Winter Activities for the Wildlife Garden

[@PlantNative]

Such a lovely view!! The birds…❤❤❤

[@awildapproach]

Thank you so much! I'm really enjoying seeing the birds using the garden. So many seeds from my plants for them as well as seeds blown in from trees in the neighborhood. It's wonderful. I love snow days.

[@Mslaralah]

I’m looking forward to your vid on how your Sassafras is doing. One popped up in my backyard a year ago, but sadly it did not make it. Say hello to the Cardinal for me next time you see him 😅. Enjoy reading this winter!

[@awildapproach]

Oh yes, I can't wait to share a sassafras update in a few months! I hope my seeded ones germinate well. :) Sorry yours didn't make it. Maybe try again in a different spot? They seem to prefer full full sun and more flat areas with moist soil, but I've also seen them in the wild on dry hills and cliff edges. I used to think they loved shade, but I think I was seeing sprouts coming off of a much larger tree which gave the impression they liked shade, when really the main trunk was very tall and in full sun...

[@tugweltp]

I'm looking forward to my southern magnolia seeds germinating in pots! I hope to grow a few dozen trees to give away in a few years. I also grow black cherry trees, river birch, and water oaks to give away. I call it fun in slow motion!

[@awildapproach]

Funny you should mention that. I've recently become obsessed with some southern magnolias I found recently on a walk. I had never seen these specific individuals on my walk before, but they stand out right now in winter, with their evergreen leaves. Do you grow the straight species southern magnolias? Their leaves look vastly different than the cultivars I see growing around my city. You are an angel. I bet people appreciate your free plants! :)

[@tugweltp]

@@awildapproach I believe the tree from which I get my seeds (big magnolia in my front yard) is a straight southern magnolia (magnolia grandiflora); it looks like one to my untrained eye, and the PictureThis app says southern magnolia, but aside from that I could be wrong.

[@D0m3YT]

Do you have milkweed in your garden? and if not have you thought of adding any?(native ofc)

[@awildapproach]

I have butterfly weed and common milkweed. I love butterfly weed a lot. It does quite well here. My common milkweed looks beautiful leaf wise until late summer and it starts to really look bad and it doesn't really keep flowers or bloom much for me, so I kind of want to try replacing my common milkweed with a more dry soil loving milkweed, to see if it will perform better. The butterfly weed does great, but does go dormant in mid or late summer it seems for me. I have a very hot south facing hillside microclimate in my front garden, for reference. East TN Ridge and Valley ecogregion. I used to have swamp milkweed, but I think it died. I should have planted it near my gutter downspouts, so it could have gotten extra water...