The growing season started early this year, and as a result perennials (and wildflowers) are tiring out sooner. The bees also got a late start this summer because many of them were flooded out in May and June.
I still have annual beds full of zinnias, marigolds, salvias and ageratums, but most of my perennial beds already have few or no blooms in them.
To help the bees and other pollinators, I’ve planted several varieties of sedums that are blooming right now:
Asters are another great plant that can extend the growing season and help pollinators, but the rabbit gang in my neighborhood has regularly mowed them to the ground in spring and then again when the plants try to grow back in summer. I haven’t seen any of my aster plants bloom for at least 3 years now.
When I visited one of our local garden centers to get some fall mums, I was excited to see they were also selling fresh aster plants loaded with buds. I decided to combine the two and put them in planters that sit on a wall that is too high for rabbits to reach.
Now that the flowers are starting to open I’m seeing many happy honeybees.