On the Homefront: My Strawberry Patch

Two years ago I added a 4-foot square raised bed to the small enclosed courtyard at the front of our house and decided to turn it into a strawberry patch.  I purchased nine strawberry plants, of a variety called Quinault which I had never heard of but decided to try anyway.  I had never had much luck growing strawberries in the past and was not even sure they would grow well in New Mexico, but I decided I had nothing to lose by trying - the pandemic had just started and I wanted to do some experimental gardening just to keep myself occupied.

Fast forward to the present day and to my surprise this small strawberry patch is flourishing!  The plants produced some fruit last year, but only enough for me to harvest a handful almost every day in the summer for a small snack.  However, each plant spread numerous runners which also grew quite well, so much so that I have had to pull excess plants out several times so that they don't overrun their raised bed as well as the surrounding area.  The plants overwinter well and come back vigorously in the spring.

This year my strawberry harvest was so abundant that I was able to gather about two pints of small but sweet berries recently.  I decided to macerate the berries in about two tablespoons of coconut sugar and then serve them as strawberry shortcake using a limoncello loaf cake I found on sale at Walmart.  The combination of sweet strawberries, slightly tart lemon cake, and a generous amount of whipped cream is my idea of the perfect dessert.  And since today is National Strawberry Parfait Day, I think I will layer these ingredients in a glass to make a parfait in celebration - what a great dessert for a summer day!  I am so glad I decided on a whim to start a strawberry patch, and look forward to years of harvesting my own sweet strawberries.

I added a generous topping of whipped cream after taking this photo because I wanted to showcase the berries.

Wish List Wednesdays: Tulip Dinnerware Collection from Anthropologie

Nothing says spring like tulips, and wouldn't these cheerful 11-inch Tulip Dinner Plates (set of four for $80) from Anthropologie look lovely in a spring tablescape!  The hand-painted stoneware is dishwasher and microwave safe.  You can complete this dinnerware collection with bowls (set of four for $64), mugs (set of four for $56), and side plates (set of four for $56):

Additional pieces available in this pattern include a tea-for-one set ($38), a sugar pot ($14), and a creamer ($14):

What a great way to add garden flowers to your home décor, even if you cannot get outside to garden right now.  And best of all, these flowers will never fade!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Sunflower Pollen Has Health Benefits for Bees!

From New Mexico Beekeepers Association

Gardening season is almost upon us here in Georgia - I may even plant some cold-hardy seeds this weekend.  When it comes time to plant more sensitive varieties, I will definitely be planting some sunflower seeds this year, thanks to a recent study which found that sunflower pollen can be beneficial to bees.  A recent study published in the September 2018 issue of Scientific Reports concluded that "...sunflower (Helianthus annuus) pollen dramatically and consistently reduced a protozoan pathogen (Crithidia bombi) infection in bumble bees (Bombus impatiens) and also reduced a microsporidian pathogen (Nosema ceranae) of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), indicating the potential for broad anti-parasitic effects".  The scientists do caution, however, that an exclusive diet of sunflower pollen is too low in protein and some amino acids, so additional food sources should be provided as well.

While most people immediately think of the European honey bee when considering ways to protect plant pollinators, there are many other bee species (as well as other insects and birds) that pollinate plants.  According to a Discover Magazine article, the best strategy the average person can choose that will help all pollinators is to replace as much lawn as possible with a wide variety of flowering plants.  Most people who garden seem to do this anyway!  It would not hurt and it just might help pollinators if gardeners include some sunflowers in their mix of flowering plants, so why not plant some sunflower seeds on your property this year?

