American Lady Caterpillars

These American Lady caterpillars were picked off the Pussytoes, which they completely defoliated. This native caterpillar feeds only on a few plants, including the Pussytoes, and one of our goals is to provide food for caterpillars. But this is too much of a good thing!

This is what the Pussytoes looked like before the caterpillars...

And this is what they look like now. If you look close you can see some of the caterpillars.

Wild Blue Lupine

Our Wild Blue Lupine is just starting to bloom. This plant is native to Connecticut and is not to be mistaken with the non-native Lupines that Maine is famous for. It's natural habitat is pine barrens, oak savannas, and areas that have been burned over.

The Karner Blue Butterfly is dependent on Wild Blue Lupine for survival. According to the US Fish & Wildlife, the population of Karners has dropped 99 percent, mostly in the last 15 years.

In Bloom

The summer flowers are just starting to bloom at Eklund, and they are much fuller this year than last year. This is Gallardia, or Blanket Flower, a popular native perennial for the garden or pots.

A real favorite has been the Sundrops, a type of evening primrose that doesn't take over (and the deer don't prefer). That's the one in yellow in the photo above. You can also see the Penstemmon blooming in the back, behind the Wild Blue Lupine, which is just starting to bloom.

Here's a surviving Harebell. We lost most of our Harebell, and this one was nearly unearthed by a chipmunk who decided he needed a new tunnel entrance and nearly buried the poor thing.

These Penstemmon blooms are shaped just perfect for this bee to enter into the tube. One reason we like to avoid cultivars is that the man-made version of the plant might no longer be the perfect fit for whatever insect is relying on it.

Here's a close-up of our Sundrops Oenothera 'Cold Crik', a natural evening primrose hybrid that does not set seed or take over the garden.

New Plants from Earth Tones

Planted some new plants from Earth Tones nursery today, thanks to a gift certificate from Jones Family Farm & the Olde Ripton Garden Club, as well as a balance carried over from last year.

New Species:
3 Blue Curls
3 Hardy Ageratum
5 Canada Anemone
5 Wild Bergamot
5 New York Aster
2 Wild Red Columbine

Adding to existing collection:
1 Dwarf Crested Iris
2 Virginia Strawberry
1 Wild Stonecrop

I couldn't resist tasting one of the Virginia Strawberries. The flavor was amazing!

Here's one of the new Columbine. This is the color scheme that is found in nature. They were blooming earlier this year at the very top of Sleeping Giant, right out of a rock.


A pair of Barred Owls is nest just outside the gate and they are heard frequently. Last year we had the Ravens nearby, but they are gone this year.

In Bloom; Mulch Pile

This is a Pinxter Flower, a native azalea that is often seen blooming in the middle of the woods, even right here at Shelton Lakes.

Wild Geraniums are also a common wildflower in Shelton. Widespread, possibly at the edge of your lawn.

This is the unexpected flower of Wild Ginger, a plant that I have never seen growing in the wild, possibly due to over harvesting (it does smell exactly like the ginger you buy at the store).

This solitary Pink Lady Slipper looks like it's going to bloom again this year. This flower just coincidentally happened to be growing on our garden site. We did not plant it (never, ever, ever, try to transplant a Pink Lady Slipper - they are guaranteed to die over the next few years rather than live for up to 50 years in the wild).

Here are some Spring Beauties and Dwarf Ginseng. These grow along the Far Mill River and many other low, cool places.

Merrybells. I don't remember seeing these in the wild.

Woodland or Wild Blue Phlox, another one I've never seen growing wild, probably because it is so very tasty. Some of our Phlox were chewed down this spring, possibly by chipmunks.

Mayapple can form huge patches in the wild. I don't see it very often in the wild but it is said to grow at Sleeping Giant State Park.

We built a mulch pile today, which was much more work than expected. The ground was full of rock and it was hot and muggy out. For the mulch pile walls, we used leftover deer netting, so it is nearly invisible, as you can see below.

Now we don't have to dump our leaves and garden waste over the bank, but can mulch it and reuse as compost.

While working, we kept hearing the call of Gray Treefrogs. And the vernal pool down below was just seething with life.

Spring Blooms

This Foam Flower is blooming very nicely along the top of the big retaining wall. Foam Flower will take some shade and is an alternative to non-native Astilbe.

The Bluets that went to seed (lower clump) are more white than their parents (upper clump).

The Virginia Strawberries planted along the bank are doing well. Our domestic strawberries are crosses between this native strawberry, which had tasty but tiny berries, and European strawberries, which had large but bland-tasting berries.

This Red Trillium is just about done.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit.

Woodland Phlox are just starting to open up. Deer love these!

Early Spring Blooms

Last year we planted and planted. This year we get to see what comes back and what dies off. So far, the biggest treat is this big patch of Bloodroot. Quite frankly, I forget we ever even planted it, because this spring wildflower dies off in the summer. The roots must have really spread, however, because it was just a couple little sprigs a year ago.

These Pussytoes are in the rock garden and seem to be spreading rapidly this spring. A nice groundcover.

Some of the Bluets went to seed and we are finding them popping up around the main Butterfly Garden bed. I'm seeing a lot of wild Bluets along the roadsides and in parks the last couple days as well. Those tend to be pretty white in hue.

There are a lot of Pulmonaria blooming at Eklund right now, but they are not native and we certainly didn't plant them. They have escaped and naturalized from the original flower beds, as have Foxglove, a sedum groundcover, and Black Swallowwort. These are all considered "weeds" at Eklund. Volunteers are allowed to dig them up and take them home as a reward for working in the garden.