Attracting honey bees an native bees as well as being a host plant for the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and the spicebush swallowtail (P. Troilus) butterflies, tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) has big, showy, yellow flowers in mid-spring making it a very attractive tree for the landscape. The tall trees produce large quantities of nectar and serve as a much-needed, early food source for hummingbirds. Thriving in full sun and average to wet soil conditions, tulip tree is hardy in zones 4-9.
Clematis in beautiful shades of yellow include ‘Aureolin’, ‘rehderiana’, ‘tangutica’, and ‘Bill MacKenzie’.
Let the seed heads of sunflowers dry on the stalk or cut them and hang them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated indoor location. Once the seeds have completely dried, rub them off the head by hand and store them in airtight containers.
Planning an addition of blueberry plants to the garden next year? Consider a site with well-drained soil and full sun. Test soil pH for an ideal 4.5-5.5. Amend the soil if needed which may take a year or two to accomplish before you plant.
If deer have been a problem in the landscape this season, consider planting flowers this fall that are not favorites of deer. Choose daffodils instead of tulips, allium instead of crocus, astible or bleeding hearts over hostas.
Pinch off tops of tomato plants and the new flower buds. This will help ripen the existing fruit on the plant quicker.
For clematis with the most beautiful blue flowers, choose ‘Arabella’, Emilia Plater’, ‘General Sikorski’ or ‘Prince Charles’.
Peonies resent transplanting and do not need dividing. Resist digging up established plants unless you must.
Plant Something Massachusetts is a project of Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association, and was originally established in partnership with Massachusetts Flower Growers’ Association.
