Eupatorium perfoliatum (Boneset)
If fall had a signature plant, this one’s in the top tier.
Why it matters:
Late-season nectar powerhouse
Supports a wide range of pollinators
Hollow stems = built-in winter housing
Thrives in moist areas, rain gardens, and low spots
Looks fantastic in naturalistic plantings and meadow edges
Care Guide (Simple & True):
Sun: Full sun → part shade
Soil: Moist, fertile, or boggy
Water: Medium; doesn’t appreciate drought
Fall Tip: Leave the stems all winter. They become micro-apartments for native bees.
🏡 Build a Backyard Winter Village (Insect Hotels + Bee Motels)
Want to do even more good this fall?
Add a few intentional structures for overwintering pollinators.
Nature already uses the leaves and stems you leave behind… but you can take it further.
Here are three excellent guides to help you create real, functioning habitat (not Instagram props):
“5 Ways to Increase Nesting Habitat for Native Bees” – Xerces Society
https://xerces.org/blog/5-ways-to-increase-nesting-habitat-for-bees“A Bee Hotel Overview: How to Build, Maintain, and Attract Native Pollinators” – Best Bees
https://bestbees.com/bee-hotel/“Bee Hotels” – Michigan State University Extension (PDF)
https://www.canr.msu.edu/uploads/resources/pdfs/bee_hotels-e-3337_wcag_2.1.pdf
These guides show you how to build safe, functional, healthy insect hotels, not overcrowded parasite traps. The Michigan State PDF especially is gold for understanding what works and what doesn’t.
🍂 Nursery Bench Update – Fall Reality Check
Here’s what’s happening on my benches this week:
Cleaning trays and pots for winter sowing
Sorting native seeds that need cold stratification
Letting leaf litter gather under shrubs and around beds
Setting up a few “mini-mess zones” for overwintering insects
Planning fall signage for my nursery spots that explain why the leaves stay put
If you’re prepping your own native beds or sowing native seeds, this is THE time to get organized before true winter hits.
🧡 Fall Challenge: Leave 10% Wild
Every yard, every property, every balcony can spare 10%.
Leave one corner untouched this fall.
Let leaves gather.
Let stems stand.
Let nature bunker down in peace.
Next spring, your garden won’t just look alive it will be alive.
If you do it, send a picture.
I’d love to share a few in next week’s issue.
🌱 Parting Thought
A garden is not a decoration.
It’s a community.
And in fall, communities depend on shelter.
Give nature a place to rest and it’ll repay you a thousand times over.
Plant native roots, leave a legacy.
— Stan