Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in the garden
Sunday we celebrate Independence Day. But this year, again, is different for Americans. The pandemic is slowed but the scars remain and the call to remind ourselves of our Declaration of Independence: paraphrased, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
As you all know, my pursuit of happiness is in the garden! And we finally got rain! I just planted Betony hummelo and Rudbecki fulgida in my butterfly garden and Sante Shasta Daisy in my front garden!
The garden has its own ecosystem, the more diverse plantings, the healthier it is. You can create this space in your own landscape. Starting with native grasses, you can add some soft edges and 3 season interest to your yard.
‘Blue Heaven’ is a unique form of Little Bluestem developed by the University of Minnesota.
This grass stands 4 feet tall with blue to burgundy foliage turning reddish purple to violet in the Fall.
There are several types of reed grasses, in particular the variety Karl Forester is quite pretty, easy to grow and withstands part shade, although it won’t grow as tall.
I have Pennsylvania Sedge, now in it’s 2nd year, a wonderful low mow/no mow grass. Switchgrass is another favorite.
Flowers like Blackeyed Susans and Baptisia are pollinator attractors and lovely to the eye.
This list of native plants for Minnesota is from Gertens. These plants are also native to Wisconsin and parts of the Dakotas and Iowa.
Have a very happy and safe 4th of July and remember, for our veterans who may suffer from PTSD, those neighborhood fireworks aren’t always welcome so be thoughtful.
Here’s some fireworks everyone can handle:
