Hello friends,
I have been growing native plants in my garden. I am not a purist, I will grow other types of plants, too, but I believe that cultivating native plants helps support the local ecosystems. If a diverse array of native plants are growing in your garden, you can rest assured that you are doing something right.
This is my wild cucumber. I do not know WHY it is called that because it does not grow edible fruit. I suppose that the seed pods look a little bit like a cucumber shape, but they are just spiny seed pods.
I am growing this wild cucumber vine in the hope that it will cover my pergola. I have had little luck battling the drought and more traditional vines such as honeysuckle and grapes just do not want to establish.
The wild cucumber should grow 30 feet long, more than enough to help out with my pergola goals.
This is a prairie sunflower. They love growing in a pile of sand so there is no trouble for them to survive drought. Not only are they pretty, but they provide a little shade for my petunias.
Are you surprised to see that prickly pear cactus is native to Saskatchewan? It certainly is and I must say they are a chore to weed. Someone advised me that they use a pair of long forceps to grab weeds from between these pointy cactus spines.
Here is a patch of mountain goldenrod. I don't know why it is called MOUNTAIN goldenrod as there are no mountains anywhere near me, but I will take it. This patch is growing in my lawn area and we have been mowing around it.
Here is a patch of pasture sage. Same deal--the husband is not allowed to mow over this highly aromatic plant.
These are called pussy toes. They are a low growing meadow plant that is spreading in large round patches in my lawn. The flowers look like little 3 toed cat paws rising from the soil.
These are just a few of the native plants that I am cultivating and protecting.
Thanks for reading!
