Piedmont summers are often stressful for gardens, but many native plants are well-adapted to heat, humidity, and fluctuating precipitation. Below are just a few gardener favorites growing strong and healthy in the Village.
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) is a lesser-known but excellent garden addition. As a Piedmont native, it's well adapted to changing moisture conditions, able to tolerate wet soil from sudden downpours as well as extended dry spells, thanks to its deep taproot. With clusters of spiky, globe-shaped flowers, its coarse texture complements other geometric elements, like Coneflower seedheads, or contrasts pleasantly with delicate features like grasses or small flower clusters. Its pale greenish-beige color blends in any palette.
The orange glow of a Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) in bloom is a happy sight in a garden, especially when migrating Monarch butterflies visit to sip nectar and lay eggs for the next generation of caterpillars. Common across the state, plant lovers may spot them dotting fields and meadows in shades of pale melon to deep vermilion. Fearrington's bright orange patch at the side of the Restaurant has been in bloom since mid-May, and is still forming new buds. In autumn, ripe seed pods release fluffy tufts of silk that carry seeds away in the breeze.
Tall Phlox (Phlox paniculata, also called Summer or Garden Phlox) is a classic summer bloomer for cottage gardens and perennial borders. With a typical height of three to four feet, it puts its many pollinator visitors, including hummingbirds, near eye level for observation. Usually thought of as a full sun plant, Tall Phlox also tolerates part shade in hot climates. Across from the Knot Garden, a large rosy-purple patch grows tall between the lime flowers of Smooth Hydrangea in a dappled woodland border.
Though its flowers are tiny, long-blooming Clustered, or Short-toothed, Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) draws scores of pollinators from mid-summer to fall. Beyond being a rich nectar source, its fragrant foliage supports species like the Gray Hairstreak butterfly and Wavy-lined Emerald moth. Beside the Fearrington House, its silvery bracts contrast nicely with the deep purple foliage of Dahlia 'Happy Single First Love.'
Rachael, Fearrington Gardener
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