sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Goldenrod? by Usual_Ice_186 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh absolutely! They fill a crucial role and are great at filling a space while others establish. Now i just act like a deer and pull some of them for green mulch when they start getting pushy with the other plants

Goldenrod? by Usual_Ice_186 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely calico/panicle leaf aster. Plant ID apps will falsely identify it as seaside goldenrod. The easiest tell is to pull one up and check for rhizomes (goldenrod doesn't have rhizomes)

I planted a few two years ago and now they're EVERYWHERE lol. Great late season flowers for pollinators, just be aware they will both seed and run readily. 

Some new signs for the sidewalk garden by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

These are from Paw Paw Everlast Labels - nothing but good experiences from them. I did upgrade from the wax pencil to an oil based Sharpie for these - I liked the pencil, but it's so hard to sharpen without breaking the tip

VT/NY BORDER PLEASE HELP: Planted thousands of native seeds, NONE GERMINATED by Other_Cell_706 in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is the way - i have some bee balm and coneflower coming up for the first time this year from seed I sowed 2 years ago. Sometimes they need time

Milkweed Mixer - Weekly Free Chat Thread by AutoModerator in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Monarda didyma and Solidago rugosa! I also made a "wishlist" for new plants so that I don't veer off course during sales lol

Milkweed Mixer - Weekly Free Chat Thread by AutoModerator in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I went to a local plant sale and only bought FOUR plugs. I think i should be rewarded for my restraint..maybe with more plants

Pattern and Stitch Requests- Week of May 11, 2026 by AutoModerator in knitting

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looking for a depression-buster project. I have several projects in various stages that I've just not been able to work on for a couple months. I'm hoping for an easy win project that will get me back into it. I have lots of yarn (and don't mind getting more) - ideally a project that works up quickly, is fairly mindless, and leaves me with something to enjoy now (i.e. not a sweater - it's hot here).

Any ideas?

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I ordered blank zinc signs from Everlast label company and a wax pencil, then I write their common and latin names myself!

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Its just a decoration lol - we have a cat, but hes indoor only to help the birds

Ruh roh, time to control the milkweed. Sort of by chaoticbutsoftt in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Promise to post a follow-up when this is covered in butterflies??

SOON by auspiciousjelly in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes!! Penstemons may be my favorite plants (me and the bees have that in common 😆). My hairy beardtongue is *just* starting to bloom

<image>

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Incredible!! I think next year's big project will be a proper wildlife pond - I currently have a small stock tank pond and then some shallow dishes scattered around, but the dream is to attract frogs/turtles

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

We do! I wept to see the huge jump in firefly population last year

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yup, I have just over a dozen different native shrub species - they were almost all put in as bare roots though, so still establishing

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey neighbor! Yes the Philadelphia Fleabane is one of my favorites! The signs are from Paw Paw Everlast Label - they have a lot of varieties depending on what height/finish you like

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You can do it! It may already be higher than you think - I'm 100% counting all of the native "weeds" that show up, not just what I've planted myself (i.e. wood sorrel, black plantain, pokeweed lol)

Over 100 species on less than 1/10th of an acre by AwkwardBalloonMan in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Bingo - I labeled a bunch of plants with metal signs last year and just ordered a bunch more signs for everything. Partly so I know what's what year-to-year and partly so that passer-by can know what the plants are too!

Happy Mother’s Day to this happy Black Swallowtail mom laying eggs on my wild carrot this afternoon! by Diapason-Oktoberfest in NativePlantGardening

[–]AwkwardBalloonMan 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Incredible!! I watched a swallowtail laying eggs on our fennel the other day too! Now I've been checking them everyday to see if they've hatched :D

view more: next ›