Spring was late in coming this year, but it looks like summer will be a bit early. We are having highs in the upper 80s this week! I now have arthritis in my left knee, and am going to physical therapy, thankful they are not telling me to stop gardening. I have been sick over a week, though, and have not had the energy to garden. I did go out and take some photos today, and want to get a Wildflower Wednesday post linked up to Gail's blog before the day is over. Most of the photos did not turn out well, due to the amount of sunlight, but I found some that will be OK.
I am sure I have featured Golden Alexanders for Wildflower Wednesday before. They sure are easy to grow, and self sow all over the place, so I have lots to share with others in the spring. I have seen a few bees on them so far, but have not gotten photos of them. There are other creatures that make use of them as well. They are also a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars, and I have been pleased to see some on the plants.
Here is the view from the porch. Look at all of the yellow! A variety of kinds of amsonias add blue to the area.
The yellow blooms on the plants along the sidewalk are what I call native coral bells, and Lady Bird Johnson's page call prairie alumroot. These have been growing here quite a few years, and have done quite well in this dry, sunny area. All the other yellow blooms are the golden alexanders.
Here is a view from the street, where there is some Monarda bradburiana in front of a volunteer clump of golden alexanders. This monarda is not native to Nebraska, but it seems to do well in the flower beds.
I normally cut back a number of plants, such as the asters in the spring, so they will be less floppy, but I have not had the energy to do more than what I had done before I got sick, which was just a few.
I am not remembering which Amsonias are which now. I thought the narrow leaved ones were Amsonia hubrichtii, but when I looked that up, the plants I saw looked different. I don't know if any of them are Nebraska natives, but they are U.S. natives, and I am glad they get part sun, since that is their preference. I like all of the blue and yellow.
The last two photos did not load at first, so they are out of order. this is the front yard and shows a baptisia blooming. The cool looking plants getting ready to bloom are penstemons of some kind. I looked up shell leaf and wax leaf, but didn't figure it out.
This is definitely one I didn't plant, but it seems very happy and exuberant here.
The plants that grow around the yard receive different amounts of light and moisture. When I looked up golden alexanders for the post, I noticed it said the plant likes a moist site. It seems pretty adaptable in our SE Nebraska yard. I do not give them special treatment. I think I do do some deadheading, though, so it won't flop. Here is what Lady Bird Johnson's page says.
I hope spring is going well for you, and you stay well! I am going to be so tickled to be able to do my gardening thing!
I am sure I have featured Golden Alexanders for Wildflower Wednesday before. They sure are easy to grow, and self sow all over the place, so I have lots to share with others in the spring. I have seen a few bees on them so far, but have not gotten photos of them. There are other creatures that make use of them as well. They are also a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars, and I have been pleased to see some on the plants.
Here is the view from the porch. Look at all of the yellow! A variety of kinds of amsonias add blue to the area.
The yellow blooms on the plants along the sidewalk are what I call native coral bells, and Lady Bird Johnson's page call prairie alumroot. These have been growing here quite a few years, and have done quite well in this dry, sunny area. All the other yellow blooms are the golden alexanders.
Here is a view from the street, where there is some Monarda bradburiana in front of a volunteer clump of golden alexanders. This monarda is not native to Nebraska, but it seems to do well in the flower beds.
I normally cut back a number of plants, such as the asters in the spring, so they will be less floppy, but I have not had the energy to do more than what I had done before I got sick, which was just a few.
I am not remembering which Amsonias are which now. I thought the narrow leaved ones were Amsonia hubrichtii, but when I looked that up, the plants I saw looked different. I don't know if any of them are Nebraska natives, but they are U.S. natives, and I am glad they get part sun, since that is their preference. I like all of the blue and yellow.
The last two photos did not load at first, so they are out of order. this is the front yard and shows a baptisia blooming. The cool looking plants getting ready to bloom are penstemons of some kind. I looked up shell leaf and wax leaf, but didn't figure it out.
This is definitely one I didn't plant, but it seems very happy and exuberant here.
The plants that grow around the yard receive different amounts of light and moisture. When I looked up golden alexanders for the post, I noticed it said the plant likes a moist site. It seems pretty adaptable in our SE Nebraska yard. I do not give them special treatment. I think I do do some deadheading, though, so it won't flop. Here is what Lady Bird Johnson's page says.
I hope spring is going well for you, and you stay well! I am going to be so tickled to be able to do my gardening thing!
