Native plants are species that existed in the southeastern Pennsylvania area before man's activities introduced plants from different areas of the Americas and of the world. The EPA defines native plants as those that have evolved over thousands of years in a particular region. Over the past several hundred years, plant enthusiasts have imported plants from other climates and continents, both intentionally and unintentionally
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As Hummingbirds pack their bags and leave our area for the winter, it is a good time to prepare your garden for their return in the spring. Have you hosted any Hummingbirds this past summer? If so, you certainly noticed their fast and almost constant motion
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Coneflowers are among the most versatile, carefree flowers for home gardeners. They are easy to grow in a range of conditions, and offer repeat blooms over six to eight weeks. Deadheading will prolong bloom time, too. The plants will self-sow and generally can be divided about once every four years. Once established, the plants are drought tolerant
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Fall is the time to plan your garden for the following spring. Nature gives us an abundance of wildflower seeds after plants flower. Birds certainly enjoy the mature flower seeds, but there are enough for all to share. If you harvest, store, and cultivate the seeds for new plantings, the birds will benefit with an even larger seed count in years to come. Asters, Joe Pye Weed, Goldenrod, Ironweed, Black-eyed Susan, and Coneflowers are all good choices for Fall seed collection
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In selecting plantings for your gardens, I always suggest species that have attractive qualities in more than one season. Fall color is something I look forward to each year, but wish it were more quickly followed by spring. I would like to suggest two plants, one flowering perennial and one tree, that are spectacular in Fall, but have outstanding winter interest, too
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