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From The Micro Gardener

From SF Gate

             

Wish List Wednesdays: Breck's Gifts Miracle Amaryllis in Pine Bough Pitcher

Even though today is Poinsettia Day, I am not a big fan of poinsettias (too gaudy), nor do I care for Christmas cacti (too spiny) or paperwhites (too smelly!).  Red amaryllis is a different story, though - it is my favorite Christmas flowering plant.  Until recently our local Kroger sold already forced bulbs for the holiday season, and I was always very good at picking one that would be in full bloom on Christmas day.  Now they only sell the boxed kits just like everyone else, so it has been a while since I had an amaryllis for the holidays.  However, when I saw the Miracle Amaryllis in Pine Bough Pitcher (on sale for $27.99) from Breck's Gifts, I decided I had to have one, not just for the plant but for the pitcher as well, which matches a set of dinnerware that I own.  If it is not in bloom for Christmas (I ordered it rather late), it should be flowering close to Valentine's Day, which would make me just as happy.  It is time to bring my favorite flower back into my winter holiday décor!  (If this amaryllis arrangement is not your style, check out the other options here.)
             

On the Homefront: Pumpkin Patch, Horse of a Different Color, and a Puerto Rican Poinsettia

I am still working on the Weekend Wardrobe post (too much going on at the moment, including deck maintenance and trying to decide if I need to make a quick trip to New Mexico).  I hope to have it ready for tomorrow, but until then I thought I would post a quick picture of my prolific pumpkin patch.  Our weather has turned drier since this photo was taken, so the plants are drying out but the pumpkins themselves have started to grow rapidly and ripen.  Like last year, it looks like there will be about a dozen, and once again they will probably stink like the manure pile they are growing in, but since they stay outside they will still make excellent fall décor for the yard!

Summer has also had a profound effect on the color of my normally black horse.  Horses come in two variations of black, the so-called true or jet black, which has a bluish cast and stays the same year-round (the black mare I owned years ago was that color), and the more common fading black, which has a reddish base and will become lighter when exposed to sunlight.  Obviously my current horse is of the latter variety, and this year he has become especially light-colored, sometimes looking almost golden in the right light.  He even seems to have a bit of dappling in his coat, which I had never noticed before!

And jumping to a completely unrelated topic (because this is my blog and I can do that if I want!), the above image was taken by my husband at the field station in Puerto Rico where he has been doing ecological research for decades.  The poinsettia on the far right in the picture (the tall plant with the red "leaves") was planted by us the very first time we visited the site (it was during the Christmas season and the poinsettia, which was very small at the time, served as our impromptu tree).  As you can see, it has grown to impressive proportions!  It reminds my husband of that long-ago Christmas past whenever he sees it - I am impressed that it has lived so long and gotten so large.

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I hope your garden is growing luxuriantly this year, and your animals are only changing color if they are supposed to (and is it really time to start thinking about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas?)!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the Year, Part 4b

From Balcony Garden Web

For my last 2018 garden picks of the year post, I present the six All-America Selections choices for National Edible-Vegetable Winners!  Like all AAS winners, they are new for the season, tested the previous season by volunteer horticulture professionals, and judged to be the superior performers in impartial trials.  Now let's get started:

Sweet American Dream Corn

Corn is not my favorite food, but when I do eat it I prefer sweet, tender bicolor corn.  If I had the perfect spot for a big vegetable garden I would definitely give AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner Sweet American Dream Corn a try.  According to the trial judges, the flavor and performance of this variety topped that of their previous bicolor corn winner!  Excellent germination, slightly earlier maturation, and super sweet, tender kernels from vigorous, healthy plants that performed well in a variety of growing locations make this sweet corn variety an excellent choice for the home vegetable garden.

Pak Choi Asian Delight F1

The only Asian vegetable I have ever grown before is Japanese eggplant, but if I had a big garden plot for vegetables I would give Asian Delight F1 Pak Choi a try.  AAS trials found that this AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner was significantly slower to bolt than any other pak choi (aka bok choy) variety, which means that it has the potential for much greater yield.  The small to mid-size heads have sweet, tender white ribs and dark green, textured leaves.

Red Ember F1 Cayenne Pepper

I am not a fan of hot peppers, but for those who are, AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner Red Ember F1 Cayenne Pepper is a variety to try.  Vigorous plants produce abundant fruits that mature early, with a taste that is sweet and moderately spicy.  This hot pepper can be grown in the garden or in containers, and would be a versatile ingredient in many recipes.

