As we’re brand new to the property and have the legacy of prior occupants to contend with, establishing the gardens represents a considerable task. Thus far, I’ve planned a garden of native (and butterfly-friendly) plants and culinary, brewing and medicinal herbs for the front yard. For the back yard, I’ll be installing two medium-sized raised vegetable beds, a vine-covered run for the chooks, a yard waste compost bin and a dog waste composter (this is achieved with a buried perforated container, septic tank enzymes and lime). In the garage, we’ll have the coop proper, a large worm bin and an aquarium housing a cricket-growing operation (protein for the birds).
I need to spend a bit more time examining the light in the front yard, as it is partially shaded by an oak tree, but here is my preliminary plant list for the native/butterfly/herb garden (subject, of course, to change):
|
Alecost |
Chrysanthemum balsamata |
|
Anise Hyssop |
Agastache foeniculum |
|
Bee Balm |
Monarda didyma |
|
Wild Bergamot |
Monarda fistulosa |
|
Betony |
Stachys officinalis |
|
Birch |
Betula spp. |
|
Black-Eyed Susan |
Rubeckia hirta |
|
Blazing Star |
Liatris pycnostachya |
|
Blessed Thistle |
Cnicus bendictus |
|
Borage |
Borago officinalis |
|
Butterfly Bush |
Buddleia davidii “Royal Red” |
|
Butterfly Weed |
Asclepias tuberosa |
|
Cardinal Flower |
Lobelia cardinalis |
|
Catmint (early bloom) |
Nepeta grandiflora |
|
Catmint (late bloom) |
Nepeta siberica |
|
Chamomile (Roman) |
Chamaemelum nobile |
|
Clary Sage |
Salvia sclarea |
|
Coneflower |
Echinacea purpurea |
|
Coriander |
Coriandrum sativum |
|
Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinalis |
|
Elder |
Sambucus nigra |
|
Elecampane |
Inula helenium |
|
Ginseng |
Panax spp. |
|
Greek Oregano |
Origanum vulare subsp. hirta |
|
Heather |
Calluna vulgaris |
|
Horehound |
Marrubium vulgare |
|
Wild Iris |
Iris shevei |
|
Lavandula/Lavender |
Lavandula intermedia |
|
Lemon Balm |
Melissa officinalis |
|
Great Lobelia |
Lobelia siphilitica |
|
Milk Thistle |
Silybum marinarum |
|
Mints |
Mentha spp. |
|
Nasturtium |
Tropaeolum majus |
|
Stinging Nettle |
Urtica dioica |
|
Wild Rose |
Rosa rugosa |
|
Sage |
Salvia officinalis |
|
Savory |
Satureja hortensis |
|
Swamp Milkweed |
Asclepias incarnata |
|
Sweet Woodruff |
Galium odoratum |
|
Thyme |
Thymus vulgaris |
|
Valerian |
Valeriana officinalis |
|
Prairie Willow |
Salix humilis |
|
Wintergreen |
Gaultheria procumbens |
|
Yarrow |
Achillea millefolia |
