Escape to the Garden

What work are you looking forward to doing in the Manomet garden this summer?

This month, I’ve been expanding the pollinator gardens at our Plymouth Headquarters and on our Holmes Farm property. A few of my favorite perennials are:

• Asclepias – Milkweed. It’s a host plant to Monarchs
• Zizia – a host plant to Swallowtails
• Veronia – as much as six feet tall, a deep magenta color and favored for its nectar and pollen by a number of butterflies and bees
• Monarda – its nectar is favored by hummingbirds

How has the garden changed since you first started it?

When we first began to clear and plant native species in 1984, the garden at headquarters in Manomet was choked with invasive plants such as Morrow’s Honeysuckle, Asiatic Bittersweet, and Multiflora Rose. It is still an ongoing effort to keep down the invasives in the garden but over time many of the natives we’ve planted have taken hold. Some of those early shrubs, such as Bayberry and Cranberry Viburnum are now about 15 feet tall.

What advice do you have for home gardeners right now (end of June)?

You truly can make a difference by providing an eco-friendly space for the wildlife in your yard.

1. Plant native. Native plants provide the best source of nutrition for wildlife because they have co-evolved together.
2. Do not use pesticides. Rethink pretty. While chewed leaves may be a bit unsightly, try to remember that those caterpillars dining on your leaves will soon be beautiful butterflies.
3. Right plant, right place. Read tags before purchasing to be sure the conditions of your site for sun/shade and wet/dry can be met for that plant. For example, Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate) likes a sunny moist area, while Orange Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) does best in sunny, mostly dry conditions.

Additionally, I always find that it’s just as important to remember my mistakes as well as any success. One of my greatest mistakes as a young gardener was the purchase of a very invasive plant – Purple Loosestrife. Unwittingly, I bought it for the very reason that so many others were buying it – it was quite pretty! Fortunately, as I was about to plant it, one of our wonderfully bright banding interns took notice and quite graciously informed me that I probably should not plant this notoriously invasive plant in a native garden. So, you see, with that newfound knowledge I kept growing too!