Roulette F1 Habanero Pepper

The unique feature of AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner Roulette F1 Habanero Pepper is its lack of spicy heat, which means that this is a pepper I would seriously consider growing.  Abundant ruits mature early, are relatively uniform in size, and have more of a citrusy rather than spicy flavor.  These peppers work well for garden plots or containers.  I will be on the lookout for this habanero pepper variety in my local garden supply stores!

Cocktail Red Racer F1 Tomato

If you are looking for a tomato variety that is neither too big nor too small, will grow in the garden or in a container, and produces early, uniformly-sized clusters of fruits that have good acid/sweet flavor balance, than look no further than the AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner Cocktail Red Racer F1 Tomato.  Plants are compact and determinate (bush-type), and if you prefer to start your own seeds they are available in organic or conventional options.

Valentine F1 Tomato

The final AAS 2018 Edible-Vegetable National Winner selected is the Valentine F1 Tomato, a grape tomato variety with deep red coloring and very sweet flavor.  The heat-resistant vines are suitable for gardens or containers, but are indeterminate and must be staked.  Plants are vigorous and prolific.  The fruits mature early, and resist cracking and flavor loss.  Grape tomatoes are my favorite, so I would be happy to give this variety a try!

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In addition to the national Edible-Vegetable Winners, there are three regional winners in this category as well (Mexican Sunrise F1 Hungarian Pepper suitable for the Southeast and Mountain/ Southwest regions; Mexican Sunset F1 Hungarian Pepper suitable for the Southeast; and Chef's Choice Red F1 Tomato suitable for the Southeast and West/Northwest regions).  If you live in these areas you might want to check out the top picks chosen for your region.

I am busily planting what I can in my limited garden spaces, but we have been getting so much rain lately that I am afraid I will lose some of my new plants to rot!  I hope we get to see the sun again soon, but the weather forecast is not promising.  May you have more fortuitous gardening weather in your location, and if you need rain I will do my best to will some of ours in your direction!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the Year, Part 4a

AAS Display Garden (from All-America Selections)

Today's post is the first of a two-part series describing the 2018 garden picks of the year from All-America Selections (AAS).  Every year AAS, a non-profit North American plant trailing organization, tests brand new garden plant varieties and chooses the top performers as their AAS Winners.  Six flowering annuals were selected for 2018, so let's take a look, shall we?

Canna South Pacific Orange F1

Vivid orange flowers and bright green foliage characterize Canna South Pacific Orange F1, a 2018 AAS National Flower Winner, as does increased basal branching and a prolonged blooming period.  This tall upright annual prefers full sun, is attractive to pollinators, and can be grown as a container or landscape plant.

Cuphea Floriglory Diana

Cuphea Floriglory Diana is the 2018 AAS National Ornamental Vegetative Winner.  Commonly known as Mexican heather, this drought-tolerant mounded annual has dark green foliage and abundant intensely magenta flowers.  Compact in size, the plant prefers full sun and works well in mass plantings or in containers.

Gypsophila Gypsy White Improved

Gypsophila Gypsy White Improved is another 2018 AAS National Flower Winner.  Also known as baby's breath, this plant is the non-invasive species Gypsophila muralis (not the invasive Gypsophila paniculata).  More abundant large semi-double white flowers, better branching and growth habit, a prolonged blooming period, and better heat tolerance make this variety a big improvement over its predecessors.  With afternoon shade and sufficient watering during the hottest days, this mounding annual is perfect for containers or flower beds.

Marigold Super Hero Spry

Yet another 2018 AAS National Flower Winner is Marigold Super Hero Spry, a bushy, compact, mounded annual with vibrant bicolor flowers of maroon red and golden yellow.  This early-blooming French marigold does well in full sun, is drought tolerant, requires no deadheading, and can be grown in containers or the garden.

