickly Pear (Opuntia fragilis) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet. She's still quite little. I might break off a piece of her to try growing in that really tough spot. If she can survive summer to winter in a pot, surely that area shouldn't be too harsh for her.

097. Thrift Seapink (Armeria maritima) She's tough enough to survive winter in a pot and did so for three years, but last winter was apparently too much for her. Again, I think it was just too dry. She was pretty much only happy there in the spring and fall, though, so maybe it's just as well. The new one I planted elsewhere seems happy in all seasons.

098-099. Lance-Leaved Tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) Usually only the cultivars have those red markings! I'm assuming there's been some cross-pollination with other gardens because I did not plant that. My tickseeds are all straight amber. Unless she independently produced the colour on her own as a sport. Interestingly enough, none of them are showing that colouration this year.

100. White Sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana) I wasn't actually supposed to have this one. I'd ordered the less aggressive A. frigida, but oh well. Maybe she'll attract American lady butterflies some year. Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet. She smells like something you'd use to season stuffing.

101. Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) After several attempts in different areas, trying my hardest to follow what the information online said she would need, but somehow failing, this one at last seems to be doing fine.

102. Dotted St. John's Wort (Hypericum punctata) I didn't plant that. Either a gift of the wildlife or a dormant seed came to life when I removed the grass.

103. Roundhead Bushclover (Lespedeza capitata) Another one I've had several attempts with, but she seems to like it there.

104. Curlycup Gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa) Flowered nicely that year and I thought she didn't reseed because she didn't come up last year but there is a plant this year! It's good to remember that seeds can lie dormant for some time. :)

105. Upright Prairie Coneflower "Mexican Hat" (Ratibida columnifera) This is a cultivar and has since passed away during the winter.

106. Rocky Mountains Bee Plant (Cleomella serrulata) She reseeded for several years but apparently not this one. Hopefully they're just skipping a year and will come up next spring. If not I'll have to attempt a different area. Anyway, pretty much the whole plant is edible with preparation, and lots of insects love the flowers.

107. Spotted Horsemint (Monarda punctata) Beloved of many insects. Sometimes I just like to sit next to her and watch the activity.

108. Wild Black Sweet Tomato (Solanum ptychanthum) She began as a weed on this property, but not anymore. She is a welcome part of my native garden with her wonderful fruits in the summer.

109. Common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) The wild type this time, but no evidence of reseeding this year. :(

110. Alpine Rock Cress (Arabis alpina) She flowers in April before most trees have even blossomed.

111. Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) By the time I got to plant her in the fall some years ago, I was sure she'd die over the winter. She didn't but struggled through the warm months. But she managed to bounce back the following spring and makes a nice little carpet now.

112. Yellow Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

113. Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Finally decided to flower this year! She is the only orange species of milkweed native this far north.

114. Upright Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) The wild type. Didn't like that spot in the winter either, so I'm trying a different area this year.

115. Fringed Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum ciliolatum) Not the most colourful or compact, but makes a nice spray of pale blue violet over her dark green foliage.

116. Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet, but she's likely to this year.

117. Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) She's been on the property long before I got here. Not pictured as I haven't gotten any pictures yet since she is very tall.

118. Field Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) Compact and low-growing foliage create a mat, with these delicate stems poking out with what looks like kitten toes that pass for the plant's flower.

119. Aster (Symphyotrichum) I don't know what she is yet, but she decided to take up residence with my pussytoes and I guess that's okay. Haven't gotten pictures of the flowers yet.

120. Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

[ghostoffuturespast]

31 May 2024 - Friday Field Notes

This month flew by. Had a lot of programs so haven't been out in the field much this season, so it's good to finally have some time back out there. Things are slowly but surely warming up on the prairie.

(From left to right) White Evening Primrose - Oenothera albicaulis, Mountain Bluebell - Mertensia ciliata (dude, how did you end up down here?), some kind of Fleabane

(From left to right) Two-grooved Milkvetch - Astragalus bisulcatus and a Wallflower, Scarlet Globemallow - Sphaeralcea coccinea, Fringed Sage - Artemisia frigida (one of my favorite smells on the prairie - think cooking sage but earthier)

Some Canada Geese and their goslings. So cute!

We also had the wildest thunderstorm roll through late last night. Tons of lightning, hail, flash flooding. Pic on the left was at around 10:30pm and the camera flash was provided courtesy of the lightning.

We'll see if any of my plants are salvageable. The vegetable garden I can replant, but all the native plant starts are toast if they got uprooted. Because of the dormancy breaking cycles they have to go in order to germinate, I won't be able to plant more until the fall. I've got some seeds cold stratifying in my fridge that I can try planting, but I haven't been having much luck with those. Ah, the joys of having a hobby that's completely at the whims of the weather.

cw: dead animal under the cut

This poor robin didn't make it either, most likely couldn't find shelter when the hail started up. Buried them in my vermicomposting bin. Eating worms to feeding worms. And so it goes.

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

New species I’m getting this year!

Antennaria rosea (Rosy pussytoes)

Arisaema dracontium (Green dragon)

Asplenium scolopendrium (Hart’s tongue)

Calycanthus floridus (Sweetshrub)

Carex aurea (Golden sedge)

Claytonia virginica (Fairy spuds)

Echinacea pallida (Pale purple coneflower)

Equisetum hyemale (Scouring rush)

Iris setosa (Bristle-pointed iris)

Linnaea borealis (Twinflower)

Lonicera canadensis (Canadian fly honeysuckle)

Lonicera involucrata (Twinberry honeysuckle)

Osmunda claytoniana (Interrupted fern)

Passiflora incarnata (Maypop)

Pediomeleum esculentum/Psoralea esculenta (Breadroot)

Polystichum munitum (Western sword fern)

Triglochin maritma (Seaside arrowgrass)

Vaccinium macrocarpon (Large cranberry)

Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leaved viburnum)

Viola pedata var. bicolor (Crowfoot violet)

Species I’m trying again this year after failed past attempt(s)!

Antennaria neglecta (Field pussytoes) Was planted in late summer and I was kept from watering it adequately.

Argentina anserina (Silverweed) No idea why they didn’t survive where I put them, but try, try again, elsewhere this time.

Artemisia frigida (Fringed sagebrush) First time ended up being white sage brush instead; second time plug was on its last legs on arrival, died soon after.

Chamaenerion angustifolium (Fireweed) Going to try this in yet another spot.

Dennstaedtia punctiloba (Hay-scented fern) Supposed to be aggressive! Mine was not. Maybe the one I get this year.

Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam) Planted the tuber but it never came up.

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Wild licorice) Squirrels...Dug it up and broke the stem.

Lupinus polyphyllus (Big-leaf lupine) Leafed out nicely for its first and second year and then just didn’t come up again after its second winter.

Maianthemum racemosum (False Solomon’s seal) Squirrels! Dug it up and broke the stem.

Pteridium aquilinum latiusculum (Western bracken fern) I put it in a dry shady spot, as recommended, and it died.

Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan) SQUIRRELS!!! Dug it up and while I was visiting home and it dried out. Couldn’t revive it.

Silene acaulis (Moss campion) Sunny, wet, amongst rocks. Check, check, check, but they keep dying on me.

Sisyrinchium montanum (Blue-eyed grass) Two places tried, two place died. I shall try a third place this year.

Viola pubescens (Downy yellow violet) FUCKING. SQUIRRELS. Dug it up while I was at work and left it to scorch and dry out in the sun. Couldn’t revive it.

Species I’m getting again because I’m fairly sure mine didn’t make it

Apocynum cannabinum (Hemp dogbane) It might not have gotten enough sunlight thanks to the white mulberry that grew over. I’ll try it in a different area.

Sagittaria latifolia (Duck potato) It may come up after all but I don’t want to take the chance of planting too late if it doesn’t.

Sparganium americanum (American bur-reed) Not sure why, but we’ll try again this year. And I may yet be surprised.

Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk cabbage) It’s possible it’s just young and takes longer to come up than it would if it were more mature, but I don’t want to take chances since there’s only one place I can get them at.

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Fringed sagebrush (Artemisia frigida) has edible leaves, used as flavouring. I just got mine last year, not nearly so impressive as those in the photos, so probably won’t be doing anything with it this year.

More info on Plants for a Future.

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

Dug out one of the areas the Canada goldenrod had planted itself in, which is a very bad spot for such an aggressive plant. Ended up with like an armload of rhizomes. Took one piece and transplanted it to the area I had initially planned for that species, but the one I ordered ended up being an aster of unknown species. I cut the shoots off the rest and will be eating them. Still have to grab the rest growing in the other area. Got all the weeds and garbage out of the front, and cut off and chopped of the dead bits. These will disappear as birds and squirrels take them to build their nests, but for now it’s a natural mulch. I didn’t have time for the side or the back, but I’ll do the side at least tomorrow. I did however take look through to see what’s coming up!

And so far, of the 172 plants I have planted (and I have 72 more on the way, starting mid-May!), the following are showing signs of life or even leafing out: *EDITED TO ADD THOSE I NOTICED TODAY (DAY AFTER POSTING)*

