The Pollinator Meadow

Pollinator Garden Plants

Pollinator meadow update: While our garden gently sleeps

Pollinator Meadow July 2024 Pollinator Meadow July 2024 Our fall season went very well. The Mountain Mint we planted to deter deer thrived, reaching heights of over two feet. It added character to the area and created a beautiful fall display. We were strategic in planting the mint, spacing it at least 20 inches apart. This allowed it to spread and grow freely, while also enabling us to use a string trimmer to keep weeds in check and prevent them from setting seed. This careful planning prepared the area perfectly for fall planting.

We chose nine different species of plants for this season. Our primary focus was selecting native, deer-resistant plants that would provide nectar throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The nine species we selected were as follows:

Hairy Beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Golden Alexander Zizia aurea
Nodding Onion Allium cernuum
Scarlet Beebalm Monarda didyma
Anise Scented Goldenrod Solidago odora
Golden Ragwort Packera aurea
Yellow Giant Hyssop Agastache nepetoides
Purple Giant Hyssop Agastache scrophulariifolia

We planted the taller Agastache, Asclepias, and Penstemon at the back of the garden, while the shorter-growing Packera and Allium were placed toward the front. The remaining species filled in the middle. A special thanks to Rohsler’s Nursery, who went above and beyond to secure all these plugs for us. The fertile soil of the Celery Farm proved to be an asset as well. Despite some harsh weather, including over a month of no rain, the soil remained moist in most areas. The absence of rocks also made planting easier—a helpful feature when no irrigation is available.

Now, we can relax and see what the winter season brings. A snowy blanket wouldn’t be so bad, as it could help insulate our fragile plants. There’s not much we can do about the weather, but we’re ready and resting up for the spring cleaning ahead. Using plugs gives us a head start compared to starting from seeds. However, it will take at least one more season for the plugs to mature and become established enough to crowd out weeds. We’re prepared to spend some time weeding and nurturing the plants in the meantime. With patience, we’re confident our pollinator friends will thank us for our efforts.