The year, plant by plant

JanuaryM01

Note Do not tidy. The hollow stems and the basal leaf litter are housing next year — leave both standing.

FebruaryM02

Note Do not tidy. The hollow stems and the basal leaf litter are housing next year — leave both standing.

MarchM03

Hosting harlequin blue flag is hosting virginia ctenucha moth (reported). wood's purple aster is hosting pearl crescent (phyciodes tharos).

Note Cut back wood's purple aster now. The stem-nesting bees have emerged; the basal litter can be tidied except where checkerspots overwinter.

AprilM04

Blooming creeping phlox and bluestar.

Hosting harlequin blue flag is hosting virginia ctenucha moth (reported). white turtlehead is hosting baltimore checkerspot (euphydryas phaeton) — primary. black chokeberry is hosting rosaceae feeders incl. coral hairstreak, brown elfin (genus-level). wood's purple aster is hosting pearl crescent (phyciodes tharos).

Note Cut bluestar stems back but leave a hand's-width of stubble for stem-nesting bees. Cut white turtlehead now — the Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars have emerged from the basal litter.

MayM05

Blooming harlequin blue flag, indian pink, creeping phlox, bluestar, black chokeberry, coral bells, virginia sweetspire, and catmint.

JuneM06

Blooming harlequin blue flag, indian pink, bluestar, coral bells, virginia sweetspire, catmint, woolly thyme, and coneflower.

Hosting harlequin blue flag is hosting virginia ctenucha moth (reported).

Note Shear catmint and creeping phlox by half after their first flush — both rebloom or thicken.

JulyM07

Blooming cardinal flower, coral bells, catmint, anise hyssop, woolly thyme, and coneflower.

Hosting harlequin blue flag is hosting virginia ctenucha moth (reported). white turtlehead is hosting baltimore checkerspot (euphydryas phaeton) — primary. wood's purple aster is hosting pearl crescent (phyciodes tharos).

AugustM08

Blooming cardinal flower, white turtlehead, wood's purple aster, catmint, anise hyssop, and coneflower.

SeptemberM09

Blooming cardinal flower, white turtlehead, wood's purple aster, catmint, and anise hyssop.

Hosting white turtlehead is hosting baltimore checkerspot (euphydryas phaeton) — primary. black chokeberry is hosting rosaceae feeders incl. coral hairstreak, brown elfin (genus-level). wood's purple aster is hosting pearl crescent (phyciodes tharos).

OctoberM10

Blooming white turtlehead, wood's purple aster, and anise hyssop.

Note Let the stems stand. The Baltimore checkerspot caterpillars overwinter in the turtlehead litter; stem-nesting bees are inside the hollow asters and bluestar.

NovemberM11

Note Resist the tidy impulse. Leave seedheads and stems — songbirds and overwintering insects need them through to March.

DecemberM12

Note Do not tidy. The hollow stems and the basal leaf litter are housing next year — leave both standing.