001. Achillea millefolium (yarrow) 3rd year! 002. Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair fern) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 003. Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop) 4th year! 004. Agastache scrophulariifolia (purple giant hyssop) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 005. Allium canadense (Canada garlic) 5th year! 006. Allium cernuum (nodding onion) 5th year! 007. Allium schoenoprasum (chives) 4th year! 008. Allium stellatum (pink onion) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 009. Allium tricoccum (ramps) 3rd year! 010. Amelanchier canadensis (Canadian serviceberry) 4th year! But still too young for fruit. 011. Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting) 5th year! 012. Andromeda polifolia (bog rosemary) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 013. Aquilegia brevistyla (smallflower columbine) 4th year! 014. Aquilegia canadensis (eastern red columbine) 5th year! 015. Arabis alpina (alpine rockcress) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! The first one I attempted was extremely root-bound coming out the pot and sadly did not survive the winter, but this one did! 016. Argentina anserina (silverweed) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 017. Armeria maritima (Thrift seapink) 3rd year! 018. Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) 3rd year! But still too young for fruit. 019. Artemisia ludoviciana (white sage) 3rd year! It was supposed to be A. frigida, but...it’s not. lol Thankfully it’s not too aggressive so far. 020. Aruncus dioicus (bride’s feathers) 3rd year! 021. Asarum canadense (Canada ginger) 4th year! 022. Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) 4th year! 023. Asclepias sullivanti (prairie milkweed) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 024. Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) 3rd year! 025. Asimina triloba (pawpaw) 5th year! But still too young for fruit. 026. Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) 3rd year! 027. Athyrium felix-femina (lady fern) 3rd year! 028. Caltha palustris (marsh marigold) 3rd year! 029. Campanula rotundifolia (harebell) 5th year! 030. Cardamine concenata (cutleaf toothwort) Came out of dormancy for it’s 1st year! 031. Castilleja miniata (giant red paintbrush) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! It’s a parasitic plant, so I planted it at the stone line so it could feed off the grass, and close to the sunchokes so it can feed off them too, plus there are cedar roots from the trees by the well, and I’ve just transplanted Canada goldenrod nearby so I think it will be okay! 032. Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea) 3rd year! 033. Cerastium arvense (field chickweed) 4th year! 034. Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) 4th year! But still too young for flowers. 035. Clinopodium arkansanum (wild savoury) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 036. Comptonia peregrina (Sweetfern) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 037. Coreopsis lanceolata (lance-leaved tickseed) 3rd year! 038. Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! The squirrels did not dig it up this time! 039. Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) 3rd year! But still too young for flowers. 040. Cystopteris bulbifera (berry bladder fern) 3rd year! 041. Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) 042. Drymocallis arguta (prairie cinquefoil) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 043. Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) 5th year! 044. Erigeron glabellus var. pubescens (streamside fleabane) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! I put it in a very narrow ugly side area. Should help to pretty it up along with black-eyed susan and whatever else I think will go nicely there. 045. Erythronium americanum (trout lily) 3rd year! And not only that but despite not flowering and my not seeing any dropper stems last year, the thing has somehow spread itself. I have no idea how I missed the number of droppers that would have been necessary to make this happen but I’m not complaining. Be nice if one of them flowered this year though. 046. Eupatorium purpureum (sweet Joe Pye weed) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 047. Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry) 3rd year! Mine has white strawberries. Apparently that can happen with this species. Still taste like strawberries. I hope it makes lots this year. 048. Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry) 3rd year! Would be awesome if it made more than flowers this year though. 049. Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! My first attempt died. Probably because it was potted too long and planted too late. 050. Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen) 4th year! It’s not doing the greatest, likely due to how root-bound it was when I got it, but it’s been hanging on. I’m getting it a friend this year, so hopefully that will help. 051. Geranium maculatum (wild geranium) 4th year! 052. Geranium robertianum (herb Robert) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 053. Geum aleppicum (yellow avens) 4th year at least! I don’t know for sure, because it was already here when I moved in. It’s native so it gets to stay. 054. Geum canadense (white avens) 4th year at least! I don’t know for sure, because it was already here when I moved in. It’s native so it gets to stay. 055. Geum rivale (purple avens) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 056. Geum triflorum (prairie smoke) 5th year! 057. Grindelia squarrosa (curly cup gumweed) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 058. Helianthus nuttallii (common tall sunflower) 4th year! 059. Heliopsis helianthoides (false sunflower) 3rd year! 060. Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 061. Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp rose mallow) 4th year! And coming up early this year, too! 062. Hierochloe odorata (sweetgrass) 5th year! It flowered two years ago. I hope it does again this year. 063. Humulus lupulus (Hop) 3rd year! The current shoots are likely to die though Last year I swear they died five times before it finally took off but eventually it did and had a whole growing year. I expect the same this year. 064. Hydrophyllum virginianum (Virginia waterleaf) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 065. Juglans nigra (black walnut) Likely somewhere around 150 years old, judging by the size. I obviously didn’t plant it, but it is on the property so it’s mine while I live here. 066. Juniperus horizontalis (creeping juniper) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 067. Liatris spicata (dense blazing star) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 068. Lilium michiganense (Michigan lily) 4th year! 069. Lindera benzoin (spicebush) 5th year and flowering! 070. Linum lewisii (blue flax) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 071. Lysimachia ciliolata (fringed loosestrife) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 072. Mahonia repens (creeping Oregon grape) 3rd year! 073. Maianthemum stellata (starry false Solomon’s seal) 3rd year! 074. Mentha arvensis (wild mint) 4th year! 075. Menyanthes trifoliata (bog bean) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 076. Mertensia paniculata (tall bluebells) 4th year! 077. Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells) 3rd year! 078. Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) 5th year! 079. Monarda punctata (spotted beebalm) 3rd year! And coming in much quicker than last year. 080. Oenothera biennis (evening primrose) Seeded! I had thought my previous plant’s seeds hadn’t taken when no new plants had come up that year, but there are a couple this year close to the area I had it in, so it looks to have successfully reseeded itself after all! 081. Oenothera fruticosa (narrow-leaved sundrops) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! And this species is perennial rather than biennial like its cousin. 082. Oligoneuron rigida (Stiff goldenrod) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 083. Onoclea sensibilis (Sensitive fern) 3rd year! I’m hoping the meadow sundrops, cup plant, and zigzag goldenrod will help shield it this year. They like part sun/part shade, but the past couple summers were still pretty hard on it. 084. Opuntia fragilis (fragile prickly pear) 4th year! The spring rains are always hard on it, though, and it takes at least a couple weeks in the heat of late spring to recover, so I don’t think it will produce fruit any time soon, certainly not this year. 085. Opuntia humifusa (eastern prickly pear) 3rd year! It did not like this winter though (took the one before it like a champ, though), but it’s showing signs of recovery. 086. Osmundastrum cinnamomea (cinnamon fern) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 087. Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel) Successfully reseeded! I mean, it basically grows as a weed, so it’s quite prolific. Doesn’t really have an effect on surrounding plants, though, and it’s delicate, so it’s good to have a ton of them if you want to cook desserts or make jams or something with them. They are deliciously tart. 088. Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) 4th year! Might be older though. It was tiny when I got here (much bigger now!) but I didn’t plant it so I couldn’t judge its years based on size. 089. Phlox divaricata (woodland phlox) 3rd year! 090. Polygonatum biflorum (smooth Solomon’s seal) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 091. Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) 3rd year! 092. Prunella vulgaris (common selfheal) I didn’t plant it so I don’t know how long it’s been here. We’ll call it year 5, but it is native and a pretty little thing, with edible and medicinal uses. 093. Prunus nigra (Canada plum) 3rd year! But still too young for fruit. 094. Prunus pumila (sand cherry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 095. Prunus serotina (black cherry) 4th year! But still too young for fruit. 096. Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (slender mountain mint) 4th year! 097. Pycnanthemum virginianum (Virginia mountain mint) 4th year! 098. Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) 5th year! 099. Rosa blanda (smooth rose) 4th year! Maybe it will bloom this year. 100. Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) 5th year! This was supposed to be R. strigosus but...I discovered otherwise when the berries turned black instead of remaining red. lol 101. Rubus strigosus (American red raspberry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! And is hopefully actually R. strigosus this time. lol Pretty sure it’s not R. occidentalis again, though, because it’s much more aggressive. 102. Sambucus canadensis (common elderberry) 5th year! Hopefully this year it makes more berries and they don’t all fall off before turning ripe this time. 103. Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 104. Sisyrinchium montanum (blue-eyed grass) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 105. Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod) This is its 3rd year since planting itself! We’ll see how it likes the new area I put it in. 106. Solidago flexicaulis (zigzag goldenrod) 3rd year since planting itself! 107. Solidago nemoralis (grey goldenrod) 3rd year! 108. Solidago simplex (spike goldenrod) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! First one I tried died. Maybe wasn’t getting enough sunlight. 109. Spiraea alba (white meadowsweet) 5th year! 110. Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 111. Symphoricarpos occidentalis (western snowberry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 112. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 113. Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (fringed blue aster) 4th year! 114. Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth aster) 4th year! And spreading where it shouldn’t. Going to try eating the shoots. 115. Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (panicled aster) 4th year! And I’m going to have to do something about those shoots too because that’s getting a little crazy. 116. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) 3rd year! 117. Thalictrum pubescens (tall meadow-rue) 118. Thuja occidentalis (eastern white cedar) Likely around 20 years old or so. There’s a row of them next to a wall. Mine while I live here. 119. Tradescantia ohiensis (Ohio spiderwort) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 120. Trillium erectum (red trillium) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 121. Trillium flexipes (nodding wake-robin) 3rd year! 122. Trillium grandiflorum (great white trillium) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 123. Urtica gracilis (stinging nettle) 4th year since it planted itself in my garden at the old place and I took it with me to the new place! 124. Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) 5th year! Not doing well, though. I have to figure out a different spot for it. 125. Vaccinium corymbosom (northern highbush blueberry) 5th year! Last year I had to transplant it because it did not like the spot it was in. Hopefully it does better in its new home. 126. Verbena hastata (blue vervain) 3rd year! 127. Verbena stricta (hoary vervain) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 128. Viburnum lentago (nannyberry) 4th year! But still too young for fruit. 129. Viburnum nudum cassinoides (witherod viburnum) 4th year! But still too young for fruit. 130. Viola blanda (sweet white violet) 4th year! 131. Viola canadensis (Canada violet) 4th year! 132. Viola labradorica (Labrador violet) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 133. Viola nephrophylla (northern bog violet) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 134. Viola palustris (marsh violet) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 135. Vitis riparia (riverbank grape) 3rd year! 136. Waldsteinia fragarioides (barren strawberry) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 137. Zizia aptera (heart-leaved alexanders) Survived its first winter into 2nd year! 138. Zizia aurea (golden alexanders) 4th year!

So most but it’s still early and I wasn’t looking super hard in the side and front areas, so we’ll see how many more will join us this year.

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

I just...want to work in the garden and do nothing else. Stop only to eat and pee. I go in when the daylight’s done. And then all I want to do is look at more plants I can order and talk about my garden. All my plants are native to Ontario or nearby. All with edible parts except one. So. Plant species I have/am getting this year are:

001. Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) The red-flowered cultivar seems to have died over the winter, but the non-cultivar is growing strong and is also creeping past the stone border to become one with the grass. lol

002. Actaea racemosa (black snakeroot/black cohosh) Next weekend!

003. Agastache foeniculum (anise hyssop) Literally migrated from the place I planted it to a place it likes better, I guess. As in, there is no plant where I planted, but there is an anise hyssop in another part of that bed. You do you.

