My Sandhill Sanctuary Gardens

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

06/11/2026

How is everyone's garden growing? Drop a comment below 👇

06/10/2026

Bee Balm or Bergamot (Monarda didyma) is a native wildflower of KY and the Eastern U.S. It is a showstopper in masses and because it is in the mint family, Bee Balm will spread diligently. I grow it contained and also let it run wild in a less-cultivated area. Hummingbirds and Bumble Bees adore this herb.

Did I say herb? Yes, Bergamot has been used in the New World for centuries. Oswego Tea is another common name for the plant, as Oswego Natives drank the steeped leaves for colds and bronchitis. New settlers learned from the Natives and drank Oswego Tea instead of China Tea after our famous Boston Tea Party of 1773. There's a bit of USA history to celebrate our upcoming 250 years!

06/10/2026

Big fan of the green heron!

Owning a home that feels permanently under construction is a surprisingly common phenomenon often affectionately called "The Neverending Project." Green Herons fall into this. They aren't picky about placement, but then again who would be when you are always remodeling?

The nest is usually on or over the water, but may be up to a half-mile away. It may be anywhere from on the ground to 30 feet off the ground...or higher. The nest varies from solid to flimsy. They sometimes renovate old nests, or build inside old nests of other herons or egrets. Occasionally they take sticks from nearby old nests and refashion them into new nests. As if that's not enough when starting a family, they keep adding sticks and material throughout the breeding season.



photo: Green Heron on the nest.
📸 Karen Smith/USFWS

06/10/2026

06/09/2026

Here are field markings with the wings closed that will help identify swallowtails that look similar.

06/09/2026

The grass borders, lime cube and Biot replica pot

06/09/2026

Here are field markings of some swallowtails that are difficult to distinguish one from another.