Colorful Autumn Natives

Bidens aristosa also known as Tickseed Sunflower

Grows wild at the side of Paramore park on Fire Tower Road, which is where I collected the seed for these in the Wildflower Garden at the Pitt County Arboretum.

A true Pitt County native annual!

The October 6th tour at 10 am

 at the Arboretum

will feature seed collection

especially in the wildflower garden

http://pittcountyarboretum.blogspot.com

Hardy Ageratum (Conoclinium coelstinum) is another fall flower you see blooming on the side of the road here. An aggressive spreader by root & seed, but the color is something I could not be without.

It seems to go on forever here in the circle.

The trick to having this in your garden is to pull it all out in the winter

Magically it always appears again next year. Not necessarily in the same place!

Pairing this with Muhly Grass

(Muhlenbergia capillaris)

at left, just starting to bloom,

would be a fine sight to see.

Fruitful Autumn Natives

The birds are enjoying the fruits of the Calicarpa americana

I have seen Robins, Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Cardinals & Finches on this shrub this week

They also enjoy the Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

This large specimen is several years old

I know people here think this a giant weed but it is really ornamental

Maybe I will start a trend....or not!

Signs of Autumn, at last

A little cooler & less humidity

seems to deepen colors 

The Salvia 'Indigo Spires' with Helianthus maximiliani

I try to pull this sunflower out of the circle but some root always remains

then in a rain storm these tall stalks fall over & mingle creating a perfect contrast.

Unsurprisingly Mother Nature knows better than me

Pollinators enjoy these flowers too