wildflowers – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Martha Keehner Engelke North Carolina Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer of Durham County

As 2024 comes to an end, we celebrate the success of the Durham County Master Gardener ^SM Blog. There have been 68 posts this year. These posts have been viewed 131,381 times by 105,658 visitors. Most visitors live in the United States (114,033) but we have had a significant number from Canada (5,324) and the United Kingdom (3,177). Visitors from countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa have been the recipients of research-based information posted on our blog.

This is possible because of the contribution of the 16 authors who have written for the blog. They have generously shared their knowledge and insight over the past year. They are experienced gardeners with a wealth of information. To close out the year and offer the “gift” of their knowledge to our readers we asked them “What brings you joy in the garden?” Here are their thoughts:

Creating Happy Soil

I am trying a new to me technique for starting cover crops in my vegetable garden. These are eight raised beds which contained the remnants of my tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and zinnias. I removed and composted the biomass, covered the area with a silage tarp for two weeks to slow down the weeds, spread an inch of compost, and raked in the cover crop seed. No tillage. I watered daily for a week, and tada, I have cover crop coming up. This will keep a living root in the soil all winter, and make the soil happy for spring planting. The cover crop is the over wintering mix from Sow True Seed (5 lbs), containing cereal rye, crimson clover and hairy vetch. These do not winter kill, and will require termination in the spring. (Peter Gilmer)

‘Finessing’ the Details

Without a doubt, the most joy I derive from working in the garden is ‘finessing’ — taking something excellent and making it superb. Whether it’s pulling weeds with curved forceps out of a cactus container, raking patterns into a gravel pathway, deadheading spent flowers, or pruning small stems to keep the shape of a topiary, devoting the time, attention and effort to the smallest of details is like a meditation for me. It fills me with satisfaction, and I absolutely love it. (Deborah Pilkington)

A Subtle but Brilliant Native

I had many garden delights this year but my favorite was incorporating the native spotted bee balm (Mondarda punctata) into my perennial beds. I’ve only grown brilliantly-colored bee balm cultivars in the past. Spotted bee balm is less showy, but its subtilty is its beauty, with its soft greens and creams that mature into ballet pink bracts surrounding purple-spotted pubescent flowers. Plus, it’s got a fantastic, whimsical shape. Did I mention it is always buzzing with pollinators? This plant makes me smile. (Melinda Heigel)

Transition in the Landscape

What brought me the most joy this year was my ongoing development, planting, experimentation, and maintenance of my landscape sun and woodland gardens. The first and foremost objective of my efforts was continuing to transition the gardens to primarily native trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials. This season I reached a benchmark of 60% native with a target goal next season of 70%. Several years back I achieved certifications from the NWF certified Wildlife Habitat and the NCWF Butterfly Highway Programs. Participating in the Southeast Pollinator count and the Cornell Birdfeeder watch have been frosting on the cake this year. (Jeff Kanters)

Learning Resilience

The plant in my garden that has given me the most joy this year is Salvia microphylla. What’s not to love about a plant that goes by “Hot Lips”? She has bloomed from spring to fall despite the multiple major pruning sessions I have provided. Every time that I cut her back she rewards me with more red and white flowers-looking quite patriotic on the 4th of July and quite seasonal as Christmas approaches. The thing I value most about Hot Lips is her resilience–knock her down and she gets back up stronger and more beautiful! Deer, humans and disease are no match for her. This is a lesson I needed to hear this year and she was there for me! (Martha Engelke)

Bursts of Color

In the spring of 2020, I planted a dahlia (‘Otto’s Thrill’). Over the years, it produced about 4 big blossoms before it would be struck down with the first frost of the season. After 4 years of applying leaf mulch before every winter, it finally performed this year and I was delighted to see as many as 14 blossoms at once. I also planted three different classes of chrysanthemums (‘disbud’-type) that I got at the State Farmer’s Market after I was notified by Pana, Master Gardener Program Assistant, that these plants were available from the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society (CCCS). I followed the instructions carefully and slowly they appeared in late summer and grew into large buds (I snipped off the smaller buds). I attribute my success to weather that was timed just right for these late bloomers: an unusually high rainfall in September (over 13 inches) and a warm October and November. The worm castings I applied while they were growing helped too! Thank you Pana and the CCCS for bringing such pleasure and a smile to my face as I walked out my front door this fall. (Wendy Diaz)

Delighful ‘Eyesores’

