Eileen C Hart Botanical Garden

04/26/2026

Sunday, we received a call from Franklin, GA about an owlet that had fallen from its nest. We immediately put out a request for nearby volunteers, hoping someone could reach the site quickly.

Thankfully, mama owl was still in the area and continuing to care for her baby which was an encouraging sign in a stressful situation.

Monday, Brandon from Sanders Wildlife, Inc. responded, building a makeshift nest and securely attaching it to the tree. This gives the owlet a safe place to stay while mama continues to care for it until it’s ready to fledge.

A huge thank you to the homeowner for recognizing something wasn’t right and making the call that started this rescue effort. And an even bigger thank you to Brandon, who continues to show up time and time again for wildlife and for us when it matters most. 💚

Moments like this are only possible because of community awareness, quick action, and incredible partners in the field. 🦉

04/26/2026

HO-HUM, ANOTHER NATIVE PLANT

In my quest to prove that not all native plants are crappy, I present this one from my woodland garden. Known to normal people as sweet shrub and to others as Carolina allspice, Calycanthus floridus beguiles us with the fruity, sweet fragrance of its brownish red to deep maroon blossoms that look like spiders splayed out on their backs. In the South, blossoms appear in April and May, but if you live in the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, Minnesota, the U.P., or Moscow, you’ll probably have to wait until June and July just like you wait for everything else.

Sweet shrub grows about 6 to 8 feet tall and wide. Actually, width is irrelevant as it spreads by suckers and thus will get as wide as you allow. I wouldn’t consider it invasive, though. Just cut off or pull up the suckers you don’t want – it’ll take maybe 10 minutes. Most people don’t give the foliage the credit it’s due. Glossy, deep green leaves turn bright yellow in autumn, providing a glowing understory beneath my oaks and hickories.

Not all sweet shrubs are sweet. Some have no fragrance at all. The flowers of mine smell of watermelon, but yours might smell like air. To ensure a heady perfume, buy one when it’s blooming so you can check. Or procure a named selection chosen for exquisite fragrance, such as ‘Athens’ (greenish-yellow flowers smell like Juicy-Fruit gum) or ‘Michael Lindsey’ (brownish-red blooms smell of strawberries). Google the names for online sources.

Success with sweet shrub is no mark of genius. It’s easy. The plant is not fussy about soil as long as it’s well-drained. It tolerates drought and blooms in either sun or shade. I have seen no pests, not even deer. If deer have gnawed yours to the ground, however, do me a favor. Keep it to yourself.

04/26/2026

If you want to attract Zebra Swallowtail butterflies to your yard, the key is planting their host plant: the Pawpaw tree (I have 2).

This is the only plant their caterpillars can eat, so without it, they won’t stick around. You’ll need at least 2 pawpaw trees to produce fruit, since they require cross-pollination.

Only plant pawpaws if they are native to your region—they are native to much of the eastern U.S. Once established, add native nectar plants like coneflower and milkweed, and avoid pesticides to keep the habitat healthy.

A dream of mine is to raise zebra swallowtails one day, but I’ve never had any in my yard yet. I remember seeing them as a child but sadly not anymore. Has anyone had any luck seeing them?

04/26/2026

You noticed caterpillars on your oak. On your cherry. On the spicebush by the fence.

Your first instinct is to spray.

Here's what those caterpillars are feeding.

Chickadee parents spend most of the nesting season picking caterpillars off leaves and carrying them back to chicks. A single clutch needs a remarkable number of them — far more than most people would guess. The adults make trip after trip, all day, for weeks.

No caterpillars on your trees means no protein within reach of the nest.

The caterpillars on your oak aren't damaging it in the way you think. Oaks evolved to lose leaves to caterpillars in spring and replace them by early summer. The tree budgets for it. The caterpillars are part of the budget.

🌿 The ribbon hack:

- Tie a piece of bright ribbon around any tree or shrub with visible caterpillars — it reminds you and anyone else in the yard not to spray that branch
- Leave them through June — that's when most nesting activity wraps up
- If caterpillar feeding looks heavy on one branch, the tree compensates with new growth afterward
- Oaks support more caterpillar species than most other trees in a typical yard — they're the most productive food source your birds have

Your trees are running a cafeteria. The ribbon is the open sign 🌿

04/26/2026

What looks like fresh green leaves glowing in the night is actually hundreds of parrots resting on a single tree 🌿🦜

04/26/2026

04/26/2026

Nothing fancy, just earth, bamboo, and patience.

04/26/2026

Every spring, creeping thyme goes viral.
Pinterest boards, lawn alternative suggestions, garden blogs, social media...it's everywhere.
There's just one problem. It's not from North America.

Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is native to Europe and North Africa...not here.

It landed in American gardens the same way dozens of non-native exotics did: it was pretty, it was easy, and nobody thought to ask if local wildlife could use it.

They can't. It didn't evolve alongside North American bees, moths, or butterflies. To them, it's invisible.

Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) evolved on rocky Appalachian cliff faces and has been working in this ecosystem ever since.
It's native to 29 states and a host plant for 6+ moth species. It’s an early nectar source when native bees are just waking up and almost nothing else is blooming. After dark, the flowers get more fragrant, specifically to pull in hawkmoths at dusk.

Creeping thyme covers ground.
Creeping phlox covers ground and feeds the food web!

Same mat. Same spring color.
Only one of them actually belongs here.

Full garden guide on creeping PHLOX in comments 👇

Remember Phlox...forget the other one...

04/26/2026

Choose Native Fringe Tree Over Non-Native Chinese Fringe Tree!

The Chinese fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus) may look attractive, but it’s not native and can potentially escape cultivation to outcompete local plants, disrupting ecosystems. A better choice? Native fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), also known as Grancy Grey Beard!

~ Supports Native Pollinators - The native fringe tree provides nectar for native bees, butterflies, and moths, while the Chinese fringe tree offers less benefit to local pollinators.

~ Produces High-Value Fruits for Wildlife - The blue-black drupes of Chionanthus virginicus are an important food source for native birds, including robins and blue jays.

~ Adapted to Local Ecosystems - The native fringe tree thrives in North American climates and soil conditions, making it a resilient, low-maintenance choice that integrates seamlessly into native plant communities.

~ Enhances Biodiversity - As a native species, Chionanthus virginicus plays a crucial role in supporting insects and other wildlife, unlike C. retusus, which does not contribute as effectively to local food webs.

For beauty and ecological benefits, plant a native fringe tree!

Go native and help restore local habitats!

04/26/2026

My favorite ground cover! They've taken over all 4 sides of the house.

04/26/2026

A very beloved native shrub in Georgia is sweet bubby bush or sweetshrub (Calycanthus floridus). Another common name is Carolina allspice so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that this is a fragrant plant. In fact, all parts are fragrant – from the flowers, to the leaves (crush one), to the stems (even the dead ones can be broken to release the smell) and all the way down to the roots! The flowers are uniquely shaped so many folks recognize it. Not every plant is as fragrant as others so it is recommended that you buy one while it’s in bloom. A cultivar by the name of ‘Athens’ has golden-colored flowers. Shade and drought tolerant, this native shrub is found in much of the state except the southeastern area.