A Collection of October Posts

 

This blog is seasonal. Every week the topic has something to do with what’s happening: in the yard, in the season, even what’s happening with me. For those of you who haven’t been following since day 1 (Mapleleaf viburnum: October 14, 2010), you can still enjoy the posts by scrolling through the archives on the right side of the blog.

I find it entertaining to occasionally go back and see what I posted about in the same season, even in the same month. October can be such a good month for being outdoors, enjoying an abundance of fall flowers, and delighting in the beginning of the fall color season. Here are a few of my favorite October posts over the last few years.

October is a great time to fall in love with our native asters. I have posted about them several times over the years, highlighting the different species in my area (with more in this post too) as well as tried to demystify the species of small white ones. Not only are asters number two on the list of keystone perennials, but they also are huge sources of late season nectar and pollen for native bees and butterflies. Add more to your garden!

New England aster

It’s a good time to evaluate or appreciate what you have in the home garden. Is your garden supporting the fall migration of butterflies like the Monarch? This post highlights some fall nectar plants (spoiler alert, it mentions asters as well as other plants). This earlier post is similar but you might find it inspiring.

Monarch on Blue mistflower

Other posts that seek to inspire you include this one with the Lorax to remind us that we have the power to make change in a positive direction. This next one specifically talks about including host plants for our native butterflies. It has a printable chart. This third post is your reminder to be diverse in the garden, not just for host plants but for nectar too.

If you’re just done with flowers and want to bask in the glow of the trees, here are two posts for you. One is about planting native trees that give you double duty or the more recent “Get a Tree That Does More.” Dreaming about driving up to the mountains for leaf-watching? Bring It Home: Fall Color gives you ideas for having good fall color in your own yard.