The Freedom Park Bird and Butterfly Garden continues to go native!

(article from Candler Park Messenger, September, 2008)

We now have about 35 native plants in the garden. Several are in bloom now: Wild Senna, Joe Pye Weed, Cardinal Flowers and Black-eyed Susans. Others have finished blooming: St John’s Wort, Gayfeather, Celandine Poppies, Rosemary, and Crossvine.

We planted a butterfly area at one end of the garden in May, with species that could provide nectar for butterflies as well as food for caterpillars. Species include Butterfly Weed (not Butterfly Bush which is not a native), Bee Balm, Fennel and Parsley. We’ve had several butterflies visit, including Silver Spotted Skipper, Gulf Fritillary and Cabbage White, as well as Tiger and Black Swallowtails. Many of the latter’s caterpillars have feasted on the Fennel and Parsley.

The bluebird box was active again this year. The nesting pair then seemed to move across the street to Jim Satcher’s bluebird house-we’re hoping that next year there’ll be two families of bluebirds in the area! Also seen in the area of the Garden: a Chipping Sparrow, American Robins, House Finch, Northern Cardinals, those ole European Starlings, Northern Mockingbirds, Red-headed Woodpeckers and, overhead, two Red-tailed Hawks.

We hope to fill in the Garden with more plants this fall-hopefully with the help of Mary Lin students. If you’re interested in helping us with this planting or would be willing to sign up for an occasional workday, please contact Carol Vanderschaaf at

Easy-to-grow natives

Native plants for birds and/or butterflies:
Black-eyed Susan
Purple Coneflower
Lantana
Golden Fleece Goldenrod
Autumn Sage
Virginia Creeper
Cardinal Flower
Crossvine

Native plants for birds:
American Beautyberry
Pokeweed
Blueberry
Yellow root

Native plants for butterflies:
Butterfly Weed (not Bush), Fennel
Joe Pye Weed
St. John’s Wort
Milkweed
Passionflower

Coneheads are not aliens!

Whatever Saturday Night Live propaganda you may have been exposed to its time to face the fact: Coneheads (and their parental units) are natives! Coneheads, i.e., the ones with purple heads also know as Purple Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea ) are plants native to North America!

These Coneheads are likely to be found in dry open woods, road banks and prairies from Ohio and Iowa, south to Louisiana and Georgia. In the garden they grow to 5 feet tall, prefer sun to part shade and dry soil. They bloom from June to October and are both heat and drought tolerant. The seeds will spread easily and will reshow in the garden. They can also be propagated by rootball division.

Coneheads-I mean Coneflowers-are great for wildlife. Insects and butterflies, including Tiger Swallowtails, love them for their nectar. Old flower heads provide seed for songbirds, including the beautiful American Goldfinch.

This plant has long been know for improving the body’s resistance to infections of all kinds. Native people used it for to ease headaches, toothaches and sore gums. It is the infamous “snake oil” of the past, used as a poultice for snake bites and blood poisoning.

Echinacea, the coneflower’s genus name, is said to have been derived from the Greek word for hedgehog, which its central cone resembles.

Check out the purple coneflower in the Freedom Park Bird and Butterfly Garden, at the corner of North Ave., and Candler Park Drive., in Northeast Atlanta.

(Internet sources: abnativeplants.com, Naturalways.com, hardyplants.com, Scienceviews.com., Ohio State University at Waterman Farm)