The Apples in My Orchard

Over the last few weeks, during soccer games, trips to the office, walking in prairie grasses, as making the rounds in our yard I’ve noticed the number of pollinators I have visiting my plants.

Last week, on my Autumn Joy Sedum, I noticed painted lady butterflies feeding on the blossoms. It was movement and stark contrast in color that attracted my attention. There were as many as six butterflies at a time feeding on one plant.  Sedum is colorful with its green waxy leaves and clustered pink flower heads.

This is next to my Wild Romance New England Aster and my common milkweed.  The milkweed is dried and the seed pods are starting to dry up but are still too green to harvest.

Then, I noticed that I have a rogue goldenrod plant in my front garden. I did not know what it was at first, thinking it was some monkshood that migrated from another spot.

But, once it bloomed and I saw the bright yellow color, I recognized what it was. Camera in hand, I went to take a photo and was greeted with bumblebees, hornets, and a fly covering the flowers.

Another goldenrod plant I noticed this morning was in the New Amsterdam Grasslands and had a monarch butterfly feeding on it.

There is a lot of movement in the garden and on the prairie right now. Look closely when you see movement. You’ll notice butterflies, grasshoppers, bees, and birds. Many are migrating or completing their life cycle. Fall flowering plants help pollinators that are on the move to be nourished so they can complete their journeys.  I like that my gardens still have a lot of colors as we move into October next week.