Ornamental Pepper Onyx Red

I think that Ornamental Pepper Onyx Red is my favorite of the 2018 AAS National Flower Winner selections!  Tiny black leaves and multitudes of round bright red fruits on a compact but well-branched plant make this ornamental pepper stand out in any garden setting.  Full sun and warmer temperatures are preferred by this drought-tolerant annual.  Growth is vigorous but the bushy and compact growth habit is maintained.  I will definitely be looking for this one at my local garden centers!

Zinnia Queeny Lime Orange

The final 2018 AAS National Flower Winner is Zinnia Queeny Lime Orange, and it is stunning.  Very large bicolor blooms in gradations of lime, yellow, peach, and salmon with a dark orange center characterize this zinnia variety.  The plant itself is a tall, upright, drought-tolerant annual which prefers full sun.  It is an outstanding choice for a cutting flower garden.

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Now that you have seen the exciting new flowering annual picks from AAS, I'm sure all of the vegetable gardeners out there are looking forward to the new vegetable varieties selected for 2018, so stay tuned for next week's final 2018 garden picks of the year post!
               

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the year, Part 3

From Proven Winners

Well, I thought that this would be my last 2018 garden picks of the year post, but I realized I had forgotten one more garden organization's selections, so there will be two more of these posts after this week.  Today, let's take a look at the 2018 National Plant of the Year choices from Proven Winners, a North American plant propagating company.  This year there are three featured flowering plants - an annual, a perennial, and a landscape plant:

From Four Star Greenhouse

The 2018 Annual of the Year is Supertunia Bordeaux Petunia.  Supertunia petunias are known for their profuse flowering, vigorous growth, masses of blooms from spring to frost, and the fact that they need no deadheading (removal of spent flowers).  Supertunia Bordeaux has two-toned purple flowers that look lovely in containers or in landscape plantings.

From Proven Winners

For their 2018 Perennial of the Year, Proven Winners chose Primo 'Black Pearl' Heuchera.  Also known as coral bells, heucheras have pretty light pink flowers on upright stalks, but they are primarily known for their impressive foliage colors, and this variety is no exception.  Glossy jet-black ruffled leaves are densely packed on this compact mounding plant.  It grows exceptionally well in containers as well as flower beds.

From Proven Winners

The Proven Winners 2018 Landscape Plant of the Year is Spilled Wine Weigela.  Weigelas are dense, rounded, deciduous shrubs with bright pink flowers.  Spilled Wine Weigela is a compact variety that only grows to about 2-3 feet in height.  It has deep wine red leaves and masses of magenta pink flowers.  It is not preferred by deer, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds, and looks great planted en masse in large or small landscaping beds.

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Proven Winners has added four new shrub categories to their 2019 National Plant of the Year program - a landscape shrub, a rose, a hydrangea, and a flowering shrub.  You can read about them here (I will feature them in posts next year).  Next week I will begin a two-part post for the All America Selections 2018 winners, starting with the flowering plant choices and (finally!) ending this gardening series with the 2018 vegetable picks.  I hope everyone who loves gardening is able to get out and start planting by now!
           

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the Year, Part 2

From The Spruce

This week's 2018 garden picks of the year were selected by various organizations which focus on very specific plant categories.  Let's start with the only tree pick for 2018:

Image at left from Dammann's Lawn, Garden & Landscape Center;
images at right from The Tree Store.

The Society of Municipal Arborists have chosen the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) as their 2018 Urban Tree of the Year.  Native to much of the eastern United States and related to magnolias, the fast-growing tulip tree can reach 60 to 90 feet in height.  The tree's name comes from the fact that both its leaves and flowers are tulip-shaped.  The yellow-green flowers are large and showy, and fall foliage is a stunning deep gold color.  Because of its size and tendency to easily drop branches, this tree is best planted in areas with plenty of room.  It is also not tolerant of salty air so coastal locations are not ideal.

Hops bine (from Herb Pharm)

The 2018 International Herb Association Herb of the Year is Hops (Humulus lupus).  Hops is a very vigorous, even rather invasive, herbaceous perennial bine in the same family as hemp and cannabis.  The plant is grown for its very aromatic, sticky female flowers, which are harvested mainly for use in the brewing of beer.  I have to say that I am not a beer drinker and am not fond of the aroma or flavor of hops, but the plant itself can be a distinctive and beautiful addition to the herb garden.

