couple of native bed success stories

first spot is behind the deck we built, on the slope. i dumped a bunch of soil and compost on the slope down and set telephone poles around it. we dug up blue iris's, a wax myrtle, some spider lily and pickerel weed from the ditches around the area and planted them there, along with some taro (not native, but fits right in and is common now in the area).



the irises bloomed ok last spring, but now they are established and just starting to send up fall growth. the dried fronds can be harvested to make cord or to tie up cut flowers, etc. the taro would take over if it let it, but hand pulling a couple times a year keeps it in place...maybe 30 minutes each time and the green plants make awesome compost medium, thats a big reason i planted them. they rot quick and add a bunch of nitrogen.

this clump is blooming, which is very rare. this same clump bloomed last year, pretty cool





the bed catches the water draining from the shower and tubs and keeps it from flooding the yard. it also attracts lots and lots of frogs



the other spot is down the slope where i had a burn pile for twenty years. i added soil and compost to the burn pile remains and sowed in a big sack of mixed wildflowers, plus some milkweed and those gingers. this is growth since the early summer







the wildflowers are super healthy, never need water or maintenance and will bloom all year, some taking turns. bumblebee amusement party and the monarchs found the milkweed and tons of other butterflies on the flowers.

most of these are re-seeding annuals but can see lots of perennials as well.

two very effective ecosystem additions that make the whole place even healthier.