004. Allium canadense (meadow garlic/Canada garlic) Spreading slowly but reliably and super tasty.

005. Allium cernuum (nodding onion) It has flowered each year--this is year 4--but hasn’t spread at all. Very tasty, and I’ve bought some friends to help it along.

006. Allium schoenoprasum (chives/wild chives) Absolutely yum and doing very well.

007. Allium stellatum (prairie onion/autumn onion) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

008. Allium tricoccum (ramps/wild leek) It will be quite some time before it even makes flowers which hopefully let it spread, so I won’t be able to reap the benefits for a while. But, both plants did come up this year and have now died back as expected. Hopefully they’ll continue to come up.

009. Amelanchier canadensis (Canadian serviceberry) Caterpillars. Are. EATING IT. Gypsy moth caterpillars. This is going to be a problem for some time until they pupate, I guess. Plant’s generally okay, though. I won’t be getting fruit anytime soon, though.

010. Anaphalis margaritacea (pearly everlasting) Very healthy plants keeping the sunflowers under some control. This spring was my first year eating the shoots. Can’t say anything about the taste specifically, as they went into a pasta sauce, but that sauce was delicious.

011. Andromeda polifolia (bog rosemary) Next weekend!

012. Aquilegia brevistyla (smallflower columbine) Growing very well, more flowers this year. Next year I’ll eat some (flowers, only the flowers are edible).

013. Aquilegia canadensis (Canada columbine/red columbine) Flower stalk doesn’t seem as tall this year, but it still has a lot of flowers. They’re a lovely refreshing sweet snack (just the flowers).

014. Arabis alpina (alpine rockcress) Next weekend! I had one last year, but it didn’t survive the winter. The poor thing was so root-bound there was no soil in the pot, so I’m not surprised it didn’t make it. Hopefully the new one will be in better condition.

015. Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry/kinnikinnick/pinemat manzanita) Not doing great and I’m not sure why. That area is reasonably well-drained and it gets part sun, part shade. Oh well. Maybe I’ll move it to the hill in the back. It seemed to like the hill I had it on at my old apartment.

016. Argentina anserina (silverweed cinquefoil) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

017. Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) It came up! I was sure it had died last year. But no, it’s fine. Male this year. Hopefully female next year (I’m trying to see if the berries can be dried into edibility like the corms, and if they can I want to make jam or something with them).

018. Armeria maritima (thrift sea-pink) Drooping! It’s a drought-tolerant plant that will die if over-watered so I don’t water it more than once a week and I don’t water deeply, but it’s been hot so maybe it needs more or maybe I managed to overwater it anyway. Frick. Flowering very nicely though.

019. Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) Doing just fine. No flowers and I don’t expect them for another couple of years at least, but it’s growing well.

020. Artemisia frigida (prairie sagewort/fringed sagebrush) Already spreading in the bed. Should look very nice when it fills in.

021. Aruncus dioicus (bride’s feathers/goat’s beard/buck’s beard) Growing more quickly than the internet told me it would! And going to flower this year too, which will be lovely.

022. Asarum canadense (Canada ginger) Doing fine for now, but burnt a lot in the sun last year. Likely to do so again. I’m going to plant something in front of it to shade it better. See, I wouldn’t have put it there if it was full sun because it’s a shade to part sun plant, but that area isn’t full-sun, it’s part sun; however, the sunlight it does get is very strong in the summer and the poor thing gets burnt.

023. Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed) Growing like a beast! Flowers were gorgeous last year. I don’t expect this to be any different, and maybe some monarch butterflies will pay it a visit.

024. Asclepias ovalifolia (oval leaf milkweed/dwarf milkweed) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

025. Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed) Mine seemed to come up much more slowly than those I’ve seen elsewhere, but it is a fairly young plant. I expect it will come up earlier next year. And it’s doing fine now.

026. Asclepias tuberosa (butterflyweed) Hasn’t come up yet, but they can take till middle of June to start emerging, so I’m not going to worry about it yet.

027. Asimina triloba (pawpaw) All three trees are alive, though with very different rates of growth. I got them at the same size at the same time, but in trying to figure out what the best thing was for them, I planted one on a hill next to the door of my at-the-time apartment, one by the fence at the opposite side of the yard, and the third I kept in a pot, which I brought in for the winter. That spring, the potted tree leafed out first at the end of April, and the one on the hill in the middle of May. The third didn’t bud at all. I continued to water it, but I was sure it was dead. Then the house my apartment was in caught fire so I had to go to a new place (same landlords, so still allowed to plant on the new property) and didn’t want to leave my plants behind. It was the end of June. All my plants were potted. and I was going to leave the lifeless stick behind AND THEN IT SUDDENLY HAD BUDS. So I potted it and took it too. All three survived the transplant, but the tree I had initially taken inside (but is now outside) is the biggest, and that little stick is still the smallest. lol

028. Asplenium trichomanes (maidenhair spleenwort) Very little still, but seems healthy. I hope for its fronds to spill over my newly constructed garden wall when it’s bigger.

029. Athyrium felix-femina (lady fern) Doing very well, as a fern that can tolerate full sun.

030. Caltha palustris (marsh marigold) It is a marsh plant and there is no pond on the property to plant it, but there is a leaking eavestrough, which I thought would do well enough along with heavy watering. So far I have been correct.

031. Campanula rotundifolia (harebell) Very lush and green. I struggled to keep it alive that first year, but three years later it’s perfect.

032. Cardamine concatenata (cutleaf toothwort) Sometime this summer!

033. Castilleja miniata (paintbrush) Sometime this summer!

034. Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey tea) Not ready to use in tisanes yet, but growing well.

035. Cerastium arvense (field chickweed) The first two years the thing was barely alive, but this year’s it’s moment to shine as it spreads and flowers.

036. Cercis canadensis (redbud) No flowers this spring, but wonderful foliage. Fingers crossed for next year.

037. Comptonia peregrina (sweetfern) Next weekend!

038. Coreopsis lanceolata (lance-leaved tickseed) The first plant I attempted died, but this one’s doing very well.

039. Cornus canadensis (bunchberry) Next weekend! I mean, my plant from last year would likely be fine if the squirrels hadn’t dug it up, as would the one before that (because that one came from the old place and had survived the winter just fine!). So, I’m going to plant the new one in a different spot and hope the fluffy-tailed rodents leave the poor thing alone this time.

040. Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) Just a baby still, but its leaves are nice and green. I had one before it that really liked the hill I had planted it on back at the old place but died in the pot before I could put it in its new home.

041. Cystopteris bulbifera (berry bladder fern) Doing just fine. I love my ferns.

042. Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

043. Deschampsia caespitosa (tufted hair grass) Not doing too well. Was fine last year, so I’m not sure what’s going on.

044. Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower) I’ve always loved these. They’re edible, medicinal (with caution), have lovely flowers, and attract lots of pollinators including bees and butterflies. Mine is doing perfectly. No flowers yet this year, but very green healthy foliage.

