post and photos by Donna Short, Chapter member and volunteer
Home of Jan Ward
Wednesday Jul 12 (57 attendees)
Saturday Jul 15 (52 attendees)
Jan’s yard is a haven for the birds, bees and butterflies! Her native plant journey began in 2018 when she signed up for the annual Native Plant Garden Tour sponsored by St Louis Audubon and Wild Ones St Louis. When she observed butterflies flitting around a Buttonbush and a swallowtail caterpillar tucked in the leaf of a Spicebush she knew she wanted to bring this magic to her yard. After she read Bringing Nature Home by Douglas Tallamy she was on a mission.
In 2018, Jan had a Bring Conservation Home assessment, joined Wild Ones and by the next year was certified Silver! Originally, she focused on the birds: understory trees, bushes for shelter and plants that attract birds. Later, she expanded her plantings to appeal to butterflies and other pollinators. In 2021 Jan’s yard was certified Gold. See the BCH Website for more information on certification.
She proudly advertises, with her Wild Ones sign street-side, hoping to interest neighbors in adding native plants to their landscape.
Plants in the front include:
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Shrubby St John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum), Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii), Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), Eastern Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa), Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium), and 3 types of Allium (Allium tricoccum, Allium stellatum, Allium canadense) that bloom in different seasons.
Moving to the side yard, a roosting box (center) is opened in winter to provide shelter for birds in the cold. False Indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa) is behind the box and Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata) growing in front with Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea), and Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana). Below left view shows Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa). Small yellow flowers of Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) and Orange Coneflowers (Rudbeckia fulgida) shown right.
A view of the yard displays the lush greenery and tremendous variety in a wildlife-friendly haven.
Bees love these Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea)!
Jan planted Tall Thistle (Cirsium altissimum) shown left to lure American Goldfinches, who have a strong attraction to the seeds. On the right, the white blooms of Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum verticillatum).
Illinois Bundle Flower (Desmanthus illinoensis) shown left and Ox-eye Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) with Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) right.
Jan’s coffee house! Great place to listen to birdsong and the waterfall (below left) while contemplating plans for the day.
The frogs have their own hotel (left) and the waterfall flows into the pond (center).Plants included in waterfall and pond area: Copper Iris (Iris fulva), Southern Blue Flag (Iris virginica), Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Aquatic Milkweed (Asclepias perennis), Water Canna (Thalia dealbata) and Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata).
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) attracts songbirds when the berries ripen.
Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
Along the rear of the house Garden Phlox (Phlox paniculata)
Left and center are a Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum). Shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) at right is found along the street along with Showy Coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida), Oak Sedge (Carex albicans) and more.
Jan has a work-in-progress area where she is experimenting with plants to find the best match for this somewhat shady and damp area. Her Wild Hydrangea shrub (Hydrangea arborescens) shown left, is thriving. Roundleaf groundsel (Packera obovata) and Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) are below left and one of the Buttonbushes (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Jan planted (below right).
Jan, thank you for sharing your garden with us!