Allium 'Millenium' (from NVK Connon Nurseries)

The Perennial Plant Association choice for its 2018 Perennial Plant of the Year is Allium 'Millenium' (and yes, millenium is spelled with one 'n').  This herbaceous perennial in the onion family has large, globe-shaped purple-pink flowers that are pollinator magnets - butterflies and bees love them!  The plant prefers full sun and well-drained soil, and is relatively pest and disease free, making it a great choice for a perennial flower garden.

Mountain mint (from Land Stewards Ecological Landscape Design)

For its 2018 Plant of the Year, the Garden Club of America has picked Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum).  Mountain mint is a North American native perennial that is another pollinator magnet and is also relatively pest and disease free.  It has a vigorous but non-invasive growth habit, blue-green foliage, aromatic leaves, and pinkish to white flowers that bloom from July to September.

American beautyberry (from Almost Perfect Landscaping)

Last but not least, the Georgia Native Plant Society has selected one of my favorite plants, American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) as its 2018 Native Plant of the Year.  American beautyberry is a perennial shrub native to the southeastern United States.  It will grow in full sun or partial shade and can adapt to a variety of soil conditions.  The flowers are insignificant except to butterflies that feed on the nectar, but it is the clusters of tiny purple berries that are the main attraction, both for their beauty and as a food source for birds and mammals.

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Next week I intend to wrap up this series on 2018 gardening picks of the year.  By now just about everyone should be experiencing prime gardening weather (at least I hope so!), so it is time to get serious about spring planting.  Our irises are flowering profusely and the daylilies are just starting, so I think it is finally safe to purchase and plant the summer annuals and vegetables.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2018 Garden Picks of the Year, Part 1

From Style Estate

Today we begin the series of weekly posts covering all of the 2018 gardening picks of the year I have found, starting with the National Garden Bureau's selections.  Each year the NGB selects a favorite in four different categories - perennial, annual, bulb, and edible.  Below are the 2018 choices:

Coreopsis verticillata (from NC State Extension)

The NGB 2018 Perennial of the Year is Coreopsis, commonly called "tickseed" (Coreopsis spp.).  This shrubby perennial is native to the Americas, with flowers ranging in color from pale yellow to deep burgundy.  Some of the species are annuals, but the most common garden perennials are Coreopsis verticillata, C. auriculata, and C. grandiflora.  Coreopsis is considered drought-tolerant, preferring well-drained soils and full sun.

For its 2018 Annual of the Year, the NGB chose Calibrachoa, or "million bells" (Calibrachoa spp.).  This semi-hardy annual is native to South America.  Although only fairly recently introduced as a garden plant, it has quickly become a favorite, particularly for containers and hanging baskets, thanks to its prodigious production of numerous brightly colored flowers which resemble miniature petunias.  Calibrachoa prefers well-drained soil (water only when almost dry) plus full to partial sun, and can tolerate light frost.

The NGB 2018 pick for Bulb of the Year is the tulip (Tulipa spp.).  A garden favorite for centuries, these spring-flowering bulbs come in a dizzying array of hues, with a history that is just as colorful.  There are over 150 species of tulips with more than 3,000 varieties.  Plant tulip bulbs in the fall - they look best when planted in groups of 12 or more.  While tulips will rebloom, their first bloom is their best, and they are often treated as annuals rather than perennials.

For its 2018 Vegetable of the Year, the NGB selected the beet (Beta vulgaris).  This Mediterranean native has been cultivated for centuries, and is now grown around the world.  Though probably most familiar as a processed canned or pickled vegetable, beets have become more popular as a fresh vegetable, whether eaten raw in salads or prepared and cooked at home (roasting is one of the most popular cooking methods).  Beets are high in fiber, vitamins A and C, and iron.  Young beet leaves can also be eaten, either raw or cooked.  The color pigment in red beets is often used as a dye, especially in foods as it is safe for consumption.

