Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria Alternatives New This Week April 14, 2025 Plant This Not That! Chinese Wisteria and Japanese Wisteria Alternatives Who doesn’t absolutely love a gorgeous spring bloom? At the end of a long cold winter, the sight of a full and fragrant cluster of blooms is like coming up for air. This time of year, you may be finding yourself admiring those groupings of spring blooming vines with all the pendulous purple flowers. Wisteria is so lovely! But did you know that most wisteria you see is non-native? Read more about why we should consider alternatives and then find a great list of substitutes below. Both Chinese wisteria ( Wisteria sinensi s) and Japanese wisteria ( Wisteria floribunda ) were introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s as a favored plant for climbing trellises, gazebos, and porches. It provided dense shade and was exceptionally fast growing. "We" thought this was a darling option! Unfortunately the collective "Past Us” was not doing a favor for “Future Us.” We know better now! These non-native wisteria are now considered invasive in at least 19 states. Both are aggressive vines that can reach up to 70 feet with 15 inch stems (or more)! These invasive vines can easily choke or kill native trees by shading out foliage and girding tree trunks. Understory plants and shrubs are smothered or killed beneath the heavy weight or shaded out completely. And these non-native wisterias often outcompete native plants for resources in North Carolina, most commonly in disturbed areas like forest edges. They easily spread by runners and seeds so even with our best intentions, they are incredibly hard to contain. Plus horror stories abound of smashed gutters, split siding, and even structural/foundation issues. The collective present-day "Us” might be looking for less costly and more beneficial alternatives! Fortunately, we have plentiful, gorgeous alternatives! Check out these native perennial vines at Painters this spring: Passiflora incarnata Passionflower vine NATIVE perennial vine (z5-9) full sun-part shade, climbing 6-8' Utterly extraordinary spring blooms, plus edible fruits, known as maypops Thrives in well-drained soil, drought tolerant; spreads by root suckers Important larval host plant with exceptional wildlife value, as beneficial as it is beautiful Bignonia capreolata Crossvine ‘Tangerine Beauty’ NATIVAR perennial vine (z5-9) full-part sun, up to 30' climb Abundant long-lasting tangerine blooms bring hummingbirds galore Easily attaches to most surfaces by tendrils Tolerates partial shade, but best flower production occurs in full sun Campsis radicans Trumpet vine ‘Flava’ NATIVAR perennial vine (z4-10) full sun-part shade, 30-40' climb Attractive orange-yellow summer blooms, adored by hummingbirds Needs a sturdy structure for support; an aggressive spreader, best kept contained Can cause skin irritation on contact; aka cow-itch An aggressive spreader, best kept contained; can cause skin irritation (aka cow-itch) Gelsemium sempervirens Carolina jessamine NATIVE perennial vine (z6-10) full-part sun, 10-20' climb, 4-8' wide Masses of yellow flowers in early spring, adored by hummingbirds Semi-evergreen foliage takes on a burgundy tinge in cool weather Happily grows up trellises or arbors; planter beware: highly toxic if ingested Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle NATIVE perennial vine (z4-9) full sun, 15-25' climb Coral red-yellow trumpet blooms spring to fall, semi-evergreen Blooms bring pollinators, fall berries attract birds A lovely native alternative to more aggressive honeysuckle vines, adored by hummingbirds! Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle ‘Magnifica’ NATIVAR semi-evergreen vine (z4-8) full-part sun, 7-10' climb Sweetly scented, bright orange, tubular blooms; after flowering, red fruits provide food for birds Twines beautifully up trellises or other support; a favorite of hummingbirds! Lonicera sempervirens Coral honeysuckle ‘Major Wheeler’ NATIVAR deciduous perennial vine (z4-8) full sun, climbing up to 10' Abundant red trumpet flowers spring-fall; valuable for wildlife, hummingbird magnet! Needs support to climb; not invasive and easy to grow, amenable to pruning Not invasive and easy to grow; beautiful and highly valuable for wildlife In previous seasons, Painters has carried American wisteria (specifically, Wisteria frutescens 'Amethyst Falls') and hope to again soon. The native species is not only a nectar source for butterflies and native insects, but it is also the larval host for silver-spotted skipper butterflies. A solid alternative choice! As always, for more current prices, sizes, and varieties, view our Growing List and Availability Pages on our website: https://www.paintersgreenhouse.com/growinglist

