Winter is often described as cold, dark, and dreary. Driving through suburban communities we see dull and dormant lawns, landscaped beds that are barren and empty, which all in all present a depressing atmosphere. The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way!
Great Blue Lobelia forms a flower spike covered in deep blue flowers from late summer to early fall. The erect, 2-3 ft., stems produce lavender-blue, tubular flowers crowded together on the upper stem. Showy, bright blue flowers are in the axils of leafy bracts and form an elongated cluster on a leafy stem. This blue counterpart of the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a most desirable plant for woodland gardens especially since it blooms bright blue in late summer.
Ilex Glabra, commonly called Inkberry is a mound-shaped, colony-forming shrub, somewhat open with age, 6-12 ft. tall and wide. Lance-shaped, sparingly-toothed, glossy, leathery foliage varies in color from dark- to light-green both in summer and fall. Inconspicuous flowers are followed by black berries which persist well into winter and are a favorite of birds and wildlife.
A hardy, urban shade tree, the hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is very beneficial for wildlife; it is one of the best trees for providing food and shelter to birds and small animals. It is host to at least five different species of butterfly, including the Tawny Emperor, the Snout Butterfly, the Morning Cloak, the Question Mark, and of course, the rare Hackberry Emperor.
Native Perennials for Pollinator Gardens in Northern New Jersey are available at the New Jersey Audubon’s Spring Native Plant Sale at the Lorrimer Nature Sanctuary | in Franklin Lakes, NJ on May 7th, 2022 from 10am to 4pm.
This non-native plant, hydrilla, is killing our national symbol, the Bald Eagle. After a nearly 30-year hunt, researchers have shown that a neurotoxin generated by cyanobacteria on invasive plants is responsible for eagle and waterbird deaths from vacuolar myelinopathy. I for one can’t think of a better reason than this to utilize native plants.
Black chokeberry is a multi-stemmed, deciduous, eastern North American shrub. It reaches 4–8 feet in height. The plant’s habit is multi-stemmed, and plants can form large, dense colonies over time, making them ideal for attracting wildlife with both nourishment and habitat.