Encircling the Lyon Park Community Center, this native plant garden is designed and maintained by community volunteers.
Operating as usual
I needed to trim this hibiscus back from flopping on the sidewalk after the storm, so I thought I’d see how it does in a vase…not bad!
I needed to trim this hibiscus back from flopping on the sidewalk after the storm, so I thought I’d see how it does in a vase…not bad!
Black swallowtail caterpillar on the golden Alexanders
Black swallowtail caterpillar on the golden Alexanders
Here’s my annual defense of goldenrod, blooming now in a native plant garden or natural area near you!
Here’s my annual defense of goldenrod, blooming now in a native plant garden or natural area near you!
I enjoy the swoopy flower clusters of blue vervain after the storm knocks them over
I enjoy the swoopy flower clusters of blue vervain after the storm knocks them over
Twice-stabbed stink bugs—cute!
Twice-stabbed stink bugs—cute!
The bumblebees just love this giant purple hyssop. Look at that fuzzy little body all covered with pollen!
The bumblebees just love this giant purple hyssop. Look at that fuzzy little body all covered with pollen!
Here’s a preview of how the dig-your-own sale will work: Sunday 9 AM - 3 PM
Here’s a preview of how the dig-your-own sale will work: Sunday 9 AM - 3 PM
Wild geranium now blooming in the north bed
Wild geranium now blooming in the north bed
Could these dwarf irises be any cuter? Blooming now in the south bed!
Could these dwarf irises be any cuter? Blooming now in the south bed!
Green-and-gold and eastern columbine at the top of the walk
Green-and-gold and eastern columbine at the top of the walk
Foamflower, golden ragwort, and bluebells
Foamflower, golden ragwort, and bluebells
Golden ragwort just about to bust out—it’ll bloom yellow!
Golden ragwort just about to bust out—it’ll bloom yellow!
I’m delighted to announce a partnership with Long Branch Park, the natural area behind the school that’s getting a nice volunteer-led restoration. In the Lyon Park Garden, I always fret over the balance between tidiness (which the neighbors and renters want) and leaving material over the winter for wildlife. Well this year we are hauling our stalks down to Long Branch Park so that the good bugs who have spent the winter in the stalks can emerge there! Hooray!
I’m delighted to announce a partnership with Long Branch Park, the natural area behind the school that’s getting a nice volunteer-led restoration. In the Lyon Park Garden, I always fret over the balance between tidiness (which the neighbors and renters want) and leaving material over the winter for wildlife. Well this year we are hauling our stalks down to Long Branch Park so that the good bugs who have spent the winter in the stalks can emerge there! Hooray!
A little art found in Lyon Park!
A little art found in Lyon Park!
Changes will soon be underway in the Lyon Park garden. Unfortunately the three white oaks south of the community center have received a poor prognosis and will need to be removed. That means very different light conditions in that part of the garden, so I may be moving a lot of plants around in the spring!
Homegrown National Park, what a great name for what we are aiming for in the Lyon Park Garden!
SMALL EFFORTS BY MANY PEOPLE: 83% of land in the U.S. is privately owned. If we planted native on 50% of private land we would restore biodiversity…and we can do it starting NOW. We greatly encourage municipalities and public places to participate, but right NOW, each of us can take an ACTION. Let...
Look at these lovely photos from the botanical garden in Lyon, France!
🌿 EXPOSITION PHOTOS 🌿
Exposition de Florence Richerataux Séquence 4 ! "Les rayons rasants du soleil dessinent autour d’elles des ombres mouvantes"...
Red-banded hairstreak
Here’s the annual reminder that goldenrod is not responsible for people’s hay fever! Plants with bright colors have sticky pollen and so they evolve the bright colors to attract pollinating insects. Plants that cause hay fever are wind-pollinated. They don’t need insects to spread the pollen, so they get by with inconspicuous flowers. The hay fever plant is ragweed, blooming at the same time as goldenrod, which gets all the blame.
Not sure what kind of caterpillar this is, but I love the herringbone pattern and the color combo with this blue mist
We still have a few Florida predatory stink bugs in the garden. Apparently they occasionally are solid red; out of dozens of pictures on iNaturalist I saw one other that was this color.
A color combination I love
Swamp sunflower and blue curls coming into bloom
American bumblebee on Ironweed. Despite its name, this is not commonly seen, but I’m excited to have seen a few in the garden the last couple of weeks.
Pure green sweat bee on blue vervain
Fall phlox and fragrant aster
Brown-eyed Susan and blue mist
414 North Fillmore Street
Arlington, VA
22201
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Tiger swallowtail on the summer phlox
There’s a party in the community center, and this monarch caterpillar is chowing down along with all the people inside
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