We couldn't do it without them! New This Week May 4, 2022 Thank You to Our Staff We couldn't do it without them! As we head into the busiest weekend of the year, we are well aware that Painters wouldn't function without our small but mighty team. Please take an extra moment while shopping this week to celebrate the hardworking people that work tirelessly to make it all possible! Painters is a unique place - we love that we can keep prices low and make plants more accessible to everyone, and in particular that we grow most of the plants right here, but that means that while we are here to help, our team also wears many other hats! Your patience and understanding is always appreciated as we strive to keep our tables well stocked, our plants watered, and answer your questions. We are SO grateful for our amazing team!

Kalmia latifolia New This Week March 11, 2024 Plant of the Week: Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia BASIC FEATURES: Broadleaf, evergreen shrub with clusters of spring blooms May/June. Tight, compact habit while young and growing into an open form with gnarly trunks as it ages. WHAT’S IN A NAME? Kalmia latifolia. Kalmia named after Swedish-Finnish botanist Pehr Kalm. Kalm was a disciple of Carl Linnaeus and explored eastern N. America extensively during the mid-1700s. We can thank Carl Linnaeus for the binomial system of naming plants (genus and species latin names). Latifolia translates to “with broad leaves.” FAMILY: Ericaceae (Heath) – family members include rhododendron, blueberries, azaleas, bearberries, andromeda, etc. NATIVE RANGE: Native to eastern North America from New Brunswick south to Florida and west to Tennessee. FUN FACT: Pollen catapults! Mountain laurel flowers evolved to have the pollen producing flower parts (stamens) tucked into the walls of the petals. When a bumblebee visits, the movement and vibrations inside the flower release the “spring loaded” stamens from the petals and drum against the bee, releasing pollen onto its body before it visits another bloom. Next time you see a fresh mountain laurel bloom, wiggle your finger inside it to see the catapults in action! NOT-SO-FUN FACT: All parts of mountain laurel are toxic and can be fatal to humans and animals if ingested. Even honey made from bees that forage exclusively on mountain laurel is toxic, referred to as “Mad Honey.” Burning the wood creates smoke that can be poisonous to inhale. GROWING CONDITIONS: SOIL : Prefers rich acidic soils with good drainage. Appreciates mulch in the landscape to make sure roots stay moist and cool. SUNLIGHT : Prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Appreciates winter shade, especially in the southeast. HEIGHT/WIDTH : Variable heights, expect cultivars to be shorter. In landscapes, the straight species mountain laurel slowly grows to an average height of 6-15’ (in 10 years time expect 4-8’ of growth). Uncommonly, it can reach up to 30’ tall on rich slopes of the Appalachian mountains. ZONES : 4-9 We are starting off the season with the straight species mountain laurel as well as three different varieties. They all prefer the same growing conditions, and only vary in size, bloom colors, and other aesthetic characteristics: K. latifolia (straight species) Traditional mountain laurel will reach heights of 15’+ over time. Soft pink buds open to white blooms. K. latifolia ‘Yankee Doodle’ Red flower buds open to irregular maroon banded blooms with a large white throat. Foliage is yellow green. Grows to 8-10’ tall and wide. K. latifolia ‘Keepsake’ Raspberry red buds will open to purplish burgundy flowers with thin white edging. The new growth is reddish bronze and leaves mature to a glossy, deep blueish green. Dense rounded habit reaching 4-5’ tall and wide. K. latifolia ‘Nathan Hale’ Red flower buds open pink. Symmetrical habit reaching 8’ tall and wide. Leaves are thick, shiny, and dark green. The petioles and stems of new growth are purplish red.

