Seedheads and Messy Gardens

Six goldfinches suspended on the tips of some of the Echinacea seed heads in the perennial garden are a reminder that it is time to let the faded flowers remain on the plants. All summer the horticulturist in me has been dead heading the plants to ensure a continuous production of new flowers. This also ensured that the butterflies, bees and other pollinators would remain in the garden. As the season is beginning to wind down, the naturalist in me reminds me that it is okay to let seed heads develop and leaves to gather on the ground. This will provide food for the many birds that will be visiting this fall and winter. And what seeds they don't eat may just sprout and grow, producing new plants next season. Again attracting the butterflies, bees and other pollinators to them. Oh yes, the circle of life! Why do we humans need to mess with it?

Garden Notes - October 23, 2011

Garden Area: Foundation Planting - extended front garden to side garden so that it wraps around the front porch
Activity: transplanted perennials, divided and replanted daffodils; mulched, watered, applied deer repellent
Notes of interest: While digging up daffodils from perennial garden, heard a squeaking sound and saw leaves rustling. Shifting my attention to that, I waited and eventually a mole came scurrying across the bed and into the lawn. I lost sight of it as it hid in the tall grass.
Also, while digging up bleeding hearts, I observed a small, round, brownish/gray bird with yellow sides flitting between the hazelnuts and tomato plants. Checking my bird identification book, discovered that is was a ruby-crowned kinglet.

Regulus calendula

(this photo is in the public domain. Click on it to see the link.)