046 Erythronium americanum (trout lily/dogtooth violet) Still no flowers this spring, but they did come up, so maybe next year.

047. Eupatorium purpureum (sweet-scented Joe Pye weed/gravel root/purple Joe Pye weed) Soon! Also, do you know how this is eaten? Its root is literally burnt and then you use the ashes to flavour your food. The plant is otherwise poisonous, so how it was found out that it could be used this way conjures up amusing scenarios for me.

048. Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry/wild strawberry/alpine strawberry) I have strawberries! They’re far from ripe yet, but developing well. They’re also spreading over the hill I planted them on and will hopefully give the garlic mustard and dog-strangling vine a run for their money.

049. Fragaria virginiana (wild strawberry/Virginia strawberry/common strawberry/mountain strawberry) Because one native species of strawberry isn’t enough, I have both. This one is also making strawberries and nicely filling out the area I put it in.

050. Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Newly planted! The first one of these I planted didn’t survive the winter, but I hadn’t been able to plant it until autumn (because I hadn’t yet been told where I could plant). This one has the rest of spring, the whole summer, and fall until frost to establish itself, and I’ve seen a number of them growing wild at the edge of the ravines, so it should be fine.

051. Gaultheria procumbens (American wintergreen/eastern teaberry/boxberry/checkerberry) Next weekend! I actually already have one and have had it for a couple years, but it’s another that came so root-bound there wasn’t any soil in the pot. I planted it hoping for the best, but it seems to be in a very slow decline. So I’m going to plant another one, hopefully not so root-bound and that will maybe either give it a boost (plants of the same species will often help each other when sick by transferring nutrients) or else take over when the first one dies.

052. Geum aleppicum (yellow avens) I didn’t plant this, and I can’t find it for sale anywhere anyway, but it’s a common plant that shows up as a weed. Being native as well as edible, it’s allowed to stay wherever it isn’t directly in my way.

053. Geum canadense (white avens) Same as above. lol Anyway, both species have attractive foliage. They’re likely not used as garden plants because of how common they are as weeds and because their flower stalks are long and leggy. But I’m happy to have them.

054. Geum rivale (purple avens) Newly planted! This one is offered as a garden plant, though fairly rare, and I’ve finally got my hands on one! All of the Geum species in my garden seem to be doing just fine, so I expect this will fine too. It’s the first plant I’ve put in a new area that doesn’t drain very well which makes it perfect for plants like this one that grow in clay on stream banks.

055. Geum triflorum (prairie smoke) Green leaves. Flower stalks up. This is a pretty reliable plant because it doesn’t die back in the winter, it just sort of sits there waiting for spring and then resumes growth like nothing happened. The first year it drooped a lot but once it established itself there was no stopping it and the transplant went smoothly too.

056. Grindelia squarrosa (gumweed) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

057. Helianthus divaricatus (woodland sunflower) This is a sunflower that can actually stand a fair bit of shade. I thought mine had died last year due to the foliage and stemming dying back after a squirrel broke it and it and it was still summer. But it’s come up this year and I’m starting to think nothing short of cooking a sunflower’s roots will actually kill it.

058 and 059. Helianthus nuttalli (Nuttall’s sunflower/common tall sunflower) and Helianthus pauciflorus (stiff sunflower/beautiful sunflower) All I know is, I ordered both, I received two small plants, by the time I got them in the ground they were barely alive, that area is now being overtaken by sunflowers, and it could be one species, or it could be both, I don’t know. I did thin out some shoots this spring and add them to a very flavourful pasta sauce. I also thinned out a bunch of their roots last fall. To look at them, you wouldn’t know that either of these had happened, and I’m going to have to thin out more. They’re also putting up shoots between the stones of the cement path. There will be sunflowers here until the end of time.

060. Helianthus tuberosus (sunchoke/Jerusalem artichoke/suntato) Because I don’t learn, I planted yet another sunflower species last year, in a different area, because dammit I want my suntatoes that taste like artichokes. I planted one last year. I took and ate a bunch of tubers in the fall. There are currently five plants. This should be interesting.

061. Heliopsis helianthoides (false sunflower/sweet oxeye) After getting off to a rocky start last year, this one’s doing just fine, and also looks to be living up to its resemblance to sunflowers in more than just appearance.

062. Hibiscus moscheutos (swamp rose mallow) One of them appears to have died so I hope the other isn’t headed the same direction. Seems to be coming up normally though. Also I learned the flowers can change colour from year to year which was a huge surprise to me from the first year to the second. No idea what it will be like this year.

063. Hierochloe odorata (sweet grass/vanilla grass) It flowered last year, which was lovely. I hope it does so again this year. Foliage is nice and green anyhow.

064. Humulus lupulus (common hop) Growing nicely now, though its first several shoots died this year. It seems to just be a very impatient plant in the springtime despite not being very frost hardy. So it put out shoots, which died in the frost, and then put out more, which also died, etc. until finally there was no more frost so it just kept growing. That’s one way to do it, I guess. lol Most other frost-tender plants tend to be more cautious about when they put out new growth.  had a hop plant at my old apartment, which really liked the place I put I put it in, but it died when I potted it to try and take with me.

065. Impatiens capensis (jewelweed/spotted touch-me-not) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

066. Juglans nigra (black walnut) This tree has likely been on this property since before I was born. I tapped it spring before last. I’ll tap it next spring too. Seems to be a healthy tree.

067. Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel) They’re not native to Ontario but they are native to eastern North America, in the Appalachian mountains. I figured if they could survive mountain weather they could handle south Ontario winters, and so far it has. It’s not edible but I fell in love with them a long time ago when reading David Attenborough’s The Secret Life of Plants. And they’re making buds this year!

068. Lactuca canadensis (Canadian lettuce) Yes! We have a native lettuce. Most people will pull it up as a weed along with dandelions and thistles, though. I let it stay wherever possible. It’s not like I can just buy a new one, so I count myself lucky when they come up in my garden.

069. Lilium michiganense (Michigan lily) It made smaller ones, but they don’t seem to have survived for whatever reason. The older ones are very robust this year, though, and are budding with what looks like will be many flowers.

070. Lilium philadelphicum (wood lily) Newly planted! I have not had much luck with these, but hopefully this year’s the year. I have two plants, so maybe they’ll help each other.

071. Lindera benzoin (spicebush) No flowers or butterflies yet, but it’s a healthy bush and lives up to its name.

072. Linum lewisii (blue flax) Newly planted! I’ve wanted these for a long time but the places that carried them either wouldn’t deliver or didn’t have them as plugs or potted stock (I find seeds too unreliable). But now I have a couple in the large stone garden pot that I specifically filled with dirt that would allow for good drainage, for those plants that can survive the cold but not sitting in water.

073. Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) Soon! Or I already have it. Not sure. See, I was sent an email by the company saying I’d probably accidentally gotten a bigleaf lupine instead and they gave me a coupon for the following spring to get a confirmed sundial lupine, but there is a chance I already have it. Either way it’s a nice plant, so whether I have two plants of the same species or two different species is fine.

074. Lupinus polyphyllus (bigleaf lupine/common lupine) I actually haven’t been able to find this species available for delivery anywhere, so if that is what I currently have, then I’m delighted and this is the best plant mixup that could possibly happen (there have been a number). Whatever it is is a very attractive plant even with just the foliage. I hope it makes flowers this year.

075. Mahonia repens (creeping Oregon grape) Speaking of plant mixups! The first time I ordered this I got a Potentilla nepalensis instead. I didn’t know it at the time, as it had a tag saying “Mahonia repens”, but then it flowered...I wouldn’t have minded terribly much if it had been a native Potentilla species, but “nepalensis” is definitely not that. Well, I emailed the company with a photo and they promptly delivered not one, but two creeping Oregon grape plants, and both seem to be doing okay, making new growth, survived the winter, which the potentilla did not.

076. Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal) They seem to be doing well! They flowered, but I don’t know if there will be berries. Next year maybe, but then you don’t really see Maianthemum berries until late summer, so maybe there will be a couple this year.

077. Mentha arvensis (wild mint) It’s doing exactly what mint does. Tastes wonderful, which is a great reason for thinning it out and pulling it out from between the sidewalk stones.

078. Mertensia paniculata (tall bluebells) Currently flowering. Despite the name, though they do grow taller than their cousin the Virginia bluebells, I wouldn’t say they’re a bigger plant overall. Very nice though. The flowers are a delicate light blue.

079. Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells) When I planted the rootstock in the early summer and nothing came up at all, I thought they had died. But nope! They came up vigorously this spring, with huge leaves and incredibly blue flowers. The flowers are don and it’s starting to die back now, but what a gorgeous springtime plant it is.

080. Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm) My theory is if you put two members of the mint family next to each other, they’ll keep each other at bay. I’m probably wrong. Anyway, this is already spreading in two directions. Last year caterpillars at a lot of its flowers. I hope that won’t happen this year.

081. Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) Has become a very big plant, but politely hasn’t really left it’s immediate area. They make great dried flowers after the winter, by the way, as the seedheads retain the scent. Especially if you squeeze them.

082. Monarda punctata (horsemint) This is starting to fill out now, but compared to the other members of its genus took a very long time to go past a teeny tiny little growth. Last year it got huge shortly after I planted it, so we’ll see if it does that this year. I hope so. The bees, wasps, and other pollinators absolutely loved it.

083. Myosotis laxa (smallflower forget-me-not) I didn’t plant it, I can’t even find it available for sale. It just grows as a weed. It’s just as blue as other forget-me-nots, but with stems that are very leggy and even smaller flowers than the popular garden species. But it’s native so it stays where it’s not directly in my way. It’s very prolific, lots of plants in the garden.

084. Myrica gale (sweet gale/bog myrtle) Only just started making new growth. It seems to be on its way out and I’m not sure why, but it makes me sad. I think last year was really hard on it being so hot so early and I didn’t have a hose then, so I was stuck carrying buckets of water up from my apartment in the basement. But I have a hose this year and I’ve been watering regularly, so maybe, just maybe, it will spring back into action this year. It’s such a pretty bush when in full foliage and the leaves taste like green tea.

085. Oenothera fruticosa (narrow-leaved sundrops) Next weekend! I’ve grown another species which has finished its lifecycle (they’re biennial) and sadly doesn’t seem to have successfully reseeded itself. But maybe this one will.

086. Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) This poor thing struggled hard last year. I planted it between a tree and the house, but it still got a lot of sunlight. Still, it came up this year, and in my experience, second year plants tend to be much more hardy, so we’ll see. It’s doing fine for now.

087. Opuntia fragilis (fragile prickly pear) I did put it in a fairly dry area that gets full sun, but it does struggle in the winter and spring. It is starting to bounce back, though, just like it did last year, and the pieces it scattered are making roots of their own. All of whom are spiky bastards.

088. Opuntia humifusa (eastern prickly pear/devil’s tongue) This did just fine. I had it in a big stone pot which I moved to an area that gets no rain or snow on it, and it’s making new growth now that I’ve moved the pot back into the full sun. It like to spike me whenever I move the pot.

089. Osmundastrum cinnamomeum (cinnamon fern) Next weekend!

090. Oxalis stricta (yellow woodsorrel/sourgrass) It’s not technically native to Ontario, but it is native to Michigan and moved up here decades or possibly centuries ago. I didn’t plant it and you can’t find it in stores because it’s considered a weed, but it is coming up in my garden, it doesn’t hurt anything, and it is a delicious little plant, so it stays.

091. Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper) I didn’t have to buy this because it was already in the yard (it’s common in the ravines), but if it wasn’t I would have, because it’s gorgeous and I like the taste of the berries. It’s a native relative of Boston ivy, so if you’re wanting a wall climber, please get Virginia creeper instead. They’re available at a lot of garden centres and online.

092. Phlox divaricata (woodland phlox/blue phlox) It’s growing, but I think one of the white avens is overcrowding it, so I’ll probably dig that one up and eat it so the phlox can have more space.

093. Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple) Three plants in last year. One plant up this year. Oh well. It’s growing nicely, so hopefully it will spread.

094. Polygonatum biflorum (smooth Solomon’s seal) Hopefully coming by the end of this month!

095. Polystichum achrosticoides (Christmas fern) It doesn’t die back in the winter! I mean, the leaves get kind of yellowed, but otherwise just hangs out and makes new growth in spring. My first attempt with ferns (ostrich ferns) was a failure, but so far all my other fern species have been successful and are currently thriving.

096. Prunus americana (American plum) It’s very top heavy when leafed so it flops over whenever it rains which is kind of funny, but it seems to be doing fine.

097. Prunus nigra (black plum/Canada plum) My first black plum died, but this one seems fine.

098. Prunus pumila (sand cherry) Soon! And it better bloody be a sand cherry and not a purple-leaf sandcherry, which is a hybrid, like the last company I ordered one from sent me. But that company didn’t specialize in native plants and carried both plants, whereas this company does specialize in native plants and does not advertise the hybrid at all.

099. Prunus serotina (black cherry) This is the very cherry that is used to flavour black cherry ice cream! But my little tree (not that little anymore lmao) hasn’t made flowers yet. It has nice foliage though it keeps trying to grow into the neighbour’s fence. Don’t know why. The sun doesn’t come from there. Maybe it will flower next spring.

100. Pycnanthemum tenufolium (slender mountain mint) Despite being part of the mint family, this is actually a very polite plant so far that stays in its immediate area.

