Buzzworthy blooms in our native gardens this week

May 01, 2024| Environment

By: Laurie Kane

With the weather warming up and the growing season now in full swing, our gardens are greener every day! If you have purchased from our native plant sale before, you may be seeing some early blooms return to your garden. Two varieties currently flowering at the Lake Hopatcong Foundation native gardens are Jacob’s ladder and bleeding heart.

Jacob's Ladder	Bleeding Heart

Jacob's ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) has attractive leaves and clusters of small pale blue, bell-shaped flowers that attract butterflies and bees and provide some welcome early season color to the garden. Its dried roots were widely used by Native Americans as a remedy for a variety of diseases as well as to treat skin conditions and poisonous bites. Although Jacob’s ladder grows well in shade, it does very well in our mostly sunny garden.

Wild or fringed bleeding heart (Dicentra eximia) is a mounding evergreen with bluish-green leaves and a delicate ferny demeanor. The foliage is crowned by large branching clusters of lovely bright pink heart-shaped blooms for several weeks in spring and can bloom again in summer or fall. Another plant known to like partial shade, bleeding heart thrives in our sunny gardens. Its unusual flowers provide valuable nectar for migrating hummingbirds and native bumblebees.  

From the delicate flowers of Jacob's ladder to the charming blossoms of bleeding heart, these native varieties not only add beauty to our landscapes but also play vital roles in supporting local wildlife. We're excited to see what will be blooming next in our native gardens. Feel free to stop by at 125 Landing Road, Landing, for a look. Enjoy your spring gardens!