Plant Feature and Sale through March 8th New This Week March 2, 2026 Japanese Black Pine Plant Feature and Sale through March 8th This pine tree has a lot of character! Attractive, dark green needles are paired per fascicle and grow at the ends of bare branches. Silky, white, candle-like terminal buds sit upright on the branches and contrast with the green needles. These candles form in fall and will elongate through winter before budding. Japanese black pine has a flat-topped pyramidal form with no prominent central leader. The tree’s silhouette will age to an irregular form with a spreading crown and pendulous branches. Annual growth is an average of 1 foot per year and reaches a height of 12-15’ in 10 years. Tolerant of heat and salt, deer resistant, drought resistant when established. Would make a great addition to a Japanese inspired garden, bonsai, or as a screen. Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergii Native Range: Japan and Korea Fun Fact: The irregular growth, flat-top, and curved trunk make it a great specimen for bonsai. Growing Conditions: Soil: thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil Sunlight: prefers full sun, but can tolerate light shade Height/Width: 20-60’ tall and 12-20’ wide Zones: 5-9

Supplies to get you started at Painters New This Week December 12, 2024 Recover & Restore: Plants, Seed Mix, and Live Stakes Supplies to get you started at Painters In this long process of recovery, Painters is here to help out in the way we do best: providing you high quality plants (natives are our favorites!) and guidance as you go. Check out our latest blog on Starting the Process of Landscape Restoration . For those ready to start looking ahead at replanting and revitalizing landscapes, as well as stream bank restoration, find a s election of items at Painters on Saturday December 14th to get you started: native potted shrubs and trees, native live stakes, and wildlife habitat seed mix for affordable habitat restoration. Available Native Potted Shrubs and Trees Scientific Name Common Name Variety Size Qty Salix babylonica Willow, Weeping 8"T 23 Acer rubrum Maple, Red Brandywine 2G 18 Amorpha fruticosa Indigo Bush 1G 43 Betula nigra Birch, River 2G 26 Callicarpa americana Beautyberry, American 1G 30 Cephalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush 1G 19 Cornus sericea Dogwood, Redtwig 8"T 101 Fagus grandifolia American Beech 2G 18 Quercus shumardii Oak, Shumard 1G 11 Salix discolor Willow, Pussy 8"T 16 Spiraea tomentosa Steeplebush 1G 19 Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Coralberry 8"T 29 Taxodium distichum Bald Cypress 1G 27 Aronia melanocarpa Chokeberry, Black Viking 2G 37 Sambucus canadensis Elderberry 1G 60 Native Live Stakes A selection of five native trees and shrubs suited to live-stake planting, chosen for their aptitude for erosion control and stream bank repair. Check out this Introduction to Live Staking to learn more. Eastern Ninebark [Physocarpus opulifolius] Native deciduous shrub (z3-7) full-part sun, 5-8' tall, 6-10’ wide White blooms in summer, attractive bark in winter; provides excellent cover for wildlife Thrives on streambanks and in moist thickets, tolerates a wide range of soil conditions Elderberry [Sambucus canadensis] Native deciduous shrub (z3-9) full-part sun, 5-12' tall and wide Showy, fragrant white spring blooms lead to tasty black berries in late summer, great for wildlife Thrives in a wide range of conditions, spreads by suckers; excellent for colonizing streambanks Silky Dogwood [Cornus amomum] Native deciduous shrub (z5-8) full sun-part shade, 6-12' tall and wide Creamy white blooms early summer, blue berries in fall; excellent for wildlife Aka swamp dogwood, thrives in moist to wet woodlands or alongside streams or ponds Black Willow [Salix nigra] Native deciduous tree (z4-9) full sun-part shade, 30-60' tall and wide The largest of NC's willows, thrives in consistently wet soil; excellent for wildlife Shallow, spreading roots are prone to invading pipes; avoid planting near structures Silky Willow [Salix sericea] Native deciduous shrub (z3-9) full sun-part shade, 6-12' tall and wide Thrives in consistently wet soil of swamps and riverbanks; fast growing, excellent wildlife value Showy and easy care; so named for the silky white hairs on its leaves' undersides Wildlife Habitat Seed Mix For those needing native restoration in areas of size, we are carrying Roundstone Wildlife Habitat Seeds. The diversity of seeds offers the highest chance of success in a variety of soil and moisture types. Plant after the first killing frost to let the natural over-wintering process open up the seed coats for higher germination in the spring. Roundstone Habitat Mix .docx Download DOCX • 51KB Note: You may notice that there are a few plants in the mix that aren't native to our area; the company included them to aid with nitrogen fixation, wildlife forage, and erosion control. They have not been deemed a significant invasive in North Carolina.