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Next week I will present Part 2 of the 2018 gardening picks of the year.  Meanwhile, weather permitting, you might as well get busy planting your beets and tickseed, and hanging your baskets full of million bells (save the tulip planting for the fall, however).  Happy gardening, everyone!
               

This 'n That Thursdays: Two Fascinating Facts I Learned at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Towering orchid display at the 2018 Orchid Daze exhibit
(from The Orchid Column)

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I visited the Atlanta Botanical Garden to see the Orchid Daze display before it ended.  As happens more often than not, I forgot to bring my camera, but that did not stop us from enjoying the Garden.  We went on a Thursday hoping that it would be less crowded than on a weekend, and except for a few school class trips there were indeed fewer people, although it was still an impressive crowd for a weekday.  One of the perks of a less crowded day is that the docents have more time to answer questions, which is how we got to learn two fascinating tidbits of information that were new to us.

Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis)
(from Atlanta Botanical Garden)

The first fact involves tropical frogs.  You may not know that the Atlanta Botanical Garden has a facility for keeping and raising rare and endangered tropical frog species from Central and South America.  Several frog exhibits are located near the entrance to the Fuqua Conservatory where the orchids are housed.  One of the species on display is the Golden Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis), whose deadly skin secretions were used to poison the tips of blowgun darts.  The garden volunteer at this exhibit told us that the frog poison comes from the insects that the frogs eat, and that these insects in turn get their toxins from the plants that they ingest.  The most interesting fact she mentioned, though, is that if the frogs are raised on nontoxic insects, then the frogs themselves are nontoxic as well!  And by the way, all of the Golden Poison Frogs in the Garden's display, which were raised at the Garden on nontoxic insects, are not poisonous.

Flowering Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia)
(from Orchids Forum)

We then moved on to the orchid center, where we learned our second new fact of the day.  We first explored the Orchid Daze exhibit, and then went into the Orchid Display House in the Fuqua Orchid Center to see what orchids were flowering there.   We like to see the vanilla orchid vines in flower, and I am always on the hunt for any fragrant orchids.  We asked a volunteer which of the orchids in flower were fragrant, and she mentioned several, but one in particular that we had never heard of before captivated us.  It turns out that there is a species of orchid with a distinctive coconut scent, and it happened to be flowering when we were there.  Known as the Coconut Pie Orchid (Maxillaria tenuifolia), it also has long spiky leaves, prominent pseudobulbs, and small but pretty speckled red flowers.  The aroma of this orchid is heavenly, and so strong it smells more like coconuts than the real thing!

We were told that these orchids are not too difficult to keep, and that it was possible to purchase them online.  When we got home I had to do a search, and actually found a great source on Amazon!  Unlike most sources, this supplier sells good-sized plants already mature enough to flower, although they do not ship them in flower.  (Unfortunately, my source is currently out of stock, but there are other suppliers on Amazon, and this one may be worth trying as the seller gets good reviews).  I immediately ordered one just before Easter and it arrived the following Tuesday, well wrapped, healthy, and undamaged.  It now sits in our most plant-friendly window, and if we are lucky we may get it to flower one of these days.  I hope so, as I look forward to having that luscious coconut scent wafting through our house!

The next Garden event I am awaiting with anticipation is the Imaginary Worlds display which opens on May 5th (aren't those camels fantastic?).  There have been two previous mosaiculture exhibits at the Garden, and they are so unique and impressive that the Garden has actually kept a few of the previous displays as permanent features.  I had never even heard of mosaiculture before I saw these exhibits.  You may want to check out any botanical gardens located near where you live (or visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden if you are in the area), because you never know what fascinating facts you may learn!
             

