Introducing our new plants!
We love trying new species; after all, diversity is the key to healthy habitat. Oh... and did we mention they are pretty? This month we are adding eleven new species:
Sweet Grass - Fragrant, rich green grass used in basket-weaving and many other applications. Does well in moist soils and flowers in the spring.
New Jersey Tea - great pollinator plant and good chrysalis support for butterfly gardens. Popular host plant for butterflies and moths. Stubby bursts of the most delicate white flowers imaginable.
Pussytoes - my favorite new plant - fuzz-frosted foliage is topped with a single flower stalk in early spring that displays the namesake pussytoe flowers. Butterflies love this plant for early nectar, and it is the host for the impressive American Lady butterfly. Naturalizes well into lawns.
Wild Petunia - southern MI native, has nice lavender blooms on longer stems than domestic petunias. It adds nice flecks of color to a garden.
Mountain Mint - Can handle regular soils but really shines with good moisture. Clumps of white flowers are great for pollinators. Tastes like thyme and can be used as an herb. Not as aggressive as domestic mint.
Wild Tobacco - Bit of a stretch to call this native to MI, since it originally grew in South America, however, it does grow wild downstate and has been cultivated throughout MI for long enough that we decided to try it. Excellent nectar plant with interesting yellow tube flowers. Beloved by grasshoppers, it makes a great wild bird plant for insectivores. Note that this is an annual and you will probably need to collect the seed to keep it going in the UP.
Plantain Sedge - A bright evergreen sedge with broad leaves that form nice clumps, good for texture and color in woodland gardens.
Purple Top Grass - southern MI native, but strikingly purple when in flower.
June Grass - This is one we're excited to add because it likes it dry and, like any good Yooper, it appreciates dunes and jack pines. Host plant for an unimpressive, but probably important, small, brown moth.
Common Blue Violet - naturalizes well into lawns, tolerates wet soil and shade, host plant for pollinators, including Great Leopard Moth caterpillars and several types of Fritillary caterpillars that feed exclusively on violets (Fritillaries are gorgeous).
Wood Violet - A small, early woodland violet that can tolerate rocky sites given adequate shade. Important butterfly host plant. Unique deeply cut foliage adds interesting texture with a pop of spring color.
Find them all in the Featured Products collection in our Shop.
Upcoming Events!!
Farmers' Markets
Some of you have found us at the Skandia Farmer's Market, and we will continue to be there on certain Wednesdays from 4 - 7 pm on US 41 S in Skandia.
However, in order to help spread the word that native plants are available locally, we will be trying the Marquette Farmer's and Artists Wednesday Market at the Marquette Commons starting Wednesday, June 30, from 5 to 7 pm. We would love it if you stopped by to say Hi! We will have all the plants that are looking luscious this week.
If you want to find us at a market later in the summer, our Facebook page for UP Native Plants is probably the best way to stay in touch. Or, drop us an email and we'll let you know which Wednesday market we'll be attending.
Native Plants 24/7
The webpage at www.UPNativePlants.com remains the heart of our operation. I think we are over 90 species now! As always, you can peruse our full selection on our webpage at your convenience, and we'll arrange a mutually convenient time for pickup or delivery.
Hope to see you soon!