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native plants. Most of the plants in his
nursery were cultivated from seeds he
has collected.
The most popular re-seeding native
flowers, he says, are the towering, lateblooming
swamp sunflower, the eyecatching
beautyberry and the bold, late
summer blooming butterfly weed. All
are super-easy to grow by seed and will
bring some good native flavor — just
what you need, Alistair Glen says.
Muhly grass is another that he recommends.
Muhly grass seeds are easy to
collect in November after they’ve gone
to seed, then distribute in spring.
When planting native species, expect
some native insects. As an active member
of the Audubon Society, Glen says
this is a good thing.
“Insect-free plants are not good for
wildlife,” he adds.
Local birds, he says, thrive on insects,
and insects thrive on native plants. He
recommends keeping natives and adding
them in where possible to help keep the
insects down in ornamental areas of the
garden. Insects will generally gravitate
toward native varieties.
Where to buy
Both Charlotte Glen and Deener use
Johnny’s Selected Seeds for the bulk of
their seed orders.
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange is
one of Deener’s other favorites. All of
Southern Exposure’s seeds are open-pollinated
and the company carries many
heirloom and organic varieties.
Glen says, another open-pollinated seed
company, J.L. Hudson, specializes in small
portions designed for the home gardener.
Their prices are significantly more affordable
than most commercial producers.
Avoid buying the mixed seeds found
at big box stores, as they typically don’t
contain varieties suited to our area and
usually have low germination rates.
So, this year, when you feel your
inner gardener creeping out, consider
really letting it play by going online to
order a few seed packets and clearing a
little garden playground. Whether you
choose an established bed or build them
a bed of their own, seeds can add much
more than great color to a garden.