Wish List Wednesdays: Los Poblanos Lavender Bath Products

I am obsessed with lavender.  I absolutely love the fragrance, and always try to find lavender-scented soaps and lotions to use at home.  The first day of our trip to New Mexico was spent at Los Poblanos Inn, which is a working lavender farm as well as an inn.  They make a variety of lavender products, and stock their rooms with several of their bath products for guests to try.  Naturally, I was thrilled!  I used all five of the options provided, and love them all.  The farm has a gift shop, and products are available online, so I will be ordering many of their products soon, including the lotion, shampoo, conditioner (each $12 for 8 ounces), and liquid hand soap ($18 for 8 ounces).  We brought a couple of their bar soaps home with us (piñon and lavender honey, $12 each)), and although I have not yet had a chance to use them, I am sure I will adore them as well.  If you too love lavender, I suggest trying their Lavender Traveler Gift Set:

For just $20, you can try four of their lavender bath products and choose which ones you like the most, although I can almost guarantee that you will want them all!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: 2017 Native Plants of the Year

A native plants-based woodland garden in New York
(from Dawn's Wild Things).

Just when you thought I had forgotten about plants of the year, I have one more post about the 2017 native plant picks for birds and other wildlife from the Onondaga (New York) Audubon Society in conjunction with the group Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY).  Even though these plants are regional selections, I decided to feature them because I think this is a good idea for all regional gardening and native habitat organizations to adopt!  Take a look at some of the beautiful native species that could be added to any garden in the central and northern New York region (or any other region where they are native):

From NC State Extension

1) Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alterniflora) - small deciduous tree or large multi-stemmed shrub with white flowers and bluish-black fruits eaten by birds; also provides cover and nesting habitat.

From Flora Pittsburghensis

2) Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) - tall herbaceous perennial with tiny white flowers; attractive to insects and can provide cover for birds.

From Go Botany

3) New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) - tall herbaceous perennial with yellow-centered purple flowers in the fall; provides late season nectar for bees and butterflies.

From Shaker Lakes

4) White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) - herbaceous perennial with spikes of distinctive white flowers; partial to moist shady areas; nectar source for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insects.

From Santa Rosa Gardens

5) Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) - dense perennial bunchgrass with fine-textured foliage  and blue-green stems; seeds attract birds and can be a winter food source.

From Go Botany

6) Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) - herbaceous perennial with small, fragrant pink flowers visited by hummingbirds; plant in moist areas; preferred host for monarch butterfly caterpillars.

From NC State Extension

7) Oswego Tea or Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) - spreading, clumping herbaceous perennial with clusters of bright red, tubular flowers very attractive to hummingbirds.

From Plants & Ridiculousness

8) Purple-Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus) - shrubby, thornless perennial with fragrant purple flowers; fruits eaten by many birds; also provides cover.

From Wood Thrush Natives

9) Black Cohosh or Black Bugbane (Actaea racemosa) - clumping herbaceous perennial with spires of tiny white flowers in late summer visited by hummingbirds and butterflies; prefers rich soil and partial shade.

From The Foraging Photographer

10) Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra) - fast-growing medium-sized oak (50-75 feet tall) with small acorns eaten by birds such as Blue Jays, Wild Turkeys, and Ruffed Grouse; also provides good nesting habitat.

And because I live in Georgia, I have one more plant to profile that was chosen by the Georgia Native Plant Society as its 2017 Plant of the Year:

From State-by-State Gardening/Georgia Gardening

Sweet Betsy Trillium (Trillium cuneatum) - this shade-loving plant is so low to the ground it might be overlooked, but to miss this lovely early bloomer would be a shame!  The mottled bracts surround good-sized scented flowers which are usually maroon, but can be bronze, reddish-green, or even yellow in color.  Native to deciduous woodland coves, the sweet Betsy is a great choice for shade gardens.  It prefers moist soil, but is hardy and drought-resistant.  It is also deer-proof to a certain extent and very long-lived.  If you are ever in Athens, GA, in the early spring and would like to see this plant, try paying a visit to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, where the sweet Betsy trillium is planted along the walkway from the parking lot to the garden entrance, and which is where my husband and I saw it this year!

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Well, that's it for 2017 plants of the year posts here.  I hope you've found some good ideas, or at least enjoyed the show!