101. Pycnanthemum virginiana (Virginia mountain mint) Just as polite as its cousin. My first died and I blame the person who lived in another unit who decided that garden bed was an ash tray. I managed to put a stop to that, got all the cigarettes out, dug out a stump, added new dirt, and planted a new Virginia mountain mint as well as bride’s feathers. That particular tenant isn’t there anymore and nobody else does anything with the outside, except to put a garden hyacinth there, which I’ve left in its pot and been watering. I’m not just going to leave the poor thing to die. Anyway, the Virginia mountain mint flowered last year and I hope it does so again this year.

102. Ratibida columnifera (yellow coneflower/upright prairie coneflower) Newly planted! I don’t like to get the cultivar versions if I can avoid it, but I will if that’s all that’s available, or in this case, to get the plants I really wanted, I needed to get something that would put me over the minimum cost. But I didn’t want to leave it at that, so I bought a non-cultivar this year so they can be friends.

103. Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower/yellow coneflower/pinnate prairie coneflower) This almost flowered last year and the I accidentally broke it with the hose. That will not happen this year. I don’t see a flower stalk yet, but the leaves look healthy.

104. Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) It’s putting out flowers, but it did so last year and nothing happened, so I guess we’ll see this year.

105. Rosa blanda (smooth rose) A rose without thorns! Or almost. It’s got leaves out, but it’s a slow grower for a rose and hasn’t flowered yet.

106. Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry) This was supposed to be a red raspberry because black raspberries are easy to find in the ravines, but that’s okay, and I did order a new red raspberry which will hopefully actually be red. lol

107. Rubus strigosus (American red raspberry) Soon! Sometimes considered a variety of Rubus idaeus, which is the one you find in grocery stores. There is one patch I’ve found of them in the ravines, but they’re not nearly as common here as the black raspberry. Hopefully this new plant I get will actually be the red raspberry.

108. Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower/green-headed coneflower) There are two plants with very different leaves growing there. One of them I hope is the plant I intended, but won’t know until they flowers. They’re both doing well, whatever they are.

109. Sambucus canadensis (common elderberry) It’s making flowers this year! I learned the hard way that this species does NOT like being transplanted to a pot, which I had to do to take with me to my current apartment. However, it did eventually bounce back and didn’t mind being transplanted to its current location, which it likes just fine.

110. Shepherdia canadensis (Canada buffaloberry) Next weekend!

111. Solidago canadensis (Canadian goldenrod) I tried to buy this plant but they accidentally sent me an aster species instead. However, there are a bunch of goldenrods growing a different area that I didn’t plant and I believe to be this species.

112. Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod) Droops a lot but bounces back quickly.

113. Solidago simplex (spike goldenrod/sticky goldenrod/Mt. Albert Goldenrod) I’ve tried this once before and it died, possibly from being small enough that the ledge it was next to prevented it from getting enough sunlight. I’ve planted the new one far enough from the ledge that it does not get shaded by it, so hopefully that will do the trick.

114. Spiraea alba (meadowsweet) The first year in the new place it struggled a bit, but it’s fine now and it flowered last year.

115. Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) Next weekend! It’s also the first time I’ve seen it available anywhere.

116. Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (fringed blue aster/Lindley’s aster/northern heart-leaved aster) A very polite aster, or maybe it’s just being kept under control by the sweet grass (055). Its foliage is that lovely gray-green colour often referred to as “blue” when people talk about holly, spruce, and hosta leaves, and its flowers are that pale blue people often think of as purple or periwinkle but shows up digitally as light blue.

117. Symphyotrichum cordifolium (heart-leaved aster) Doing fine where I planted it.

118. Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth aster) I didn’t have the tag and thought this was a violet when I planted it. It now thinks it owns the space, but looks very nice when it’s in bloom.

119. Symphyotrichum lanceolatum (panicled aster/lance-leaf aster/willow aster/tall white aster/eastern line aster/white-panicle aster/narrow-leaf Michaelmas daisy) Lots of common names. It decided it belonged on the sidewalk last year, but surprisingly agreed when I placed its branches behind the stone line of the garden. We’ll see if we can come to the same agreement this year.

120. Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) Not flowering yet this year, but looks it’s getting ready. They’re such a lovely rich violet to purple and I love that they flower so late into autumn too.

121. Taraxacum officinale ceratophorum (fleshy dandelion/horned dandelion/rough dandelion) Obviously didn’t buy it. lol But it is in my garden along with non-native subspecies. Since they don’t harm the plants they grow among, they can stay as long as they’re not in my way.

122. Trillium erectum (red trillium) Next weekend! And I possibly already have one. See, I ordered three trillium species last year as bulbs and planted them, but lost two of the tags. Only two species came up and only the one with the tag flowered this year. So I don’t know if the one that didn’t flower was erectum or grandifolium, so I ordered both again.

123. Trillium flexipes (nodding trillium) It came up this year and it was lovely. Died back now though.

124. Trillium grandiflorum (great white trillium) Next weekend! And I might already have one: see 109. Ontario’s provincial flower. I once made a set of coat of arms style designs with each of the provincial flowers and animals.

125. Urtica dioica gracilis (stinging nettle) Planted itself in my garden back at the old place and if I didn’t trust the other plants would be safe after I left (I was right, by the way; the whole backyard has been turned over) I definitely didn’t think this would be either, so I potted it to take with and got stung for my trouble, but it’s happy in its new home. Lives up to its name, of course, but I did eat a few of the tops earlier this year in soup and later in pasta sauce, so I suppose we’re even.

126. Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry/wild blueberry) When you see “wild blueberries” in the grocery store in Ontario, it’s this. It always seems to struggle with mould in the spring. Every year I’ve had it. I got it a friend in hopes it would help, but they seem to both be dealing with it now. I’ll have cut back the bad branches and hope that helps. It usually does, but I don’t know why it starts in the first place. None of the neighbouring plants are suffering.

127. Vaccinium corymbosom (highbush blueberry) This is the species you’ll most often see in the grocery store in Ontario as “blueberries”. My bush always makes some flowers and berries, but it’s not doing great right now. Not sure why. It doesn’t get mould the way the lowbush blueberries do. I hope it’s not on its way out. You can get them at a lot of garden centres, but there’s usually a minimum amount of plants or a minimum cost, and garden centres that specialize in native plants don’t often carry these, while garden centres that don’t often don’t have any other native species or at least not any I need or have room for. So for my purposes they’re kind of hard to get.

128. Verbena hastata (blue vervain) Was off to a slow start this year, but it’s doing just fine now.

129. Viburnum acerifolium (mapleleaf viburnum) Next weekend!

130. Viburnum lentago (nannyberry) It’s doing fine, just fine, but I doubt I’ll get any berries for some time yet.

131. Viburnum nudum cassinoides (Witherod viburnum) A lovely little bush so far. Maybe I’ll get flowers next spring.

132. Viola adunca (hookedspur violet/western dog violet/early blue violet) Hopefully coming by the end of this month! My first go with this plant was not successful. Hopefully better luck this time.

133. Viola blanda (sweet white violet) Exactly what it says on the tin. There’s a delicate pink to the centre, and the foliage is nice too.

