Sunday, March 23, 2014

Native Plants

Here is a selection of plants native to Southern Ohio and much of the Midwest...Happy Gardening!

For shade:
Bloodroot
Dutchman's Breeches
Virginia Bluebells
Celandine-poppy
Jack-in-the-pulpit
Green Dragon

For full sun:
Black eyed Susan
Butterfly milkweed (this provides habitat for the threatened Monarch butterfly!)
Wild Bergamot
Purple coneflower
New England Aster

Wet Areas:
Cardinal Flower
Bee Balm (Oswego Weed)
Touch-me-not
Common Joe Pye weed

You can find lots more plants that will thrive in your area with little care and resources at your local extension service.
Here is the extension for Warren County Ohio http://warren.osu.edu/

Friday, March 21, 2014

Going Native

I've decided to pursue a strange and radical lawn and garden regimine: I've decided to go native. That's right. Focusing on plants, flowers and grasses that, ya know, belong in southern Ohio. Bringing in plants from other climates is too stressful and consumes too much time, energy and resources. As much as I'd love to grow Hibiscus and Avacado Trees I realize that just because the grass is literally greener in Hawaii doesn't mean that I can recreate it with any success in my little corner of the world. And that is OK. So bring on the Black Eyed Susans, Purple Cone Flowers, Switchgrass, Showy Goldenrod and the Prarie Rose. It's gonna look like 1880 in my backyard before you know it!