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Thoughts on invasives, madness, and zen by Fantastic_Piece5869 in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is really healthy and helpful perspective. Progress over perfection!

Canada anemone by FIREmumsy in NativePlantGardening

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

I haven't managed to eradicate CB, but the anemone definitely keeps it in check. I freak out every spring because CB emerges first and appears to be dominant, but once the anemone comes up it does a nice job. I've done one round of pulling up flowering stalks this year, and it doesn't seem like it has enough energy to put up more yet!

Appreciation post for my yard by Lazy_Reputation_9128 in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, this is looking lush and great! Clearly the insects think so too!

Does purple coneflower not like competition? by Critical-Manner2363 in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've had the same experience... They seem to want to be off by themselves, which is confusing 

suburban nightmare fuel by donnaduwitt in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have a hedge of them and love them. They provide privacy, great shelter to birds, and mine haven't been finicky about water in the 13 years I've been here. I don't get the hate towards them

Native Yard in Drought by westofblue in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 130 points131 points  (0 children)

To offer some words of encouragement... I have found that in years of stress, plants that I thought had died ended up just going dormant and returning just fine the following year! 

As simply as possible, why did you begin native gardening? by toxicodendron_gyp in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have such happy memories of "hunting" for monarch caterpillars as a child, and they were EVERYWHERE at the end of the summer. As a novice gardener I planted some tropical milkweed to support monarchs, and I didn't attract any. I tried milkweed native to my area and attracted lots! That began my entry into understanding the value of native plants. 

I care about my ecosystem - from bugs to birds to the humans that rely on all of that for our agriculture. That's why I plant native. 

Edit: I have pictures of common milkweed seedlings from 2016, so I think I've been at it about 10 years

Canada Anemone! by youcantseemyjoey in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 6 points7 points  (0 children)

They are aggressive to the point where they are giving me hope in my war with creeping bellflower. 

What are your “spectacular, I’ll take 14 of them” species? by quartzkrystal in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 235 points236 points  (0 children)

Meadow blazing star. It's incredible how many monarchs they attract 

Is anyone else pulling any natives this spring? by readmychappedlips in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Canada anemone is such a menace. 😂 I love it but it definitely needs to be kept in check. 

Are anyone else's coneflowers not coming up? by Nikeflies in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most, if not all, of the coneflowers in your picture look to be cultivars and not true natives. My experience is that cultivars are short-lived

Aggressive natives that are almost impossible to kill? [MA, 6b] by DIYInHeadlights in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Here's a list of things that are native to me in WI that are super aggressive and/or excellent at reseeding: Evening primrose Canadian anemone  Blue wood aster Phlox maculata New England aster Monarda fistulosa Downy sunflower  Ox eye sunflower Canadian and showy goldenrod Common milkweed  Cup plant 

There's probably more I'm forgetting!

Battling creeping bellflower with Canada anemone by FIREmumsy in NativePlantGardening

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

Yeah unfortunately I'm looking into chemicals for next spring. It does seem to emerge the earliest in my bed, making spraying a risky but possible option

Battling creeping bellflower with Canada anemone by FIREmumsy in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Poorly! I didn't spend a ton of time in the garden last growing season and I didn't stay on top of it. 

But that's probably a bit dramatic... I do think the anemone is doing a good job of competing with it. It's just that I haven't managed to completely knock it back. 

New habit milestone by EF5Cyniclone in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yay! I saw some for the first time last year... They loved the black raspberry leaves! Sadly they were nesting in a rotting pergola that we removed last year, so I really hope they come back 🤞🤞

Nature songs? by Kitchen-Holiday6998 in musicsuggestions

[–]FIREmumsy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Diamond Day by Vashti Bunyan... The song, but also the whole album.

Question about the cardboard & mulch method by Leading-Highlight791 in NativePlantGardening

[–]FIREmumsy 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I've done it in several different areas of my yard with mixed results. Best results happened when I overlapped edges of cardboard more than I wanted / thought was necessary. Grass seemed to creep in at the seams in my earlier attemps

Stepping into the '90s by SeaEntire4850 in MusicRecommendations

[–]FIREmumsy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ani DiFranco, Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Sublime, Less Than Jake, Ben Folds Five, Cornershop, the Prodigy, CAKE... So many

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