Amazing Asters: Feeding Pollinators into the Fall

Last fall, the asters I had planted the year before bloomed incredibly well. The handful of plants I'd started with were open for most of October. So I thought I'd take a moment to share why asters are a vital part of any native plant landscaping.

Like other native plants, they are pretty easy to grow. They are also relatively easy to find. I've seen both New England and Sky Blue Asters at nurseries. I've chosen New England Asters for my yard.

The bright purple flowers add some perk to the Wisconsin fall. In addition they have been very successful at attracting pollinators (and rabbits too). This past October, I photographed bees and butterflies coming to snack on the asters. I've shared these pictures below. These flowers are a critical part of the food web for native pollinators. Many flowering plants in the upper Midwest peek during the warmest, sunniest months from June through August. A good strategy for maximizing both your support for pollinators as well as to maximize your bloom time is plant a variety of species which flower throughout the year from as early in spring as we can muster to as late in fall. Asters are a great addition in support of these goals.

Bees in the asters.


And more bees


A monarch in October? Can you find it?


Still working on butterfly ids, not sure what this one is.

Fall Migration - Catching Departures

WI DNR was on WPR last week talking fall migration and trying to make the most of the end of September in southern Wisconsin. I linked out this a little awhile ago in another post. This weekend I decided to take up the call and headed out to a nearby prairie.

A small segment of the prairie has a stand of trees, some birch, some maples, and some which I honestly can't readily identify. There are also some shrubs and a pond. The prairie itself is quite large, but I stayed in the area near the pond, probably no bigger than a block.

Northern Flicker in a birch.

The sheer mass of wildlife was amazing. Small birds moved through the wildflowers and grasses and then back into the shrubs, Nannyberry and Dogwood from their appearance. There were American Goldfinches, Black Capped Chickadees, Palm Warblers, Clay Colored Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, and Nashville Warblers.

Other larger birds were more raucous, chasing each other around. They darted up into trees, swooped down to the ground; they foraged in great number. Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, Northern Flickers, and Gray Catbirds.

Near the water, typical visitors: Canada Geese and Mallards, but also atypical visitors, 5 or more Eastern Phoebes dropping out of the trees to hawk for insects, and Eastern Bluebirds too.

Pensive Eastern Phoebe sat still long enough for a picture.

Through the end of the month is a good time to catch many of these smaller species, and some larger ones which stay nearer the water may be around for awhile, so you haven't missed the migration yet. Take the time to find a local park or wildlife sanctuary, grab your binoculars, and get out there. They will gone before you know it, and they won't be back until spring.