Our garden · Piedmont North Carolina

The garden and its visitors

This is a live photobook of our garden and its various visitors through the years. Here you will find some pictures that inspire our plant tags. And yes, there's a dedicated hummingbird section... we're a bit obsessed.

Hummingbirds 11

A Ruby-throated hummingbird perched on White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird taking a breather on a turtlehead. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Hummingbird, meet beebalm. A perfect match. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Another hummingbird, another beebalm. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Still worth a visit, even a little past its prime. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird finding the last of the nectar. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird checking the beebalm one more time. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird perched in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird taking a quiet moment on the redbud. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird dipping into the wild bergamot. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Azure Blue Sage (Salvia azurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird visiting the blue sage. Ruby-throated hummingbird

A Ruby-throated hummingbird nectaring on Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird and coral honeysuckle, the classic pairing. Ruby-throated hummingbird

Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Hummingbird enjoying a drink from the indian pinks

Bees & Wasps 14

An Eastern carpenter bee foraging on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A chunky carpenter bee making the rounds on the bergamot. Eastern carpenter bee

An Eastern carpenter bee foraging on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Two bees, one coneflower. Plenty to go around. Eastern carpenter bee

A Northern paper wasp foraging on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A paper wasp stopping by the coneflowers. Northern paper wasp

An Eastern carpenter bee nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A carpenter bee settling into the swamp milkweed. Eastern carpenter bee

A Great golden digger wasp nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A great golden digger wasp on the milkweed. All shine, no sting. Great golden digger wasp

A Bumblebee foraging on Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A bumblebee tucked into an obedient plant. Bumblebee

A Thread-waisted wasp perched on Eastern Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A thread-waisted wasp resting on a bluestar leaf. Thread-waisted wasp

An European honeybee in a Piedmont NC native garden — A honeybee busy on the mountain mint. European honeybee

A Common eastern bumblebee nectaring on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A bumblebee dusted in coneflower pollen. Common eastern bumblebee

A Great black wasp nectaring on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A great black wasp shining on the anise hyssop. Great black wasp

A Bumblebee nectaring on Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A bumblebee on goldenrod as fall rolls in. Bumblebee

A Great golden digger wasp in a Piedmont NC native garden — A great golden digger wasp on the mountain mint. Great golden digger wasp

A Great golden digger wasp nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A great golden digger wasp back on the milkweed. Great golden digger wasp

A Common eastern bumblebee nectaring on Calico Beardtongue (Penstemon calycosus) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A bumblebee squeezing into a beardtongue bloom. Common eastern bumblebee

Moths & Butterflies 8

A Hummingbird clearwing moth nectaring on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A hummingbird moth doing its best hummingbird impression. Hummingbird clearwing moth

An American lady butterfly nectaring on Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A lady butterfly pausing on a coneflower. American lady butterfly

An Eastern tiger swallowtail nectaring on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A tiger swallowtail stretched out on the bergamot. Eastern tiger swallowtail

A Monarch butterfly nectaring on Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A monarch fueling up on blue mistflower. Monarch butterfly

A Monarch butterfly perched in a Piedmont NC native garden — A monarch catching some sun on a spent beebalm. Monarch butterfly

A Silver-spotted skipper nectaring on Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A silver-spotted skipper on the anise hyssop. Silver-spotted skipper

An Eastern tiger swallowtail nectaring on Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A tiger swallowtail up high on the Joe Pye weed. Eastern tiger swallowtail

An American lady butterfly nectaring on Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A lady butterfly on a sunny coreopsis. American lady butterfly

Birds & Other Visitors 8

An Eastern box turtle in a Piedmont NC native garden — Our resident box turtle, out for a slow stroll. Eastern box turtle

An American goldfinch perched on Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A goldfinch riding a blazing star. American goldfinch

A Blue-gray gnatcatcher in a Piedmont NC native garden — A gnatcatcher with lunch in hand, out on the redbud. Blue-gray gnatcatcher

A Red-bellied woodpecker perched in a Piedmont NC native garden — A red-bellied woodpecker working the pine. Red-bellied woodpecker

A Green anole in a Piedmont NC native garden — A green anole keeping watch in the mountain mint. Green anole

An American goldfinch foraging on Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) in a Piedmont NC native garden — A goldfinch after the seeds on the wild bergamot. American goldfinch

A Carolina chickadee perched in a Piedmont NC native garden — A chickadee perched on the red-twig dogwood. Carolina chickadee

A Northern cardinal perched in a Piedmont NC native garden — A lady cardinal keeping an eye on things. Northern cardinal

Garden & plants 4

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Coneflowers soaking up a summer afternoon.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) in a Piedmont NC native garden — Black-eyed Susans, cheerful as ever.

Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) in a Piedmont NC native garden — One of our tags, out where it belongs in the mistflower.

A Stokes' aster showing off.

Our tags in the garden 23

The tags we make, staked out where they belong. Every one is drawn from the plant it names and the creature it feeds. Tap any tag for a closer look.

A HuBo Native American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a northern cardinal — American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) Featuring Northern cardinal

A HuBo Native Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a bumble bee — Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) Featuring Bumble bee

A HuBo Native Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a silvery checkerspot butterfly — Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) Featuring Silvery checkerspot butterfly

A HuBo Native Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a monarch butterfly — Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) Featuring Monarch butterfly

A HuBo Native Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a bumble bee — Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis) Featuring Bumble bee

A HuBo Native Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a monarch butterfly — Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) Featuring Monarch butterfly

A HuBo Native Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird — Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) Featuring Ruby-throated hummingbird

A HuBo Native Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a monarch caterpillar — Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Featuring Monarch caterpillar

A HuBo Native Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird — Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) Featuring Ruby-throated hummingbird

A HuBo Native Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a monarch butterfly — Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) Featuring Monarch butterfly

A HuBo Native Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden — Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)

A HuBo Native Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden — Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

A HuBo Native Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a eastern black swallowtail butterfly — Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) Featuring Eastern black swallowtail butterfly

A HuBo Native Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird — Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) Featuring Ruby-throated hummingbird

A HuBo Native Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly — Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) Featuring Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly

A HuBo Native New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a monarch butterfly — New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) Featuring Monarch butterfly

A HuBo Native Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a american goldfinch — Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Featuring American goldfinch

A HuBo Native Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a ruby-throated hummingbird — Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma) Featuring Ruby-throated hummingbird

A HuBo Native Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden — Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

A HuBo Native White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a bumble bee — White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) Featuring Bumble bee

A HuBo Native Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly — Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) Featuring Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly

A HuBo Native Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a hummingbird clearwing moth — Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) Featuring Hummingbird clearwing moth

A HuBo Native Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) plant tag in a Piedmont NC native garden, featuring a bumble bee — Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) Featuring Bumble bee