Yesterday I filled all the bird feeders, and the rain began overnight. I was going to check the level in the wheelbarrow, but the backyard was already underwater. My curiosity abated.
When birds feed in the rain, they are saying, "We are in for a long, cold storm." The more it poured this morning, the faster they arrived. I even saw a woodpecker getting his sunflower seed.
So, I thought, "What better time for more coffee? Another pot of pour-over coffee, which Mrs. I loves as much as I do." She agreed.
Sipping coffee and writing is fun, especially since many readers are gardeners. So I decided to mention low-cost plant purchases at local stores. I either buy at Walmart or Lowe's.
Shasta Daisy - They grow well and attract beneficial bugs, especially Tachinid Flies, which look like houseflies but make up for their dirty cousins. They come back early in the spring and form large clumps.
Cone Flower family - Rudbekia. Goldfinches love their seeds, late in summer, so they are worth the trouble. A full-colored goldfinch on a seed head, eating them all, in full sun, is quite a sight.
Carrot family*- But not carrots. The carrot family has a lot of cousins loved by beneficial insects. The plants are very hardy too, good for planting and forgetting.
angelica, anise, asafoetida, caraway, carrot, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, lovage, parsley.
*Cow parsley and hemlock are on the list - also giant hogweed. All are very good for beneficial insects but dangerous for one's health. Giant hogweed became very popular in England, just as UOJ did in the Synodical Conference. Common sense is not common.
Mint family. I am fond of Mountain Mint, Cat Mint, and Monarda. Scarlet Bee Balm is a spreader, so it is good for a wild area, not a garden. Some mints are clumping; some spread through roots. Catnip is a nonononono. Cat Mint is clumping and attractive to cats and pollinators.