South Sea Salad Tree 'Chief Kubo's Prize' New This Week May 18, 2026 Plant of the Week: Edible Leaf Hibiscus South Sea Salad Tree 'Chief Kubo's Prize' Abelmoschus manihot 'Chief Kubo's Prize' Annual (tender perennial z8b-11) Full sun-part shade 3-4' tall Can be grown in containers and overwintered in a bright, sunny spot indoors Enjoy raw or cooked like spinach This tropical powerhouse is the ultimate heat-loving spinach alternative for the peak of summer! A cousin to okra, 'Chief Kubo’s Prize' features stunning, deeply cut tropical foliage laced with vibrant magenta-red veins and stems--a true edimental! Fast-growing and incredibly productive, its mild-flavored leaves can be enjoyed raw in crisp summer salads, used like cabbage to wrap foods, or tossed into stir-fries. To top it off, it produces gorgeous, highly nutritious 5-inch yellow blooms that are also entirely edible. It thrives beautifully in containers and can easily be overwintered indoors in a bright, sunny window! A.k.a. Bele Tree, Sunset Hibiscus, or South Sea Salad Tree.

You don't want to miss these stunning flowers! New This Week June 20, 2022 Night Blooming Cereus You don't want to miss these stunning flowers! The Night Blooming Cereus for sale at Painters are just about to bloom! Checkout this amazing time lapse video Austin made last year of these stunning flowers and bring one home this week!

Show Them How Beautiful Beneficial Gardens Can Be! New This Week April 21, 2026 It's All About Perception Show Them How Beautiful Beneficial Gardens Can Be! A great way to celebrate the earth is to plant as many native plants as you can. Maybe you've already done that--your yard is full of natives of all shapes and sizes, you have brush piles for the birds, you wait to mow and to cut back your perennials, you leave the leaves... and sometimes you get in trouble for it. Or maybe you're about to embark on a pollinator garden makeover and are worried about town or HOA ordinances. Regardless, incorporating some of these tips in your yard can help identify it as a purposeful space. Let others know why it looks the way it does when it does (not just due to neglect), and consider using techniques to make it more appealing to the average homeowner (without sacrificing wildlife benefit). There are many tools for bridging the gap between sterile lawns and invasive hedges and wildlife-focused gardens--the more we encourage others to emulate rather than critique our yards, the more we can help the planet! “Cues of Care” are landscape elements that are incorporated with the goal of showing others that your yard/gardens are intentionally managed. This has become increasingly important for those living in cities, suburbs and HOAs, as many folks view wildlife habitats as ‘messy’ or as harboring/attracting undesirable animals and insects (rats, snakes, wasps, mosquitos). While a balanced habitat rarely causes any pest issues (and often reduces them), and the way your yard appears should not matter to others, the reality is that there are (dated, often misinformed) ordinances in place in many neighborhoods. And if you design a space that is beautiful as well as beneficial, and add elements that are widely considered appealing (water features, edging, garden art, pathways, etc), then you are likely to increase interest in your space and perhaps act as the catalyst for others to make similar changes to their yards. Signage A great way to spread the word on the importance of planting for wildlife is to qualify for and purchase one of National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat signs. They’re attractive and a great way “to communicate the impact and intent of your garden to neighbors.” We also recommend BeeCityUSA’s signs that you can download and print for free such as this Low Mow sign, or, when smothering grass/in the early, less attractive steps of a wildlife space, this Pollinator Habitat in Progress sign. The Xerces Society also offers a wide selection of lovely, informative options. The NWF recommends that along with wildlife habitat signage, befriending neighbors and showing them the magic of your space goes a long way - a bit of personal connection, education, and beneficial exposure can quickly change perception. Alongside that (if you’re not the chatty type, then maybe lean into these harder), there are some other cues that can make a big difference in the way your yard is viewed by others. Ornamental Natives & Nativars Especially if you’re one of the only kids on the block with a native dominated space, then it definitely helps to incorporate as many ornamental natives as possible (and to design your space with some regard for color theory or texture). Including species and nativars with pretty blooms, interesting foliage and colorful berries can help with human appeal while also supporting wildlife. You can also choose compact nativars to create a ‘tidier’ appearance -which means you have space to plant more! ( R ead our blog on natives vs. nativars to learn that all native cultivars are not the same in terms of wildlife benefit, and that it is important to use wild type natives along with nativars or other ornamentals.) Borders, Paths & Art Other ways to help folks recognize your yard as a purposefully cultivated/curated space is to incorporate borders, fences, paths, hedges, and islands of plants. This helps with the ‘tidy’ aesthetic - even if you let things go pretty wild within each planted/protected area, if you highlight or frame them to some extent it’s helpful. Even better - add some stepping stones, boulders, garden art, bird baths and bird houses. And even the smallest of water features can provide critical wildlife support, bring beneficial and beautiful wildlife to your space and add a lot of charm. These all can make your space more enjoyable, easy to navigate, and more welcoming, while helping to calm any concerns or misunderstandings. And these updates don’t have to be pricey - simply using stones or large branches to delineate areas can be lovely! Incorporating these fences, borders and paths along the periphery of your yard is helpful also - you want to keep plants from falling over into sidewalks or neighbors’ yards to avoid complaints. These gardens are less than a year old and plants are still emerging in spring - yet they are very obviously curated spaces due to borders, benches and paths. Sources: NWF, BeecityUSA & Xerces Society Photos: Angela Esmond's lovely gardens!

