A Native Garden
This project was a figment of my imagination. This container is the size of a baby pool. The options to fill it were endless… I thought about annual flowers or something exotic and tropical for the summer and then doing the traditional fall swap to Chrysanthemum, heirloom pumpkins and gourds. No…. this needed to live here, thrive and have intention behind it. I decided to go with a native meadow. It was a great honor to plant this container and it was just a dream to watch it change and evolve as the months passed.
what grows in this meadow
Solidago (goldenrod), a classic in the landscape
Pycnanthemum (mountain mint), an aggressive grower but features a magic silvery color and the benefits of this plant are endless, so it is well worth the maintenance
Muhlenbergia (pink muhly grass), alluring in nature, this grass is so soft on the eye it simply just adds a dusty pink aura to any garden
Chasmanthium (northern sea oats), another strong grower but as the oats harden off and wind comes they make a beachy rustle, they stand tall and are a very clean grass to add as a boarder
Bouteloua (sideoats), this grass is so fine you can barely see its blades, all that is immediately visible are the grasshopper-like oats floating above the ground
Helianthus (a fancy name for sunflower), yes, some of these are native, tried and true for the stunning yellow blooms through the summer
Rudbeckia Maxima (giant coneflower), this one is a stunner, standing 4, 5 sometimes 6 feet tall with a golden bloom. The center of the flower is left through the autumn season, and I personally think that is well worth attention too
Aster (late purple aster), a fall favorite
Andropogon (bluestem), blue, purple, red, yellow, this one is not as straight standing as other grasses but the color is worth the hassle
Monarda (bee balm), long lasting flowers, honey scent and color impact
Asclepias (butterfly weed), featuring the small orange variety and the tall pink variety, these are a must in any native meadow
Liatris (blazing stars), whimsical and feathery, this flowering perennial has tiny purple flowers that climb up the stem of the plant throughout the whole growing season
Echinacea (cone flower), a summer favorite with purple blooms and a distinct shape