Restoring Native Plants
Why “Native” Plants?
“Native” plants are plants that are plants “that have evolved and adapted to a specific location and have remained genetically unaltered by humans.” I have written a detailed explanation of what they are and why they are important for pollinators and wildlife HERE.
A few good resources on identifying and learning about native plants: Audubon Native Plant Database, NYSDEC Native Plant Fact Sheet, Video: Nature’s Best Hope Presentation by Doug Tallamy, Adk Action Pollinator Festival and Native Plant Sale.
The native plant garden in the Creative Kitchen Garden is home to some common, rare and threatened species of native plants. They are part of the you-pick garden, and I hope that you will visit and get to know them!
Some Native Plants in the Creative Kitchen Garden:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) A perennial herb that grows to about 3 feet tall. It has fragrant feathery green foliage with clusters of small white flowers. The seeds of yarrow are beneficial for warblers, sparrows, finches, waxwings, and woodpeckers. The nectar of yarrow is a crucial food for many pollinators, including parasitic wasps that help control tomato hornworm populations! Yarrow is also a medicinal herb, and I use it in my “Heal-All Balm & Salve” to support skin healing.
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa) Also known as Wild Bergamot or Oswego Tea, Bee Balm is an incredible flowering perennial. Its blooms are like light purple fireworks atop 4-foot tall foliage that blooms in July. Bee Balm nectar feeds Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and a multitude of insects, including the hummingbird moth. Its seeds are food for wrens, vireos, titmice, and thrushes. Bee Balm can also be used in tea or used medicinally.
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) Also known as Helen’s Flower, Sneezeweed is a late-summer early-autumn pop of yellow color in the garden. Cheerful yellow blooms atop 4-foot tall foliage. Sneezeweed nectar is a particularly important source of food for pollinators like butterflies before their long migration south for the season.
Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Grows 1-2 feet tall with slightly fuzzy foliage and yellow blooms that stay open from June-October. Blackeyed Susan nectar is beneficial for wild pollinators as well as honeybees. Blooms make great cut flowers with a decent vase life.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Also known as Pleurisy Root, Butterfly weed is a beautiful 1-2 foot tall plant with narrow leaves and a cluster of stunning bright orange flowers. As the name implies, the nectar is especially important for butterflies. They bloom around July. Likes dry soil. Also has some medicinal uses.
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Also known as Eastern Red or Wild Columbine, this plant loves partially shaded areas with well-drained soils. Columbine has pinkish bell-shaped flowers that bloom in early summer. Columbine is another flower that provides nectar to Ruby Throated Hummingbirds and insects. They can also attract songbirds such as Orioles.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) A perennial flower that you may see growing along marshes, riverbanks, or other wet areas. Enjoys partial shade or full sun. A low-growing plant that sends up tall spikes of bright red flowers. Cardinal flower depends on pollination from Ruby Throated Hummingbirds.
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) A tall fruit bearing shrub with a long history of medicinal uses of both the flowers and dark purple berries. Fruit is eaten by warblers, thrushes, wrens and other songbirds. Flowers attract butterflies, and the leaves are a food source for caterpillars.
Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis) A resilient native shrub with beautiful white blooms in early spring. Grows wild in moist soil and woodland edges. Fruit is eaten by wrens, vireos, waxwings and woodpeckers.
NATIVE PLANT DIVISIONS FREE to Good Homes
Folks are welcome to take home freshly dug divisions of native plants in the garden during Community You-Pick Nights. “Divisions” are small chunks of perennial plants that can be planted in the early spring, or fall, and will establish, grow to maturity, and spread over time. Even the smallest pieces of roots will grow into big beautiful native plants over the course of a few years if they are planted in a spot with the right conditions and are well taken care of. And frankly, will likely stay alive if you neglect them, they are WILD. Native plants respond to division wonderfully, and dividing plants even helps them put on new growth.
Cost: Divisions are FREE to good homes. I want everyone to experience the beauty of native plants and the pollinators and wildlife they attract to your yard or garden. The native plant garden was established in 2023 thanks to generous funding from the Northern New York Audubon Foundation and the Essex Farm Institute. The amount and type of plant divisions you are welcome to take will depend on the abundance and vigor of the native plant garden. I will leave it up to you to know how many divisions to take based on the garden space you have, and your capacity to care for them.
Plants available: Blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta, Yarrow Achillea millefolium and Bee Balm Monarda fistulosa.
How to get native plant divisions: Come to one of the You-Pick nights during the month of September and ask for them, we will gladly dig up clumps of whatever native plants you would like. Bring a bucket, big tupperware container, recycled yogurt/greens containers, plastic bag, or some other container to bring your divisions home in that can keep the roots wet. Plan ahead so that you can plant them in the ground as soon as you get home, or the very next day.
How to care for your native plant division at home:
I have found that the best time of year to transplant perennial plants is around early to mid September. The cooler weather helps reduce stress on the plants, but by planting them while there are still a few weeks before frost, you’re giving the plant some time to develop roots before going dormant for the winter. The best thing you can do is get your division in the ground and water it immediately after bringing it home. Keep the plant well watered for the next few weeks. Mulch and weed around your plant as needed. Make sure you have the appropriate site for that particular plant’s needs- meaning the appropriate soil moisture, sun exposure, and room to grow.
100% NATIVE PLANT SEED PACKETS FOR SALE
Champlain Valley Wildflower Seed Mix
This custom mix of native perennial wildflowers has been selected for their value for native birds and pollinators. Not all “wildflowers” are the same! This mix is ONLY comprised of wildflowers that are native to our region, many of which are rare.
Packets are $3.50 each, email Mary at marygodnick@gmail.com to inquire about local pick-up or shipping.
How to grow your seeds:
There are thousands of TINY seeds in your packet! Wildflowers are notorious for slow/low germination, so don’t be discouraged! For best results, sprinkle seeds in a weed-free garden bed or planter any time of year (yes even in fall and winter!) keep the soil moist until you see some seeds start to germinate. Perennials are a long-term investment: you may not see some of the blooms until the second year. But once established, they will reliably return every year and spread!
The Champlain Valley Wildflower Seed Mix is 0.7g total of seeds containing:
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 20%)
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa 16%)
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale 16%)
Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta 16%)
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa 16%)
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis 16%)
Mixed by Creative Kitchen Garden, 7103 9N Westport, NY 12993. Seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery 32115 Prairie Ln, Winona, MN 55987. Lot # 1023. 50% germ rate. Sell by May 2025.
Consult your physician and several resources from practicing herbalists about all plants before ingesting or using them medicinally :)