For Your Home or Soon-to-be Summer Porches New This Week March 24, 2025 Full and Flowing Houseplant Baskets For Your Home or Soon-to-be Summer Porches We are reaching the time of year where one of the most commonly asked questions at Painters is about hanging baskets for sun and shade. If you are one of those shade-seeking plant lovers, consider these new and newly restocked houseplant hanging baskets! These are certainly great choices to refresh your winter houseplants indoors, and they are also a nice option for folks with their eye out for some shady porch greenery just down the line. Those porches and patios are soon to be in use during the summer--we just have to "hang" in there until the warm weather gets going! As always, be mindful of sunlight and humidity conditions according to each plant's specific needs. Most plants in this list will require medium to bright indirect light--a perfect choice for a covered patio. Some are more tolerant of even lower light so you can tuck them even deeper into the corners and fill up your space! Click on the photos below to dive in! Names and quick tips on each. These prefer bright indirect light: These can tolerate a little lower light without too much fuss: These will all appreciate good warmth and humidity to thrive! These frequently masquerade as annuals but can also be grown as houseplants: Happy Houseplanting! (And do remember when you take them home, wait for nighttime temperatures to consistently stay above 50°F or more to move them into colder spaces. Hardening off time might be shorter when moving to a covered porch, but remember these are tropical plants and will perform best with warmer nighttime temps.)

