Luring the Good Guys

IMG_2124, a photo by Pike-uliar Gardenings on Flickr.

Flowers will bring on all the friendly insects and birds we need to have the most productive garden in the land. Also, Ms. B. likes them and that counts for quite a bit.

Two Tone Daffodil

IMG_1990, a photo by Pike-uliar Gardenings on Flickr.

At first, I wasn't into growing flowers that much. My wife has pretty much gotten me to do a 180 on that. I have come to see their value for bringing beneficial insects and birds and even the way they look. This year we went a little crazy and planted roughly 40 bulbs. About 20 black ones...well very dark purple and with the evocative name, "Queen of the Night" and then a bunch of very unusual ones from a VA organic bulb place- EcoTulips. This daffodil is not a recent planting, it was left behind by the previous owners and for a while, these guys were under our brush pile. Each year the daffodils would grow up through the brush pile....tough little guys. So we finally decided to relocate the brush pile and start enjoying the daffodils. We will be adding to them as time goes on. This year we were talked into adding a fritillaria which is notable for two reasons: 1) They have a bunch of them at Mount Vernon and 2) Squirrels don't like them.

Dahlias

IMG_1592, a photo by okfuskee on Flickr.

The Dahlias have really come on strong at the end of the season. Perhaps due to all the rain, and maybe the raised beds, which helped with drainage. We have over twenty flowers on one plant right now....with more on the way. This plant was from the Columbia Pike Farmers Market. Their plants always do pretty well. The beds in the background are filled with clover as a cover crop.