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October 10th, 2024 Pollinator Garden Photo Blog

Autumn in the Garden

Autumn in the Garden
The garden is winding down. The plants are changing color and have stopped growing. Leaves will remain on the flower beds to provide shelter for pollinators and add nutrients as they decompose over the winter. Another bonus of ecological gardening – little to no raking.

Between our Autumn Open House and Upper Valley Thrives, it has been an eventful couple of weeks for our new pollinator garden. We had a wonderful time toasting our 30th anniversary with friends at our open house, Percy took full advantage of the opportunity to connect with the community at our booth on the common for Upper Valley Thrives, and staff gardener Nancy Farwell was interviewed in the fabulous Bird Hugger podcast. In quieter moments, a four-legged family stopped by for a snack, aphids and predatory insects caught our attention, and our sign post got a fresh coat of paint. As the season shifts, we continue to monitor drainage with an eye for spring improvements.

Our thanks to the Jack & Dorothy Byrne Foundation, The Lyme Foundation, and the many generous neighbors who are making this project possible. Visit our Pollinator Garden Campaign to get involved.

Autumn in the Garden Gallery

Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jim Hopkins and Brian Caudill
We were so delighted with the attendance at our garden party! We estimated over 60 people came out to celebrate our new executive director, Jackson Saul, share in a toast to 30 years of Northern Woodlands, and learn how and why we installed the garden. Thank you to all who attended! And special thanks to Jim Hopkins and Brian Caudill for sharing this photo with us. | Photo: Jim Hopkins and Brian Caudill
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
We participated in Upper Valley Thrives - a local event focused on wellness and health. It was a great day spent learning about other local organizations, introducing more in the community to Northern Woodlands, and giving people an opportunity to visit with our therapeutic office pal, Percy. | Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
Our suspicions were confirmed! These deer have been enjoying the sunflowers, smooth blue asters, and cone flowers. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
The purple blossoms of New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – a staple of the ecological garden. They provide late season food for pollinators and great color in autumn. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
Sunflowers still blossomed despite the deer! Seeds will support birds and potentially sprout in the spring. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
These delicate blue blooms belong to Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) which is proving to be another great plant. The blossoms open in morning and close during afternoon heat which allows a blooming period from May – July. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
The bright blossoms of blanket flower (Gaillardia) – a short lived perennial that is deer resistant and drought tolerant. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
Spotted bee balm (Monarda punctata) is one of the few plants that grew enough to bloom this first year. It’s a beauty! The flowers are actually the red and yellow area – the bracts range in color from white to pink to maroon. Another stellar native plant. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
The pollinators are finding and using the garden! | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
All three species of milkweed are being ravaged by oleander aphids. Most information says they won’t permanently harm the plants or monarch eggs, and these seem to have arrived after monarch activity. We’ll see how the milkweed returns in the spring. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
This was an interesting find on the spotted bee balm. An ambush bug surprised this unsuspecting bumble bee that was gathering pollen. Notice the back legs. | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Jack Saul
We applied a fresh coat of paint to our sign post and removed the non-working light fixture. When you start one project, it often leads to many others! | Photo: Jack Saul
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Our sign is ready to rehang after a much needed scrub. | Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Cleaning up crab apples from the path before the UV Thrives event as we anticipate visitors to the garden. | Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
A recent heavy rain storm. | Photo: Emily S. Rowe
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Nancy Farwell
Percy likes to cozy up to the space heater used to take out the morning chill before we start running the heating system. | Photo: Nancy Farwell
Autumn in the Garden Photo: Emily S. Rowe
One of several pumpkins and squash adorning the garden. | Photo: Emily S. Rowe

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Discussion *

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Oct 11, 2024

Well done!  The interview with Bird-Huggers was excellent!  You tackled a huge project and brought it to completion for the benefit of many who will enjoy it for years to come..people, pollinators and birds. 
Thank you for your efforts.

Deb

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