Growing Together Newsletter: Summer 2021

Neighborhood Newsletter SUMMER 2021

Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

3120 Barley Mill Road | Hockessin, DE 19707 302.239.4244 | mtcubacenter.org Hockessin, DE Permit No.XXXX

NATIVE PLANTS

PAID

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

of the Season

Have fun this summer and enjoy nature in your own yard with native plants. Here are some high-quality native plants available for purchase at Mt. Cuba Center, Wednesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm.

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S AT M T. C U B A C E N T E R June 10 & 17 Fundamentals in Ecological Gardening

June 19 Invasive Plant ID and Control

June 13 Go Native with Infused Vodkas

June 26 Nature as Therapy

June 18 Twilight on the Terrace

June 30 Great Native Plants for Difficult Sites

GROWING TOGETHER To become more involved in the Growing Together program please contact Ash Gillis at ajg54@psu.edu.

3120 Barley Mill Road | Hockessin, DE | 302.239.4244 | mtcubacenter.org

Moonbeam whorled tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’)

Hubricht’s blue star (Amsonia hubrichtii)

Beardtongue (Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’)

This beautiful flowering plant wins accolades from gardeners not only because it is easy to grow but because the interesting, needlelike foliage is covered in pale yellow flowers for much of the summer. It is adaptable to many soil types, with the only requirement being that the site is well drained. Growing well in full sun or light shade, this plant is pest free, and butterflies love it. Pruning after flowering will encourage further blooming.

This showy, flowering plant is known for its stunning blue spring flowers, feathery green summer foliage and golden fall color. Powdery blue, 1/2" star-like flowers appear in late spring. Feathery, soft-textured, needle-like, leaves are bright green in spring and summer, but turn bright gold in autumn. Stems tend to open up and flop in too much shade.

Consider cutting back the stems by about 6" after flowering to help keep stems upright and to shape plants into a nice foliage mound.

This unique and colorful plant is noted for its pink flowers and dark wine-red foliage. Two-lipped, tubular, pale pink flowers (each to 1.5") in loose terminal racemes bloom from late spring into summer atop erect, rigid, leafy stems. Dark maroon foliage generally retains good color throughout summer.

This plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies while also being deer-tolerant and resistant to summer heat and humidity.

18" tall, 24" wide perennial plant Filtered-Shade, Full-Sun | Average, Dry, Well-Drained Soil

2–3' tall perennial plant | Full-Sun, Partial-Shade | Average, Well-Drained Soil

1.5–3' tall perennial plant | Full-Sun, Average, Dry to Medium, Well-Drained Soil

G ROWI N G TOG ETH E R B I N GO CAR D JUNE 2021

Have some fun reflecting on what you’ve done (and can do!) to create a healthy environment in your home landscape.

Each square is something that benefits your community and the environment.

Complete five squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) and get a free native plant from Mt. Cuba Center! Fill in your name and neighborhood below and bring this card to the ticketing area by July 4 anytime Wednesday thru Sunday from 10am–6pm.

YOUR NAME WILDLIFE

Take a photo of wildlife in your yard

Create water source for birds (see reverse side for more information)

Plant a host plant for caterpillars

SOIL & WATER

Limit water use (see reverse side for more information)

Pledge to avoid using chemical pesticides (see reverse side for more information)

Rake leaves into garden beds (see reverse side for more information)

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT

Join Mt. Cuba Center’s Growing Together Facebook Group for neighbors

Discover the beauty of native plants at Mt. Cuba Center

PLANT SELECTION

Plant a native tree or shrub (see reverse side for more information)

Plant native wildflowers (see reverse side for more information)

Register your yard as a Homegrown National Park

Identify and remove an invasive plant in your yard

(see reverse side for more information)

(see reverse side for more information)

SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT

Ask your local plant nursery about their native plant selection

Talk with HOA about encouraging native plants in open spaces

Invite a neighbor to visit native plants in your garden

Create a water source for birds

Limit water use

Limiting water use protects local waterways while helping to reduce pollution and fuel consumption that result from distributing water to homes and communities.

Pledge to avoid using chemical pesticides

Many chemical pesticides are toxic to humans and non-target species. Broad applications of pesticides disrupt the ecosystem and kill beneficial species including fireflies, butterflies, and bees.

Rake leaves into garden beds

Raking leaves into your beds allows them to decompose and release nutrients into the soil. Leaves act as a natural mulch and allows valuable insects to survive and emerge next spring.

Harvest rainwater for watering plants

Rainwater harvesting conserves ground water and is legal and encouraged in Delaware. By reducing stormwater runoff, harvesting rainwater reduces water pollution, soil erosion, and the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.

Research ways to compost yard waste

Composting reduces the volume of trash sent to landfills, and gives you a natural fertilizer to return nutrients to your soil.

Plant a native tree or shrub

Native woody plants support moth and butterfly larvae, which are critical to native bird populations. In addition to foraging habitat, birds also utilize trees and shrubs for nest habitat.

Plant native wildflowers

Identify and remove an invasive plant Learn what bushes and plants produce food for wildlife

Observe your plants and find one insect, bird or mammal that is interacting with it

Harvest rainwater for watering plants (see reverse side for more information)

Research ways to compost yard waste (see reverse side for more information)

Snap a picture of a gorgeous blooming native

Read Mt. Cuba Center Growing Together newsletter

Read SB22 prohibiting the sale of invasive plants in Delaware (see reverse side for more information)

Look through an online native plant finder (see reverse side for more information)

Talk to a neighbor about native plants

Invite a friend or neighbor to one of Mt. Cuba Center’s upcoming events

Birds need water to drink and to bathe in, in order to keep their feathers in good working order. Providing a source of constant, clean water in a safe location can provide our feathered friends a helping hand that they need in our increasingly urban world.

Native wildflowers promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage while adding beauty to landscapes. They also reduce air pollution, require less water, prevent erosion, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and do not require fertilizers or intense use of pesticides.

Change content to read: “Invasive plants spread into natural areas, strangling trees and plants critical to a healthy environment. Learning to recognize and remove these species from your yard helps keep our local ecosystems healthy.

Read SB22 prohibiting the sale of invasive plants in Delaware

You can read Senate Bill 22, which was recently signed into law, at the following website: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=48260 or google Delaware SB22

Look through an online native plant finder

Use Mt. Cuba Center’s native plant finder (https://mtcubacenter.org/nativeplant-finder/) to find native plants you love. Also check out the Audubon Society’s native plant finder (https://www.audubon.org/native-plants) to find the best plants for birds in your area.

Join Mt. Cuba Center’s Growing Together Facebook Group for neighbors”

Use Mt. Cuba Center’s native plant finder (https://mtcubacenter.org/nativeplant-finder/) to find native plants you love. Also check out the Audubon Society’s native plant finder (https://www.audubon.org/native-plants) to find the best plants for birds in your area.