Not So Hollow Farm

05/22/2025

Bee balm - Monarda didyma

Pollinator Magnet

Monarda didyma is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its bright, tubular flowers are rich in nectar and perfectly shaped for long-tongued pollinators, making it a vital plant in any pollinator-friendly garden.

05/16/2025

Sky Blue Aster - Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Late-Season Nectar Source:
Sky Blue Aster blooms from late August through October, providing vital nectar and pollen when few other native plants are still flowering. This timing supports pollinators preparing for winter, including native bees and migrating monarch butterflies.

Supports Native Bees and Butterflies:
It’s particularly attractive to long-tongued bees like bumblebees, small carpenter bees, and sweat bees, as well as hoverflies and skipper butterflies. Some specialist bees even rely on asters as a primary pollen source.

05/13/2025

Geum triflorum - Prairie Smoke

Five cool facts about one of our favourites:

1. Smoke-Like Seed Heads

After flowering, Geum triflorum develops long, feathery plumes on its seeds that resemble puffs of smoke drifting across the prairie—hence the name prairie smoke. These silky plumes help the seeds catch the wind and disperse.

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2. Early Spring Bloomer

It blooms early in the growing season—often among the first prairie flowers to appear in spring—providing vital nectar and pollen for early pollinators like bumblebees.

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3. Unique Nodding Flowers

Its reddish-pink to purple flowers droop downward like little bells. After pollination, they turn upright as the seed heads develop—an unusual reversal compared to many flowering plants.

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4. Drought and Cold Tolerant

Native to North American prairies and dry rocky habitats, Geum triflorum is extremely tough. It’s well-adapted to both drought and cold, making it a great low-maintenance plant for native gardens and restoration projects.

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5. Medicinal Uses by Indigenous Peoples

Various Indigenous groups used Geum triflorum as a traditional medicine. The roots contain tannins and were brewed as a tea to treat sore throats, diarrhea, and other ailments due to their astringent properties.

05/12/2025

Butterflyweed - Asclepias tuberosa

Here are five compelling reasons to plant butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa):

Supports Pollinators: Butterflyweed is a host plant for monarch butterflies and attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Drought-Tolerant: Once established, butterflyweed is highly drought-resistant, making it ideal for low-water gardens and xeriscaping.

Low Maintenance: It’s a hardy perennial that requires minimal care, resists pests and diseases, and thrives in poor, sandy soils.

Adds Bright Color: The vibrant orange flowers add a striking splash of color to any garden, blooming throughout the summer.

Native Plant Benefits: As a North American native, it supports local ecosystems and is well-adapted to many regional climates.

05/10/2025

Jack in the Pulpit - Arisaema triphyllum

Five good reasons to make this addition to your garden.

1. Native Plant Benefits: It supports local ecosystems by providing food and habitat for native wildlife, like birds that eat its berries.

2. Shade Garden Champion: It thrives in shady, moist areas where many other plants struggle, making it perfect for woodland gardens or under tree canopies.

3. Low Maintenance: Once established, it requires little care — it’s hardy, disease-resistant, and returns year after year.

4. Unique Beauty: Its exotic-looking flowers and bright red berries add interest and color from spring through fall, standing out in any garden.

5. Conversation Starter: Its unusual shape, ability to change s*x, and fascinating biology make it a plant that sparks curiosity and storytelling.

05/08/2025

The provincial flower of Ontario.

Trillium grandiflorum - White Trillium

05/03/2025

White pine needles grow in bunches of five. This is a key identifying feature of eastern white pine.
White Pine - Pinus strobus

05/01/2025

04/21/2025

The striking colors of Michigan lily (Lillium michiganense)

09/15/2021

Guess that's why it's called

05/18/2021

Dense Blazing Star - Liatris spicata

05/12/2021

Wild Bergamot - Monarda fistulosa