Tall White Beardtongue New This Week May 5, 2025 Plant of the Week: Penstemon digitalis Tall White Beardtongue Also known as foxglove beardtongue for its resemblance to the English garden plant. Penstemons are called beardtongues because of the tiny hairs on the flowers’ stamen–a little hairy “tongue” to support pollinators. With ample stalked clusters of pretty white tubular flowers that bloom spring to summer, it attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in droves. Additionally, the seeds provide food for songbirds in late summer and fall. AND this plant is a host plant to the Baltimore checkerspot, Edith’s checkerspot, Chalcedon checkerspot, and the common buckeye! We are not the only ones who love this hardy and reliable native! Penstemon digitalis is quite unfussy and adaptable and, once established, can be tolerant of both flood and drought. What a plant! While not a highly aggressive spreader, it will often propagate through self-seeding. Deadheading will help promote new flower growth and ensures the plant flowers for longer. (Remove whole flower spikes as the blooms fade and new ones will grow from the base.) With its tall and showy blooms, it has great vertical interest. Use it in borders, in pollinator gardens, on the edge of rain gardens, or in meadow landscapes. This incredibly steadfast and resilient native plant is going to be a new favorite. Type: NATIVE perennial USDA Growing Zones: 3-8 Sun Exposure: Full sun Height: 3-5' tall Width: 2' wide Soil Needs: Thrives in well drained soils Also find several other varieties of penstemon at Painters for Spring 2025: Penstemon digitalis 'Husker Red' NATIVAR; with red-stemmed spikes of showy white tubular flowers spring-summer Penstemon pinifolius Pineleaf Beardtongue Bright red-orange tubular blooms and needle-like foliage; Native to Arizona and New Mexico, thrives in coarse, sandy, sharp-draining soil Penstemon smallii Small's Beardtongue NATIVE perennial with long-blooming tubular purple summer flowers; basal foliage stays evergreen Penstemon barbatus 'Rock Candy® Blue' 1’ tall and wide, compact cultivar jam-packed with lavender-blue bell-shaped blooms Penstemon 'Flock of Flamingos' Masses of flamboyant, multi-hued pink flowers Penstemon 'Quartz® Amethyst' Generous spikes of soft lavender flowers with white striped throats attract bees Penstemon 'Quartz® Red' 2’ tall and wide, summer spires of vivid red-orange trumpets, throats striped with white Penstemon ' Harlequin™ Magenta' Upright, compact, and free flowering; showy spires of large magenta flowers bloom summer through fall Penstemon 'Onyx and Pearls' Elegant near-black foliage topped with soft lavender blooms in summer, provides height and drama

Add a pop of color to your home with this blooming houseplant! New This Week March 20, 2023 Plant of the Week: Painter's Palette Anthurium Add a pop of color to your home with this blooming houseplant! With stunning red, pink or orange blooms that last for several months at a time, anthurium are very easy plants to care for. Place your Anthurium in a bright room, but not in direct sunlight... they can even handle relatively low light, and only need moderate/regular water. An easy, low maintenance way to add some brilliant color to your space! Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light to moderate light Soil Needs: well draining soil rich in organic matter and amended with perlite/orchid bark is ideal, but they aren't super picky (probably fine to stay in whatever you bought them in for a while!) Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry Humidity: Flowering varieties can tolerate lower humidity than other anthuriums Fertilizer: Fertilize once a month with 1/4 strength fertilizer Care: Easy

A quick and easy gift for all the plant lovers in your life New This Week November 27, 2022 Painters Gift Certificates Available Online A quick and easy gift for all the plant lovers in your life Painters Greenhouse gift certificates can be purchased online and make a great present for all the plant lovers in your life! Available in increments ranging from $10-$500 and delivered immediately to your inbox, our gift certificates are a great way to give a gift that keeps growing. They also make a convenient last minute gift! ORDER YOURS NOW!

