|
Late Summer Flying By
Butterflies, especially monarchs, are flying through the Midatlantic region in the late summer. Many native plants will attract them to stop by your garden. Here are some late-summer butterfly favorites:
Aster: Aster cordifolius, Heart-leafed aster; Aster divaricatus, White wood aster; Aster laevis, Smooth aster; Aster novae-angliae, New England aster; Aster pilosus, Heath aster; Aster puniceus, Purple-stemmed aster
Chelone: Chelone glabra, White turtlehead
Echinaea: Echinaea purpurea, Purple coneflower
Euportorium: Euportorium coelestinum, Mistflower; Euportorium fistulosum, Joe-pye weed; Euportorium hyssopifolium, Hyssop-leaved Thoroughwort; Euportorium maculatum 'Gateway', Joe-pye weed
Heliopsis: Heliopsis helianthoides, Ox-eye
Lobelia: Lobelia cardinalis, Cardinal flower; Lobelia siphilitica, Blue lobelia
Physostegia: Physostegia virginiana, False dragonhead
Rudbeckia: Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, Black-eyed Susans; Rudbeckia laciniata, Green-headed coneflower; Rudbeckia triloba, Brown-eyed Susans
Solidago: Solidago caesia, Blue-stemmed goldenrod; Solidago flexicaulis, Zig-zag goldenrod; Solidago nemoralis, Gray goldenrod; Solidago rigida, Stiff goldenrod; Solidago rugosa, Rough-stemmed goldenrod
Vernonia: Vernonia glauca, Upland ironweed; Vernonia noveboracensis, New York ironweed
|
|
|
|
Composting yard waste
Nearly two million tons of yard waste such as leaves, grass clippings and brush are produced in Pennsylvania each year. By composting yours, you will be making yourself a “free” source of nutrients for your garden as well as reduce the waste going into our landfills.
Composting is a natural process. Organic materials such as leaves, grass, and vegetable scraps are broken down by microorganisms, which result in a rich soil-like substance called compost or humus that’s fantastic for your garden beds. And you only need an area 4’ x 4’ to start a compost pile.
It’s a win-win all around, so why not start composting!
To learn more about composting, click here.
|
|
|
|
|
