OCTOBER — As our final speaker for this year, Olivia Menard explained how to Successfully Overwinter Mason Bees in Georgia. This action now helps our local food chain and combat pollinator decline and we learned about one of Georgia’s most effective native pollinators – the mason bee. And how to attract them to our yard. She talked about the mason bee habitat and explored some of the stresses that reduce mason bee survival rates. For those who already had a mason bee house, she educated us on what to do with all those little tubes. Everyone left with at least one inspired action to take back to their garden to help more of these little pollination powerhouses survive the coming winter. It was a great program and we learned a lot. Related Images:
Bethesda No-Mow Take 2
We’re all so pleased how well this area has taken to the wild. These pictures don’t do the goldenrod justice. The blue ageratum has spread all over the area – the daisies are blooming — it’s just plain pretty!!!! Related Images:
Obedient Plant
Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana is a great native nectar plant that will carry your garden into fall. This attractive perennial has long-lasting snapdragon-like pink to lavender tubular blossoms that bloom successively for four to six weeks starting at the bottom of the spike. The flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds, long-tongued bees, butterflies and bumblebees. Its square stem is typical of the mint family, and, like other mint family members, deer will avoid it. It is called “obedient” because if the flowers are bent, they tend to stay in the new position for a while. You do not have to bend the blossoms of obedient plant intentionally; it happens to mine when I fail to steak this tall growing plant and the rain or wind knocks them over. In the Atlanta area it grows 3-6 feet and blooms late August to October. Its native habitats include riverbanks, wet thickets, prairies,…