Hello All!  There won’t be any radical changes in any of my gardens this year. Arthritis and age is cracking its whip on my body seriously limiting what I can physically do. I’ve stayed away from doctors and hospitals during this pandemic but I’ve headed back to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and soon will have some minor hand surgeries and straightforward treatments on my shoulders. I’m certainly hoping these do the trick I need.

However, I did a lot of work in the last few years out there so I can just do some minimal maintenance and it’ll be fine as long as I can get back at it next year. It’s still sparser than I’d like but I’m happy that it’s pretty self sufficient and won’t suffer for what I can’t get done this year.

I found this Aralia hispida, Bristly sarsparilla way into the back yard. I hope it survives the year and I can help it out next year by clearing out the invasives around it.

Third year Sensitive Ferns are growing nicely and spreading out.

Slender Mountain Mint Divided this off the original plant just last year. Already it’s as big and full as the mother plant.

Second year Clustered Mountain Mint Blooming

Butterfly Weed bloomed beautifully this year.

White milkweed grew quite tall this year.

Next we’ll see what autumn brings us. Hang in there!

This night, we need to treasure those values we hold dear that have made our country the democracy that has been guided by the shining light of the Statue of Liberty! 

May we restore our land to its’ native biodiverse heritage – PLANT NATIVE!

A few places that help guide your way:

Native Plant Trust

The Humane Gardener

Bee Basics

Nashoba Conservation Trust

A Way To Garden

Missouri Botanical Gardens

Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildlife Center

Uplift

Enjoy! Honor America!