Gillette's Habitat GardenField notes / Article
Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 Garden Plans: Columbus, Ohio
What's next for a Columbus, Ohio habitat garden: a crocus trial, an ironweed sow, a 35-species new bed, and spring bee surveys.
October 2026 brings the crocus trial and the ironweed sow. Spring 2027 brings the Bed 11 perennials and three relocations. Two checks are still open.
Planned work
| When | Bed | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | 1-9 | Crocus (non-native): 50 Crocus tommasinianus 'Ruby Giant' as a naturalizing trial, 5-6 per bed; 40 Crocus vernus ('Remembrance' and 'Pickwick' interplanted) as one or two display drifts. Planted at each bed's outer rain-reach edge, not the eave strips, which get no winter water. |
| Oct 2026 | 11 | Collect tall ironweed seed, or take a transplant, from the neighbor's plant for the north tip |
| Oct 2026 | Yard | Aerate the lawn once rain softens the clay; winter bird feeder up |
| Fall 2026 | 6 | Plant the two remaining peony spots: eastern bee balm (Monarda bradburiana) and hoary skullcap (Scutellaria incana) |
| Fall 2026 | 2 | Replace New York aster 'Wood's Purple' with a compact purple aster |
| Fall 2026 | 10 | Confirm the aster ID, then start replacing the bugleweed (Ajuga) |
| Through mid-Oct | 2, 6, 8, 11 | Taper watering on the September 19 plantings; deep soak before freeze. No water for the prickly pear. |
| Late Mar 2027 | All | Spring cleanup once days stay above 50°F; leave 12-18 in of stem stubble for stem-nesting bees |
| Spring 2027 | 1 to 2 | Move prairie dropseed to Bed 2 |
| Spring 2027 | 3, 5 | White wood aster (Eurybia divaricata): Bed 3 eave strip, Bed 5 drip line |
| Spring 2027 | 4 | Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera), woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum), bristleleaf sedge (Carex eburnea) |
| Spring 2027 | 8 | Creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) to replace woodland phlox 'Blue Moon' |
| Spring 2027 | 11 | 35-species perennial plan and big bluestem stand (see the Bed 11 page) |
| Spring 2027 | 2 | Blue sage (Salvia azurea), when found |
| April 2027 | 9 | Spring beauty and wood poppy verdict; lyreleaf sage ID at bloom |
| Mar-Apr 2027 | All | Spring bee survey sessions (mining bees, cellophane bees, nomad bees) |