This Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) is native to the inter-mountain west / great basin region. It is one of the few penstemons that has a fragrance. Wikipedia describes the scent as sweet, like bubblegum or grape soda. It reminds me of the smell of the Bath & Bodywork’s store when I was a kid at the mall or jasmine in the south. When there’s a slight breeze I can smell it from a few blocks away. It didn’t bloom the first summer and they are apparently short-lived. I plan on planting some every year so I will always have one in bloom.
SomeDumbGamer
Local to me in southern New England? Sweetbay Magnolia or great white trillium.
In eastern NA? Bigleaf magnolia. My favorite plant of all time actually.
Partridge peas are super underrated and are my favorite.
Native plant gardening requires a ton of patience compared to traditional gardening and a lot of people are used to just picking up a tray of pretty annuals every spring. I think it’s important for newbies get an easy quick win and see success right out of the gate (like me). They ignore the guidance of sleep creep and leap and I had a lovely patch of yellow flowers pretty much all season – always swarming with pollinators.
Practical-Bed-5982
I love Cosmos so much.
Specialist_Ice6551
This is a great resource for discovering native species I overlooked.
Native to DC: Eastern redbud
Native to NA: Agastache foeniculum
HobbitFlashMob
Wild Bergamot for the shape of the flower and Mountain Mint for the diverse pollinators it attracts. We’re on the outskirts of Atlanta.
12 Comments
This Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) is native to the inter-mountain west / great basin region. It is one of the few penstemons that has a fragrance. Wikipedia describes the scent as sweet, like bubblegum or grape soda. It reminds me of the smell of the Bath & Bodywork’s store when I was a kid at the mall or jasmine in the south. When there’s a slight breeze I can smell it from a few blocks away. It didn’t bloom the first summer and they are apparently short-lived. I plan on planting some every year so I will always have one in bloom.
Local to me in southern New England? Sweetbay Magnolia or great white trillium.
In eastern NA? Bigleaf magnolia. My favorite plant of all time actually.
Gentiana andrewsii
https://preview.redd.it/qitn5uygctsg1.jpeg?width=2750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe9abfe410336599f1c67abd7a62ee47a3ab45f9
The close up bee pics really make it
https://preview.redd.it/egwdq6jrdtsg1.jpeg?width=1186&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6879926345d0f1dd9cb88449fe17f6431cdd37d9
Take a guess!
Partridge peas are super underrated and are my favorite.
Native plant gardening requires a ton of patience compared to traditional gardening and a lot of people are used to just picking up a tray of pretty annuals every spring. I think it’s important for newbies get an easy quick win and see success right out of the gate (like me). They ignore the guidance of sleep creep and leap and I had a lovely patch of yellow flowers pretty much all season – always swarming with pollinators.
I love Cosmos so much.
This is a great resource for discovering native species I overlooked.
Native to DC: Eastern redbud
Native to NA: Agastache foeniculum
Wild Bergamot for the shape of the flower and Mountain Mint for the diverse pollinators it attracts. We’re on the outskirts of Atlanta.
https://preview.redd.it/hw91c440htsg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6800a51aa340bd693cb0cf9122c6f0a37c3ce04f
https://preview.redd.it/7kppi30ehtsg1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=99592fca3f18198e32d30a000bfb8d029ca05a33
Can’t go wrong with paintbrush. I have Castilleja miniata in my garden, but I like them all
https://preview.redd.it/sv7h77inhtsg1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0ef26e7e109d5429608942c9129fbf9e4e3ae06
My favorite has been my anacacho orchid tree (Bauhinia lunarioides). Central Texas, 9A.
The one I’m observing or near at any given moment.