Pollinator Bed Summer 2023

July 2023

Lots of plants came up this spring! Now the wait to see how much is "weeds". I did hand plant some seedlings of anise hyssop and ___.

In this picture is two kinds of coreopsis. I have noticed small Partridge Pea because of the distinctive leaves.

Eastern Pollinator Mix

This annual and perennial mix contains Partridge Pea, Purple Coneflower, Coreopsis, Indian Blanket, Wild Sunflower, Perennial Lupine, Butterfly Milkweed, Wild Indigo, Spiderwort, Eastern Columbine, Lemon Mint, New England Asters, Showy Tick Trefoil, Black-Eyed Susan, Lavender Hyssop, New England Asters, Plains Coreopsis, Spotted Bee Balm, and Gray Golden Rod.

Future Plans

• Continue the bed all the way across. 
• Mow very low and lay down tarp.  
• Broadcast more seeds in late fall 2023.
• Put up some sort of sticks to warn the mowing crew.

I covered the area in cardboard and a tarp for the summer. In late fall of 2022, I cleared the area and broadcast Eastern Pollinator mix from Hudson Valley Seeds, buy two more 4 ounce bags. Reseed the left side and also seed the newly cleared area. 

Lupinus perennis- native lupine- blue spring flowers

I really love these plants, esp. the blue color. And of course they are the host plant for the Karner Blue Butterfly, among many other butterfly species. I remember the field full of these that is now a new development.  They do not grow true to seed, so buy a few plants and take basal cuttings in the spring.

Rudbeckia hirta- native black eyed- Susan- flowers later, after the lupine are finished, so makes a good companion