Disclaimer:  Some of the plants I post are not natives or even cultivars of native wildflowers.  Many were here before we moved in, and since there was a dearth of plants here as it was, I left them alone.  I hesitate to post exotic (non-native) invasives, because they tend to take over disturbed land and disrupt and choke out the natural environment, endangering species, so I don’t endorse intentionally planting them.

Having said that, this brutal heat wave is frying many of my plantings, while not coincidentally, invasives like liriope are thriving.  As I slowly amend and improve this disturbed TN clay soil, I hope to increase the native plant population and the native wildlife they attract (not to mention be able to grow simple veggies successfully).  Anyway, that’s my goal.  Every little step helps.

Also, I confess to loving all flowers, native or not.  We are an equal opportunity employer of flowers!  So I include annuals, perennials, tropicals, medicinal herbs, wildflowers, and weeds of all backgrounds and colors.  As long as they don’t strangle out or drive to extinction the rightful original native residents, the first nations of plants and animals if you will, they have a place here.

Here is Misu presiding over the columbine rock garden she helped create.