Leave the Leaves
Wildlife will Thank You!
Every fall we admire the fleeting fall colors of the hardwood forests. As soon as the leaves drop, we jump into clean-up mode, breaking out the rakes, leaf blowers, and lawn mowers to remove the once admired leaves from our yards. This may not be the best approach to clean up, in fact, research shows that we shouldn’t really be cleaning them up at all.

Watch our short video about the benefits of not raking your leaves!
Host Plant Highlight
90% of plant-eating insects use native plants to grow and survive. Without their native host plants, many butterflies and other insects cannot survive. Birds and other wildlife use caterpillars and other insects to feed their young. Over the last few years, we have seen major declines in both insect and bird populations due to a variety of factors, especially habitat loss and fragmentation. Rebuilding habitat with native plants is crucial in providing food for caterpillars, which in turn provide food for baby birds; making native plants the foundation of our food webs.
Zig zag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
# of Larval species- 88
Zig zag goldenrod serves as a host plant for 88 species of larval insects! This woodland plant is named after the way that the stem often “zig zags” back and forth at each leaf attachment. Zig zag goldenrod and some other goldenrods in the Solidago genus serve as the host plant for the brown hooded owlet moth. The caterpillars of this moth have smooth bodies and unique markings of black, white, yellow, orange, and red.
Brown hooded owlet caterpillar
Bright yellow Zig Zag Goldenrod
Autumn blooming for pollinators
Retail Nursery:
Our Retail Nursery is Closed

Thank you for visiting us this season! Our retail nursery is closed for the season. Thank you to everyone who made this such a spectacular year! If you have questions about next season, please visit our website or email our Greenhouse Manager, Jill.



For more information visit:
Non-native Species of the Month- Asiatic Dayflower
(Commelina communis)

Asiatic Dayflower is an annual ground cover from Asia that spreads prolifically, forming colonies that can push out native plants. It prefers moist habitats in full or partial shade. The flowers are made up of two bright blue petals and a smaller white petal and appear July-October. Leaves are long and slender and clasp the stem. It spreads using nodes along the stem as it creeps along the ground. Management strategies include hand pulling, preventing it from going to seed, and selective herbicide treatments.
Native Plant of the Month-
Thimbleweed
(Anemone virginiana)

Thimbleweed is a perennial that has summer-blooming starry white flowers on stems that are hairy and purplish at the base. Leaves are divided into 3 leaflets, toothed, and hairy. Single flowers arise on stalks, with 2 to 3 or more flowers per plant. Seed head ripens into a fluffy "cottony" mass that adds interest in winter months. Prefers dry habitats and grows in open woods and clearings. Mature plants tolerate drought well. Flowers visited by small bees and flower flies for pollen.
We love to read books about our natural world, and want to share our favorites with you! On the last Wednesday of each month we will feature a book discussion and review on our Facebook Page.
Here are next three!
Wed. Nov. 24th
Wed. Dec. 29th
Wed. January 26th
Watch our July Book Club Review “Weeds of the Midwestern United States and Canada” edited by Charles T. Bryson and Michael S. DeFelice below and visit our YouTube Channel for more videos!
Forager Fix

Common Chickweed
(Stellaria media) 

Common Chickweed is another common weed from Europe that we encourage people to dig up and eat! It has small white flowers and small, light green leaves. The tiny white flowers have very interesting looking petals. It might look like 10 petals but really it’s just five pairs of petals joined together at their base. Their light green and hairy stems (hairy on just one side) creep along the ground. Chickweed can be eaten raw in salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more! It’s also great cooked in soups, frittatas, or anywhere you can substitute spinach. 

Autumn Colors at the Creek
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