Although I love to see the hummingbirds lapping up nectar from the columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in the early spring, the bees and wasps flitting about mountain mint (Pycnanthemum species) in mid-summer, and the goldfinches eating seeds on the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in late August, the observation that brings me the greatest joy is what many may consider an eyesore—the dead trees on my property. While even I will admit that they don’t add the beauty that flowering plants do, when I see the lichens, fungi, and moss growing on the dead wood and contemplate the many ants, beetles, bumble bees and even butterflies that rely upon dead wood as their home for at least part of their lifetimes, I have a deep appreciation and yes, joy for the many ecological functions that my dead and dying trees provide. (Jeannie Arnts)

Building Community

Out of many beautiful moments spent gardening, what was especially fun was helping install the landscape at Durham’s Stanford L. Warren Library. The rudbeckia in this photo (taken at dusk in August) were cultivated from seed by Extension Durham Co. Master Gardener Volunteers. We nurtured, planted, and trained excited library staff to continue care. It’s rewarding to connect with the community while doing something I love. Stop by the library, borrow a book, and check out the garden! (Ariyah Chambers April)

Dancing Wildflowers

I am a new Master Gardener, from the class of 2023, and just beginning to learn about the incredible variety of plants out there. I have found a new favorite. It’s called gaura, (oenothera lindheimeri ), and it has a perfect common name, wandflower. Watching the flowers dance in the wind and the pollinators attracted to the delicate flowers brings me joy every time I see it in my garden! (Lisa Nadler)

(Image credit: cassi saar: cc by-NC-4.0)

An Existential Voyage

When gardening, joy is never far away if you look for it. 356 days a year, I can walk outside and see the fruits of my labor growing. For every ‘continuing challenge’ there are always both old reliables putting on a show and new surprises brightening the day. The joy continues when the cut flowers come inside and are put into the vase, the fruit sliced onto morning cereal, and the herbs and vegetables chopped up for dinner. The joy multiplies when I go to Briggs Avenue Community Garden every week and meet up with my fellow garden voyagers as we journey into new challenges, unexpected rewards, and lots of laughs. So looking forward to the joy continuing. (Eric Wiebe)

(Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Thank you to everyone that has contributed to the blog this year and especially to our agent Ashley Troth who has given us unwavering support! If you know people that would like to receive regular postings from the blog, they can sign up by entering their email and clicking on the FOLLOW link on the right side of this post.

Note

Unless otherwise noted, all pictures were taken by the authors of the quotes. Special thanks to Extension Master Gardener volunteer Allie Mullin, whose photographs have been a treasure to the blog editors throughout the year.

Resources and Additional Information

Whatever Brings you Joy! Stay tuned for next year. Our authors are already planning posts on garden innovations, upcoming events, and plant spotlights! See you in 2025.

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By Melinda Heigel, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SMvolunteer of Durham County

Goldenrod lights up the fall garden as summer blooms fade. This plant offers a lot more than just its pretty flowers; goldenrod also supports beneficial insects and birds late in the season. (Image credit: Melinda Heigel)

Want outstanding fall color? Plant goldenrod. Nothing says fall is coming quite like the vibrant yellow hues of the this plant (Solidago spp.). In central North Carolina this perennial wildflower typically begins to appear in late summer and is a harbinger of brilliant trees ablaze, mums, and, of course, pumpkin-spice everything. You can often spot this North American native growing high and unruly by roadsides and in all sorts of wild areas. But there are ways to incorporate this beneficial plant into your home landscape.

Biology

Goldenrod is the common name for the biologically diverse Solidago genus. Currently, there are over 120 documented species, both natives and cultivars, of this stunning bloomer. According to Clemson University, botanists still have a lot to discover about this plant because some of the species exhibit polyploidy (or having more than two copies of each chromosome). This feature makes for incredibly diverse traits in species: taller, shorter, some that prefer moisture, some that like drier soils, sun, part sun, and even flower characteristics and bloom time.¹

Benefits of Goldenrod

Hardy

Aside from its beauty, goldenrod has a lot of great characteristics. Overall, this plant is easy to grow and tough. Most species do well in a wide range of soil types, are heat-tolerant, water-wise, and even tolerate drought once established. Goldenrod offers a long and prolific bloom time and can benefit from regular deadheading during the growing season.

