September, oh how I've longed for you! Sensing a shift right around mid-July, at the Buck Moon, I began to anticipate autumn, my favorite of the four seasons.   

I am not a hot weather kind of girl, and this has been a tough summer for me and plants. High temperatures, little rain, the seemingly endless cycle of plant, water, replace what a critter unearthed, move mulch back, water, and do it all over the next morning ensued! We put up a taller fence, I tried the fishing line deterrent, I sprinkled cayenne pepper. Finally, I gave up on the vegetable garden. It was too much of a struggle. Gratefulness for local farmers providing fresh fruits and vegetables has grown exponentially. Perhaps that is one message of summer 2024. Adding insult to injury, the sunflowers the chipmunks planted are blooming, forcing me to smile and acknowledge defeat.  

September, being the back-to-school month, our son is off for his freshman year in college. Thus, my month will be filled with plants, lots of plants, and an extreme amount of gardening. I hope to fill the felt void of changing seasons with much activity. Garden work is a welcome distraction in innumerable ways.  

My garden contains many native plants which are enjoyed as host and nectar plants by daytime and nighttime pollinators. The native shrubby St. John's wort, Hypericum prolificum, has been quite successful in sunny dry areas of my garden. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, its plant culture is described as, "Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Tolerates wide range of soils, including dry, rocky or sandy soils. Also tolerates some drought. " 

Perfect. With the benefits of deer avoidance and pollinator enjoyment, autumn is the perfect time to plant more.  

Mt. Cuba Center (www.mtcubacenter.org) is another wonderful plant resource and recently concluded a study on Amsonia. They describe this bush-like perennial as 'a genus of beautiful, adaptable, and long-lived perennials.  Commonly known as bluestars, they are native to the United States. They are deer- resistant, enjoy full sun and provide early season pollinator support with their blue blooms and finally, are host plants for several species of butterflies and moths.' This bush-like perennial is another real winner in my garden and more Amsonia hubrichtii is on my list.  

An endless source of hope and inspiration, from the bible, Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, verse 1-2:

 

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot."

All of which will be happening during Autumn 2024 in my garden and life. Enjoy September, the change of seasons and all the joy it brings.  

Until next time,

Patti Pollinator