Flying Squirrel Farm

08/31/2026

Enjoying the little bit cooler weather this week! And appreciating the plants that have bloomed through the worst of summer and are still going strong.

08/04/2026

My nursery plants in pots are still doing their job as pollinators plants and host plants. Love watching the monarchs when I am out working!

06/16/2026

My yellow passionflower is in bloom! These funky little flowers make me smile every time I see them. Yellow passionflower is shade loving and a bit more restrained than its purple cousin.

06/06/2026

All set up for our last in person sale day of the season! We are at the Augusta Market in the dirt section to the left. All plants are buy two, get one free today!

06/05/2026

It’s been such a wonderful spring! Looking forward to spending one more day out with our amazing customers.

06/01/2026

One of our natives that adapts well to gardens!

Native Wildflower Spotlight:
Penstemon digitalis (Foxglove Beardtongue)

Penstemon digitalis (commonly called Foxglove Beardtongue) is a native perennial found throughout much of the eastern U.S., including Alabama. Named for its tubular, foxglove-like white blooms, this plant lights up meadows, open woods, and gardens in late spring to early summer. The name "beardtongue" refers to the hairy staminode (a sterile stamen) inside the flower, resembling a small fuzzy tongue.

🌿 Ecological Value & Wildlife Associations:
~Attracts a wide array of native pollinators, especially bumblebees, mason bees, and long-tongued bees.
~Occasionally visited by hummingbirds and butterflies.
~Serves as a host plant for the Chalcedony Midget moth (Elaphria chalcedonia).
~Seeds may be eaten by small birds, and dense foliage offers some shelter for insects and ground-nesting wildlife.

🌿 Landscape Value:
~Grows 3–5 feet tall with clumps of upright flowering stems.
~Tubular white to pale pink flowers appear in early summer and are lightly fragrant.
~Thrives in full sun to light shade and well-drained soils but tolerates drought once established.
~Excellent in native perennial beds, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and naturalized meadows.
~Its dark green to burgundy-tinged foliage adds color contrast even when not in bloom.

💚 Gardening & Conservation Notes:
~Easy to grow and semi deer-resistant.
~May self-seed in favorable conditions, but you can deadhead if reseeding is not desired.
~Pairs beautifully with other early-blooming natives like coreopsis, columbine, and bluestar.
~Consider planting in drifts for the best visual and ecological impact.

05/31/2026

May Flowers! The rain has brought on the blooms, love all the color popping up.

05/23/2026

Rain has held off so far and it’s a beautiful, cool morning at the Aiken Farm Market!

05/22/2026

05/16/2026

Stepping away from market sales this Saturday for a much-needed weekend of wildflower hunting! We visited Park’s Mill in Plum Branch to see the breathtaking Rocky Shoals Spider Lilies. These incredible natives only grow in clean, fast-moving, rocky streams.