Help Both Honeybees AND Native Pollinators! New This Week April 14, 2025 Honeybee Help Help Both Honeybees AND Native Pollinators! We’ve experienced a massive loss of honeybee hives over the 2024/25 winter across the U.S. - up to 70%! Yes we love honey, and we appreciate their work pollinating our edible, ornamental and native plants - but honeybees are most critical to our food production. Many of us have heard the statistic that 1 in 3 bites of the food we eat are reliant primarily on honeybee pollination. With the big losses this year, it's predicted that we will see less of crops such as melons, apples, pears, cucumbers, peppers, almonds, and of course- honey at the grocery (and that we will see price increases). Why we continue to see declines in honeybee populations is not fully understood, but the hypotheses are in line with the same issues threatening native pollinator numbers -- human development leads to climate change, and more immediately, to increased habitat loss and pesticide use. These pressures weaken honeybees and open the door to viruses, mites, and colony collapse disorder. Honeybees are not native, so some of their best foraging is not on native plants, but many honeybee forage species are also great food sources for native pollinators. (A few of the plants listed on the below honeybee forage list are potentially invasive, so we crossed them off.) While honeybees may have the potential to outcompete native bees, you can reduce that risk by planting more food for all of them. Native bees and other pollinators are often specific in their food needs while honeybees are generalists - so increasing both the numbers and diversity of your pollen and nectar producing plants is best to ensure adequate food for everyone. Honeybee on a native Redbud If you're looking for the plants we grow at Painters that provide the best forage for honeybees, we have added honeybee stickers to the signs of all we currently have in stock. These are all also good plants for native pollinators, though native plants are going to of course be best for our native pollinators (and a few of those stickered are not native). Reduce or omit pesticide use - if you must use pesticides, be intentional and do your research ... even organic-safe pesticides can kill bees if applied at the wrong time of day or to plants in bloom. Provide a stable water source - honeybees need water both for drinking and cooling their hives. Shallow dishes are best, but require frequent refilling in the heat of summer - regardless of depth, make sure pebbles or plants provide islands for them to climb onto. Leave plants and debris for nesting sites and shelter - an immaculate yard with no dead stems, leaf matter, or piles of branches doesn't give bees, pollinators or birds the habitat they need to flourish. Visit this link to view a list of the best honeybee forage for our area by season: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTkSbHpTZkM1LbjYhBKgB7aU1D24gxXsdiwwJBKRkCfTF0XQeTu86c5tPsw34nq3g/pub

Why We Love Spiraea alba New This Week April 21, 2026 Plant of the Week: Meadowsweet Why We Love Spiraea alba Meadowsweet is a native deciduous shrub growing to 3-4' tall and wide. While a relative to the invasive Japanese spiraea, it is a tame, native alternative! The shrub is made up of many unbranched erect stems ending in fuzzy white fragrant blooms in the summer. Flowers produce pollen and nectar which attract bees, butterflies, wasps, moths, adult long-horned beetles, and more - you'll see a plethora of pollinator visitors! Meadowsweet is also a larval host for the spring azure butterfly. Foliage turns a lovely yellow in fall. Meadowsweet is tolerant of wet soils and does well near ponds, streambanks, in low boggy areas of a yard, or in a cottage garden that gets regular watering. Works great for streambank restoration as well as in rain gardens! If Meadowsweet gets leggy, prune in late winter and it will send out a denser flush of growth that season. Family : Rose Family Native Range : Canada, Midwest, New England and down to North Carolina – we are the southernmost state where Meadowsweet naturally grows. Fun Fact : The flowers are borne on determinate inflorescences (cymose) and open from the top down in a basipetal order. Growing Conditions : Soil: Prefers moist or wet soil Sunlight: Performs best in full sun to part shade Height/Width: 3-4’ tall and wide Zones: 3-7 Photo courtesy Prairie Moon Nursery.

Join the Challenge! New This Week April 27, 2026 Less Lawn More Life! Join the Challenge! Let’s trade that high-maintenance grass for a high-impact habitat! We’re officially inviting all Painters gardeners to join the Less Lawn More Life Challenge starting May 7th! This is a free, 12-week nationwide journey designed to help you transform your outdoor space into a thriving ecosystem, one expert-led step at a time. And it all begins with a live keynote from the legendary Robin Wall Kimmerer—botanist, author of Braiding Sweetgrass , and founder of Plant, Baby Plant —on May 7th at 7pm ET. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE Why join the movement? The Wildr Score : Every participant receives a free ecological health assessment for their specific yard. (We know all of you gardeners are going to LOVE this.) 12 Weekly Challenges: Get guided, bite-sized actions to boost your local biodiversity. Direct Access: Join live webinars and Q&A sessions with the world’s leading conservationists. Watching the local birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds reclaim your yard is more than just a hobby—it’s a legacy for our kids, our community, and a vital gift to our local WNC ecosystem. So let’s dig in! Sign up, shrink that lawn, and let nature surprise you. '