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Wild Geranium in Flower

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Wild geranium/spotted crane’s-bill (Geranium maculatum; photos: Deborah Perkins)

Wild geranium/spotted crane’s-bill (Geranium maculatum; photos: Deborah Perkins)

“The pink blooms are of special value to native bees, and the seeds attract birds.”

Spotted crane’s-bill (Geranium maculatum) is blooming in my habitat garden, rewarding me for my patience and persistence in planting. You may also find this lovely wild geranium blooming in our wild woodlands - if you have your boots on the ground, and your eyes open. This native wildflower grows in sun to part shade, in moist soils. The pink blooms are of special value to native bees, and the seeds attract birds. It also blooms profusely in high rains.

But, back to my own habitat garden for a moment. We had an old pile of rotting wood in a shady corner of our yard and I've slowly transformed the space into a beautiful woodland-edge garden over the last couple of years. I planted the wild geranium with a few other landscape plugs (seedlings available in trays) including blood-root (Sanguinaria canadensis), jack-in-the-pulpit, (Arisaema triphyllum), and Lady Fern (Athyrium angustum). I also added in some Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) and bugbane (Actaea racemosa) that I grew from seed (via Wild Seed Project).

Last year I asked my 11-year old daughter what I should call this garden, and she said without hesitation: "the Witch's Garden"! Apparently, she thought the plants sounded pretty witchy and she knows that I'm into magic and the healing properties of botanicals.

How fitting that I was just given a Ghost Fern from my cousin. It's one of my favorite ‘nativars’, one that I grow simply for eye candy. It's so beautiful!

Did you know? ‘Nativars’ that have been selected for red/purple foliage may not be as valuable to insects? Learn more about that here.

I hope you enjoyed this Phenology Note!

Join me in witnessing the seasons of our wild world.

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#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

#ThePersonalEcologist

I co-create biodiverse habitats with eco-minded stewards throughout the Northeast - at any scale.

I have 30 years of experience and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation.

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Deborah Perkins