Shows a honeybee on flowers of catmint in the Alcove Garden

Bees Buzzing

The Alcove Garden

Author: Amanda Carrigan

In the Alcove Garden sun bed right now, the catmint (Nepeta faassenii) is a mass of blue-purple flowers. It is one of the non-native plants still present in the garden. Catmint is often recommended for pollinator gardens, being easy to grow, long-blooming, and attractive. There were a number of bees buzzing around in it today, but they all seemed to be honeybees, which of course are also non-native, and now have both managed and feral populations here. We would have a hard time doing without the honeybees’ pollination services (and wax and honey products), but they do compete with native bees (who may specialize in a certain type of plant, as opposed to the honeybees’ wider preferences) for native plants’ pollen resources, so it’s just as well that these seemed to be focusing on a non-native plant species.

Shows a honeybee on flowers of catmint in the Alcove Garden

A honeybee visiting the flowers of catmint (Nepeta faassenii) in the Alcove Garden. Both bee and flower are non-native.

Photo: Amanda Carrigan

photo shows the new serviceberry at KUC, planted late May 2022.

New Arrivals

The Alcove Garden

Author: Amanda Carrigan

Non-native species in the garden are gradually being phased out, and more and different native species added over time. A serviceberry tree (Amelanchier canadensis) has just been added to the garden. This tree provides fruit for the birds (and humans, if they can beat the birds to it), and has blossom in spring, and coloured leaves in fall. The non-native cotoneaster has also been removed and replaced with a bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). Both these larger plants came courtesy of Green Thumb Nursery. Smaller plants added this year include nodding onion, wild geranium, harebell, and smooth rose, from Ontario Native Plants.

photo shows the new serviceberry at KUC, planted late May 2022.

The new serviceberry tree planted at the Alcove garden in late May 2022.

Photo: Amanda Carrigan

Solomon's seal in flower

Understated But Sweet

The Alcove Garden

Author: Amanda Carrigan

Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum) is in flower right now in the maple bed and the left corner of the rear bed of the Alcove garden. The tall arching stems are a nice accent in a shady space, and are very easy to grow. The flowers are understated, small cream to green bells hanging under the arch. A little unexpectedly in such a quietly coloured plant, the flowers have a sweet scent that you will notice if you are nearby.

Solomon's seal in flower

Pairs of bell-shaped flowers dangle under the stems of Solomon’s seal in late May.

Photo: Amanda Carrigan

prairie smoke in flower

Subtle Colour

The Alcove Garden

Author: Amanda Carrigan

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) has spikes of creamy flowers out in the maple bed. Across the way, in the sun bed, are the nodding pink heads of prairie smoke (Geum trifolium). The pink is actually the calyx of the flower, and the white petals stay almost completely hidden inside. Some of the flowers have been pollinated – you can tell which ones, as they change from nodding to upright, and the stamens start to elongate. These will become the fuzzy seedheads which give the plant its common name.

prairie smoke in flower

Prairie smoke in bloom at the Alcove garden.

Photo: Amanda Carrigan

small fuzzy silver leaves of wild ginger show above the soil

Beginning Spring, April 15th

The Alcove Garden

Author: Amanda Carrigan

The early understorey plants are starting to wake up. A close look at the ground in the maple bed and the rear bed reveals signs of life – purplish nubs of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), and the fuzzy leaves of wild ginger (Asarum canadense) showing.

small fuzzy silver leaves of wild ginger show above the soil

The silvery young leaves of wild ginger emerging at the Alcove Garden in mid-April.

Photo: Amanda Carrigan