Michelle’s Habitat Gardens in Pennsylvania

A gardener maintains diverse habitats in her garden that provide beauty and endless ecological benefits

Hi GPODers !

Yesterday we explored the joys ( and beauty ) of producing food through Mark ’s vegetable garden in Vermont ( Mark ’s Ornamental Vegetable Garden in Vermont ) . Today we ’re discussing another vital cause to garden , to produce the food and protection that is all important for pollinator and wildlife survival . This eco - favorable inspiration comes from Michelle Detwiler , a Pennsylvania - based landscape designer and proprietor ofWild About Native Plants , who specializes in native plants and sustainable landscapes . Her gardens prove that you do n’t need to give up on stunner to constitute up something good .

Welcome to my habitat gardens in Southeastern Pennsylvania , Zone 7b . I pick out plant with both beauty and wildlife in mind and have convert my space to aboriginal planting over the last decade . perch at the border of an oak tree and hickory remainder in the Northern Piemonte ecoregion , my soils are well - drained , and I maintain a diverseness of home ground type including exposed gay areas , shady woodlands , and a small wildlife pond . Nature finds encouragement in my blank , as I welcome naturally come about aboriginal tree and shrub sapling as well as perennial often considered weeds in other space . I also embrace big bold indigene that support flying creatures of all sorts , and I ’m trusted to cautiously steward my landscape through the seasons so as to support wildlife nest want in addition to floral abundance . My property is also on thePollinator Pathwayand endeavor to capture as much rain pee as potential through pelting garden for the wellness of the watershed .

Summer is a time of floral abundance . The gardens are tall and profuse . Blooming here are white - blossom wood aster(Eurybia divaricata , Zones 3–8)and flowering spurge(Euphorbiacorollata , Zones 4–8)in the foreground with pink - flowered coastal plain Joe Pye weed(Eutrochium dubium , Zones 3–9)and yellowbrown - eyed Susan(Rudbeckia triloba , Zones 4–7).Great blue lobelia(Lobeliasiphilitica , Zones 4–9)sends up dense raceme of tubular puritanical flowers at the border of the terrace which is my pet outdoor sitting spot to watch the bee , butterfly , and dame .

Another view of these patio - hugging gardens shows off the Marxist of cardinal flower(Lobelia cardinalis , Zones 3–9),a re - cloud seeder responsible for for much hummingbird happiness . I dot my window with a washable blanched glass marker to make them more visible to birds — a window tap prevention technique requiring dots to be 2 - 4 inches apart .

I also grow native thistles from seed like these field thistle(Cirsium discolor , Zones 3–9).They are two-year and seed around to fill holes and create surprises every August . In some years , there are wads of these grandiloquent lulu around the wildlife pond like you see here .

They support an unbelievable array of wildlife like this large black and amber bumblebee …

As well as the heavy butterfly stroke in my area , the Giant swallowtail — a species I only see when the thistles are blooming .

Since I allow flora to snuff it in place , a manlike goldfinch takes advantage of the thistle seeds for solid food and nesting material . Goldfinches nest after most other bird species while they expect for the thistle to mature , and I savor their estival company .

Just ahead of decline , giant sunflower(Helianthusgiganteus , Zones 3–9)—an significant keystone plant substantiate pollinators and moth larvae in my area — steal the show ( and the attention of bumble bees and pollen - specialist bees likewise ) . This vigorous spreader intermingles with the red rose pelvic arch of Virginia rose(Rosavirginiana , Zones 3–8),a smartly suckering native rose that I keep in a container in the middle of the garden to manage its spread .

One of my goals is to create stopover habitat for migrating fowl — a place for them to safely rest and refuel during tenacious journeys . My efforts are rewarded with visit by migrate warbler — like this sweet Quaker gleaning insects from the Joe Pye weed(Eutrochium purpureum , Zones 4–9)just outside of my kitchen window .

In fall , the purple flowers of redolent aster(Symphyotrichum oblongifolium , Zones 3–8)and red leaf of smooth sumac(Rhusglabra , zone 3–9)greet visitors at my sunny roadside introduction .

In springiness , the timber walk in my upper gardens host aboriginal wild flower like the repeated dry land cover halcyon ragwort(Packera aurea , zone 3–8)with yellow flowers on the left and purple phacelia(Phacelia bipinnatifida , Zones 5–8),a two-year with royal peak on the rightfield . Eastern redbud(Cercis canadensis , Zones 4–8)and common sassafras(Sassafras albidum , Zones 4–9)saplings anchor the sub canopy here . I roll up bloodless pine needles that come down on the drive to dress the way of life and create softness under foot .

Perennial staunch and come heads stay on in winter in my space to support the nesting pauperization of native bees and other insect while also feed wintertime birds . I wish the social system that they provide and the seasonality of senescence as winter transitions to spring.(And I care the dog who seem to be having a ball in this garden , too ! )

Thank you so much for share your wildlife wonderland and sustainable gardening expertise with us , Michelle ! Your gardens really appear like the epitome of incline the earth for honest answer for all who live , and it is an inspiration for anyone want to tote up more native flora to their space .

Have exposure to share ? We ’d love to see your garden , a exceptional solicitation of plants you know , or a wonderful garden you had the opportunity to visit !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the picture and where you took the photos . We ’d make out to get a line where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , succeeder you are lofty of , failures you study from , hopes for the future , preferred plants , or funny stories from your garden .

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