I just can't believe these whimsical flowers are native to me! It's my first year planting some of these and they bring me so much joy! We had a pretty nasty storm here last night but I was really happy to see all my native plants just chilling this morning as if nothing happened. I feel such a responsibility to my garden and the fauna that use it!
Caught this little gal snacking during my lunch break - this is why I do this! As someone once said in a comment here, to me it's just one plant, but it's this butterfly's world ❤️
(please ignore my maybe-very-dead goldenrod that I moved 5ft away from its home and it threw a tantrum and died) also sorry for the messed up flair, the app doesn't really let me type in the box normally!
I just need to vent... I am feeling so overwhelmed and discouraged in my yard. I've been here for 2 years and I feel like all I've been able to accomplish is ripping out ivy and planting a few natives (maybe 20-25 plants so far). My yard (about half an acre) is full of poison ivy, English ivy, vinca vine, and now the lily of the valley problem is becoming massive. Dandelions are also taking over. How can I build a native garden when I spend all my time just battling what's here? I have spent hundreds of hours clearing land just for it all to grow back in April when it rains a lot. I had moments of joy last year with milkweed and coneflowers, but everything is totally covered in weeds and invasives again. My natives are coming back but they're so crowded.
I could use some words of encouragement or advice on how to keep going because right now it feels bleak and hopeless 😞