Photos: Coles County Community Garden

[ysabetwordsmith]

These pictures show the Coles County Community Garden on Saturday, August 2. (Begin with Part 1: Right Side, Part 2: Left Side.)


This is the entrance to the Coles County Community Garden. The sign stands beside the greenhouse.




The left side has a couple of garden sheds and a big flower garden.




The right side has rows of raised beds. They are kind of a mess. Most have fences around them so you can neither weed them nor pick anything unless it spills out through the mesh.




Here is a closeup of the sign.




This vine seems to be producing some sort of melon or squash. I am pretty sure it belongs to the famiy Cucurbitaceae.




Many of these little purple flowers are blooming, but I don't recognize them.




Many plants are producing these little lanternlike pods, which are likely some sort of Physalis such as goldenberry, ground cherry, or tomatillo.




This bed has some purple echinacea blooming. It is a useful herb.




I continue to covet this reddish-purple sedum in the flower garden. It's near the greenhouse.




Something is putting up spikes of hot pink flowers.




This stand of flowers is producing longer purple-pink flower spikes.




Here is a closeup of a purple flower spike. This might be blazing star.




There is a big patch of zinnias blooming. These attract many pollinators.




Orange butterfly weed is blooming. I got mine to bloom this year too!




A butterfly perches on a Buddleia flower, also known as butterfly bush. As it is not native, it is less valuable, but they do like the flowers. The butterfly is probably a monarch but might be a viceroy. With the lower wings covered, I can't tell. Viceroys have an extra bar there that monarchs don't.




A hidden path runs between the garden shed and the big flower garden, toward the other garden shed and the greenhouse.




It's hard to see amidst all the grass and weeds, but there are yellow coreopsis blooming here.




This is a big patch of purple echinacea.




Blanketflowers spill over the path.




It's a bit hard to see, but these zinnias are planted in five or six rows.




Single, semi-double, and double zinnias bloom in many colors.




Here is a closeup of a blanketflower.

Comments

[cmcmck]

The purple spiky ones are very like our native rosebay willowherb

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Similar!

What has me thinking of blazing star is the fluffy, threadlike petals.

[shirebound]

Three cheers for butterlies and pollinators!

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Central Illinois in general, and my locale in particular, has greatly improved pollinator habitat over the last 5-10 years. There are multiple large wildflower gardens in and around town.

Some but not all are listed here:
https://www.urbanbutterflies.org/

Also, when driving around, we see acreage planted with prairie species -- often several acres, occasionally quite large patches that look like 10+ acres. :D 3q3q3q!!!

[zavodilaterrarium]

Fencing the beds is certainly a choice. Loving the variety though! Gorgeous pinks and oranges. Kinda wish my campus had more flowers (the variety in other plants is still appreciated), but I’m allergic to pollen so maybe not…

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Fencing the beds is certainly a choice.<<

I think it was meant to keep random people from messing with them until the food got ripe, but at this time of year, they should be opened if there's anything edible in there. Earlier this year there were peas or beans peeking through in some places.

>> Loving the variety though! Gorgeous pinks and oranges. <<

Yay!

>> Kinda wish my campus had more flowers (the variety in other plants is still appreciated), but I’m allergic to pollen so maybe not… <<

There are pollen-free cultivars intended for flower arranging. These have little wildlife value, but do also provide an option for people with pollen allergies.

https://richmarflorist.com/2022/06/23/the-best-flowers-for-allergies-and-allergy-sufferers/

https://www.allergyaffiliates.com/blog/garden-oasis-crafting-your-low-pollen-paradise-for-allergy-relief

https://www.highcountrygardens.com/content/gardening/creating-an-allergy-free-garden

https://www.greenwoodnursery.com/pollen-allergy-free-garden-plants

https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/best-pollenless-sunflowers/

Re: Thoughts

[zavodilaterrarium]

Oo, thank you for the links ^-^

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service. I prefer high-pollen flowers for wildlife, but I know about the pollen-free ones and can point them out when relevant. Everyone who wants to enjoy flowers should be able to do so.

Re: Thoughts

[zavodilaterrarium]

I also prefer what’s best for the ecosystem generally (would be remiss of me as a biology major to not care), but it’s certainly very cool to learn about the specialised varieties!!! I can tolerate pollen long enough to get a close look, and that’s satisfactory for me — arts and crafts flowers will always have my back, if need be (๑>◡<๑)

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

Silk flowers can be surprisingly realistic. Recently one of my magazines had an article about someone hand-painting ceramic flowers that were just unbelievable. I've got a few made from seedpods too.

Re: Thoughts

[zavodilaterrarium]

Hell yeah! Recreations of life are so impressive and lovely.

[yourlibrarian]

Community gardens are great things, and it was nice to see the butterfly enjoying it as well 🙂

[adafrog]

:)