134. Viola canadensis (Canada violet) It’s tall for a violet, and spreading nicely with lots of flowers.

135. Viola labradorica (purple Labrador violet) Next weekend! Despite it’s name, it is also native to Ontario.

136. Viola sororia (wood violet/blue violet) This is most common violet you see generally, which makes it hard, though not impossible, to find in garden centres. However, they’ve planted themselves in the yard and I’ve successfully transferred one to one of the beds. I have other place I want to put the rest before I dig up that area.

137. Vitis riparia (riverbank grape) I have two plants because I didn’t realize when I bought it that hiding among the weeds in another part of the garden there already was one. Oh well. Guaranteed cross-pollination of two genetically diverse individuals. They’re both doing well.

138. Zizia aurea (golden alexanders) They’re doing well. It looks a lot like wild parsnip, which it is related to, but it’s much more friendly, and I ate some this spring.

I may be able to order more. We’ll see. One of my go-to places says they won’t ship until “opening day”. I guess they mean when their area reopens, but that might not be till next year. Meantime, I will continue to construct my garden wall in the back.

[rena-demo-gardens]

Hopi Tea Greenthread

Scientific Name: Thelesperma megapotamicum

Perennial; 15-30”; full sun; sand, loam, clay; very drought tolerant

Description: Hopi Tea Greenthread (also called Navajo Tea Greenthread) is a perennial wildflower that is common in Colorado’s dry prairies and foothills. It has very thin blue-green stems and foliage and bright yellow blossoms that often seem too heavy for their spindly stalks. It’s common to find some of the wiry plants leaning toward the ground. Tall stems bear a solitary flower bud each, but the species always lends an attractive and interesting effect, both growing in airy colonies and dispersed as accents within diverse plant communities that in Northern Colorado often include fringed sage (Artemisia frigida), needle-and-thread grass (Hesperostipa comata), bush sunflower (Helianthus pumilus), purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea), prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). The leaves are so small and thin that even from a short distance it may appear that there are no leaves at all, but just the solitary buds atop tall, thin stalks. After flowering, the plants continue to add interest with their bulbous, brown, “tufted” seed heads (see picture below). This native perennial belongs to a genus of plants called Thelesperma, which, translated from Greek, means “nipple seed.” Apparently, close inspection of the surface of the seeds will reveal nipple-like bumps. While the scientific name may leave you scratching your head, it’s easy to understand how the genus got its common name of “greenthreads.” Plants in this genus have smooth, thin stems and leaves that seem to be little more than various configurations of green threads. Megapotamicum (Greek roots, Latin suffixes) means “of/belonging to the big river,” which in this case, sources say, is a reference to the Rio Grande. Hopi tea greenthread is not exactly a show-stopping beauty, but it is a terrific plant for pollinator appeal and a great addition to your garden if you’re interested in making your own teas and dyes. This is another of Colorado’s native plants that has a long history of cultural and medicinal uses by Native American peoples, including, as the common names imply, Navajo and Hopi tribes. Its common names reflect its very popular use to this day in making a reportedly delicious tea from boiling or steeping the stems, with or without the flowers. The plant has also been used for hundreds of years to make dyes. It turns out Hopi tea greenthread contains luteolin, a yellow substance that has been used for millennia as the principal compound in yellow dyes. You can harvest cuttings or entire plants -- roots and all -- dry them, and use them later. Hopi tea greenthread is easy to grow in a sunny, dry location, but nurseries usually do not offer seedlings and seed vendors sometimes run out of stock. When buying seed, be sure to check the full scientific name, confirm it’s Thelesperma megapotamicum, or research whatever scientific name you find instead, because other greenthread species are also sold as “Navajo tea” or “Hopi tea.” (A good, widely available substitute for T. megapotamicum that is also native to our area is Thelesperma filifolium. That species is also used for teas and dyes, but is a shorter, 8-15”, V-shaped clumping plant with an abundance of delightful daisy-shaped yellow flowers. It has a shorter lifespan than T. megapotamicum, dying off after a couple of years, but it reseeds itself well.) You can start T. megapotamicum seeds in pots, but because it’s a tap-rooted plant, seedlings must be put in the ground while they are still just a few inches tall. Better yet, direct sow in the fall, lightly scratching the seeds into the soil surface. A sprinkling of coarse sand, squeegee, or small gravel will help keep seeds in place and conserve moisture, as well as mark the seeded area. After the seeds germinate, keep the seeded area evenly moist until the seedlings reach about 5-6”. Normal rainfall will then sustain these plants, which really like their soil quite dry. 

Height: 15-30”

Spread/Spacing: 8”/10”

Exposure: Full sun

Soil Tolerances: Adaptable: sandy, loamy, or heavy clay; prefers well-drained soil.

Soil Moisture: Dry to moist

Water: Low; excellent drought tolerance

Bloom: May-October; bright yellow

Pollinator value:  High attraction for native bees and other insects.

Deer & Rabbit Resistance: yes, very good

Where they like to grow: Sandy or rocky prairies; roadsides in the plains and foothills.

Photo credit: Madeline Maher

[rena-demo-gardens]

Fringed Sage(brush)

Scientific Name: Artemisia frigida

6-18″; full sun; any well-drained soil (sandy or clayey); drought tolerant

Description: Fringed sage(brush) is a perennial, tap-rooted sub-shrub with soft, feathery, highly aromatic silvery-green foliage that hides a woody base. It is not related to culinary sage, though it is an aromatic herb. The plant’s “fringyness” comes from the small, deeply divided leaves that cover the stems from ground up. Tiny silky hairs cover the leaves, giving the plant its distinctive silvery-green cast and making the whole plant soft to the touch. Stalks rise above the foliage in mid-summer to sport a multitude of tiny yellow flowers, which spew an abundance of pollen. (Allergy sufferers beware.) Flower stalks can be cut down to encourage new growth and maintain a more mounded overall shape.

Height: 6-18”

Spread/Spacing: 12-18” / 36”

Exposure: full sun

Soil Tolerances: Shallow to deep, fine (clayey) to coarse (sandy), well-drained; soils with calcareous parent materials; best in poor to moderately fertile soil.

Soil Moisture: dry

Water: low; excellent drought tolerance

Bloom: July-August (flowers are small; the silvery, feathery foliage is the plant’s main feature)

Pollinator value: Though it is wind-pollinated, attracts large numbers of native bees; provides nesting materials or nesting structure for native bees. Artemisia species are also used as food plants by the larvae of a number of moth and butterfly species and other insects.

Deer & Rabbit Resistance: Eaten by mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, sage-grouse, greater prairie-chickens, and some rabbits at certain times of the year, but stands up well to such browsing. 

Where they like to grow: Dry disturbed areas; dry meadow, gentle slopes, high plains, alpine areas. Because it reseeds freely to dominate an area if given bare ground, it can make a good groundcover and can be used for erosion control.