Its resilience is famous, and gardeners know that this plant can thrive and naturalize easily in the landscape (read as some healthy “management” may be necessary to divide the plant every few years to control its spread) if you plant a weedy type. Goldenrod spreads by rhizomes and wind-blown seeds. Below, we’ll address some less assertive types that can offer great alternatives in a smaller home garden. And, finally, goldenrod is deer resistant and has no serious disease or insect problems.

Wild-life Friendly

Goldenrod draws pollinators into the garden. (Left to right) Two spider wasps on goldenrod and an unknown bee species feasting on Solidago juncea’s nectar. (Image credits: Eric Benson, Clemson University Extension, 2020; Fritz Flohr Reynolds CC BY-SA 3.0)

With the growing awareness of the role pollinators play in our ecosystem and the immense survival pressure they face, more gardeners are planting pollinator-friendly plants. Goldenrod certainly falls into this category. Many of the species produce enticing and beneficial nectar for a host of bees, wasps, flies, moths, and beetles. It is also a host plant for the wavy-lined emerald moth (Synchlora aerata). Given the bloom time, ranging from June through October, these plants provide needed late-season sustenance. They also support more butterflies and moths than any other plant in its category. Over 115 species of Lepidoptera (the order of insects that includes butterflies and moths) larvae rely on the plants’ leaves and shoots for food. After the blooms fade at the end of the season, birds eat goldenrod’s dried seeds while native bees nest in their hollow stems for the winter. Hands down, this plant has a positive impact on wildlife in your landscape.

Characteristics of Goldenrod

As highlighted above, there are a lot of variables within the Solidago species. It’s best to do a little research on the type of plant you are buying based on the specific characteristics you seek for your garden. However, all goldenrods are herbaceous perennial plants that generally bloom between June and October. While they range in height, habit, and environmental preferences, most prefer sunny conditions. They have a clumping, tall, or climbing habit and produce showy blooms of tiny golden flower heads in tight, dense clusters on a long stem.² Not generally picky about soil make up, most goldenrods do prefer well-drained environments. And these plants have a wide range of growth, spanning USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 2a-8b.

From a design perspective, they provide great color and texture in the landscape late into autumn after many summer flowers are spent. Depending on the species or cultivar you choose, they work well either as a back-of-the-border or front-of-the-border plant. Their free-flowing form looks great in a meadow, natural area, or cottage garden. And of course, they are right at home in pollinator and butterfly gardens.

Recommended Types of Goldenrod

As the term wildflower might suggest, some goldenrods can get weedy and a bit unruly in the home landscape. This plant can naturalize (spread with abandon) as it propagates by wind-strewn seeds or by underground rhizomes, so some are best left in a meadow, prairie, or woodland setting. But with so many to choose from, including ornamental and hybrids well suited to smaller spaces, there is something for every garden.

Wondering what species or cultivars might be right for your yard? The Tufts Pollinator Initiative, a group of scientists who are dedicated to pollinator conservation, has done some of the homework for gardeners. They composed the informative table below highlighting many characteristics like preferred conditions, bloom time, height, and growth habits of Solidago widely available in the garden trade.³

(Left to right, top to bottom) Examples of goldenrods with clumping habits that translate well to the home landscape: autumn goldenrod (S. sphacelata); blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia); wrinkle leaf goldenrod (S. rugosa ‘Fireworks’); showy goldenrod (S. speciosa); and early goldenrod (S. juncea). (Image credits: Tom Potterfield CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 ; Scott Detwiler CC BY-SA 3.0; F. D. Richards CC-BY-SA 2.0; Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Dan Mullen CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Extend the season of colorful blooms in your landscape with goldenrod–an ecologically sound choice for any garden.

Notes

1–https://hgic.clemson.edu/native-notes-goldenrod/.

2–Interestingly there is a goldenrod whose flowers are creamy-white instead of yellow–the silver-rod goldenrod (Solidago bicolor).

3–https://sites.tufts.edu/pollinators/blog/

Resources and Additional Information

For general information on goldenrod, check out North Carolina State University’s Plant Toolbox site. There are also additional links to various species of the plant.

https://plants.ced.ncsu.edu/plants/solidago

Often people, unfortunately, mistake goldenrod for the allergy-inducing ragweed (Ambrosia spp.). Read Clemson Cooperative Extension’s informative fact sheet which outlines how these two plants share little other than bloom time.

Goldenrod & Ragweed

To see more images and suggestions for home-garden goldenrods, view Sea Grant’s video on these native plants.

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Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Category: wildflowers

Master Gardener Reflections: What Brings Joy in the Garden?