Checkerboard Garden

The Checkerboard Garden features native plants interspersed with open squares of soil, mimicking a checkerboard pattern. The bare soil patches provide essential nesting spaces for ground-dwelling pollinators like native bees, while the surrounding plants offer nectar and pollen, creating a balanced habitat for diverse species!

Butterfly Milkweed

Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a vibrant, drought-tolerant wildflower known for its bright orange blooms. A key host plant for monarch butterflies, it also provides nectar for a variety of pollinators, making it an essential addition to any native garden or wildlife habitat.

Ohio Spiderwort

Ohio spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) is a striking native perennial with vivid blue or purple flowers that bloom in the early morning. Thriving in a range of soils, it supports bees and other pollinators while adding a touch of elegance to native gardens and meadow landscapes. 

Plants Found In This Zone!

Butterfly Milkweed
Aesclepius tuberosa
(Christine Dunning, 9/23)

Eastern Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
(Christine Dunning, 9/23)

Common Violet
Viola sororia
(Jade Espinoza, 9/24)

Gayfeather
Liatris spicata
(Riley Richardson, 9/24)

Ozark Downy Phlox
Phlox pilosa subsp. ozarkana 
(Linz Cox, 9/24)

River Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
(Lydia Robertson, 9/24)

Whorled Milkweed
Asclepius verticillata
(Nora Medlock, 9/24)

Wild petunia
Ruellia humilis
(Paola Sustaita, 9/24)

Wild Strawberry
Fragaria virginiana
(Samantha Pruitt, 9/23)

Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
(Anna Grace Wright, 9/23)