PlantyJ: an agentic garden journal

PlantyJ is an agentic garden journal: a photo gallery documenting 96 plants and creatures across 8 garden zones, updated from the field. Browse the collection by species, zone, or tag.

Plants & wildlife

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) — American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a species of flowering plant in the ivy family Araliaceae. It is native to eastern North America although its cultivation was successfully introduced to…
American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) — Corylus americana, the American hazelnut or American hazel, is a species of deciduous shrub in the genus Corylus, native to the eastern and central United States and extreme southern parts of eastern…
American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) — The American painted lady or American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) is a butterfly found throughout North America. The larvae feed on various Asteraceae, such as the cudweeds (genus Gnaphalium), the…
Aphid (Aphis sp.)
Apple 'Red Rome' (Malus domestica) — An apple is the round, edible fruit of an apple tree (Malus spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (Malus domestica), the most widely grown in the genus, are cultivated worldwide. The…
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) — Prunus armeniaca is the most commonly cultivated apricot species. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation. Genetic studies indicate Central Asia is the…
Ash Plant Bug (Tropidosteptes amoenus) — Tropidosteptes amoenus, the ash plant bug, is a species of plant bug in the family Miridae. It is found in North America.
Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia 'Shinseiki")
Asian Pear 'Peggy Pear' (Pyrus pyrifolia) — Pyrus pyrifolia is a species of pear tree native to southern China and northern Indochina that has been introduced to Korea, Japan and other parts of the world. The tree's edible fruit is known by…
Bicolor Violet 'priceana' (Viola sororia) — Viola sororia ( vy-OH-lə sə-ROR-ee-ə), known commonly as the common blue violet, is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern North America. It is known by a number of common…
Big-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) — Eurybia macrophylla, commonly known as the bigleaf aster, large-leaved aster, largeleaf aster or bigleaf wood aster, is an herbaceous perennial in the family Asteraceae that was formerly treated in…
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) — Aronia melanocarpa, called the black chokeberry, is a species of shrubs in the rose family native to eastern North America, ranging from Canada to the central United States, from Newfoundland west to…
Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) — Actaea racemosa, the black cohosh, black bugbane, black snakeroot, rattle-top, or fairy candle (syn. Cimicifuga racemosa), is a species of flowering plant of the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to…
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) — Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio…
Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) — Papilio polyxenes, the (eastern) black swallowtail, American swallowtail or parsnip swallowtail, is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. An extremely similar-appearing species, Papilio…
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — Rudbeckia hirta, commonly called black-eyed Susan and yellow coneflower, is a North American flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It grows to 1 metre (3+1⁄2 ft) tall with daisy-like yellow…
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) — Asclepias tuberosa, commonly known as butterfly weed, is a species of milkweed native to eastern and southwestern North America. It is commonly known as butterfly weed because of the butterflies that…
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum) — Symphyotrichum lateriflorum (formerly Aster lateriflorus) is a species of flowering plant in the aster family (Asteraceae). Commonly known as calico aster, starved aster, and white woodland aster, it…
Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) — The northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), also commonly known as the common cardinal, red cardinal, or simply cardinal, is a bird in the genus Cardinalis. It can be found in southeastern Canada,…
Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) — The black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is one of the largest and most common species of carpenter ant native to the central and eastern United States as well as eastern Canada.
Cat (Felis catus) — The cat (Felis catus), also called domestic cat and house cat, is a small carnivorous mammal. It is an obligate carnivore, requiring a predominantly meat-based diet. Its retractable claws are adapted…
Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) — Aquilegia canadensis, the Canadian columbine, Canada columbine, eastern red columbine, or wild columbine, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family. It is a perennial plant that is…
Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia) — Viola sororia ( vy-OH-lə sə-ROR-ee-ə), known commonly as the common blue violet, is a short-stemmed herbaceous perennial plant native to eastern North America. It is known by a number of common…
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) — Bombus impatiens, the common eastern bumblebee, is the most commonly encountered bumblebee across much of eastern North America. They can be found in the Eastern temperate forest region of the…
Common White Lilac (Syringa vulgaris alba)
Cowslip Primrose (Primula veris) — Primula veris, the cowslip, common cowslip, or cowslip primrose (syn. Primula officinalis Hill), is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the primrose family Primulaceae. The species is native…
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) — Thymus serpyllum, known by the common names of Breckland thyme, Breckland wild thyme, wild thyme, creeping thyme, or elfin thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is…
Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) — Veronicastrum virginicum, or Culver's root, is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is native to the eastern United States and south-eastern Canada. Growing to 200…
Dwarf Daffodil 'Tete a Tete' (Narcissus cyclamineus) — Narcissus cyclamineus, the cyclamen-flowered daffodil, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to North West Portugal and North West Spain.
Early Figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata) — Scrophularia lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the figwort family known by the common names lanceleaf figwort and American figwort. It is native to North America, where it is known from…
Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma) — Polygonia comma, the eastern comma, is a North American butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Nymphalinae.
Elderberry 'Bob Gordon' (Sambucus canadensis) — Sambucus canadensis, the American black elderberry, Canada elderberry, or common elderberry, is a North American species of elderberry. Although many parts of the plant are toxic, including the…
Elderberry 'Wyldewood' (Sambucus canadensis) — Sambucus canadensis, the American black elderberry, Canada elderberry, or common elderberry, is a North American species of elderberry. Although many parts of the plant are toxic, including the…
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense) — Cerastium arvense is a species of flowering plant in the pink family known by the common names field mouse-ear and field chickweed. It is a widespread species, occurring throughout Europe and North…
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) — Tiarella cordifolia, the heart-leaved foamflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae. The specific name cordifolia means "with heart-shaped leaves", a characteristic shared…
Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) — Penstemon digitalis (known by the common names foxglove beard-tongue, foxglove beardtongue, talus slope penstemon, and white beardtongue) is a species of flowering plant in the plantain family,…
Germander (Teucrium canadense) — Teucrium canadense, commonly known as Canada germander, American germander, or wood sage, is a perennial herb in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to North America where it is found across the…
Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) — Zizia aurea (golden alexanders, golden zizia) is a flowering herbaceous perennial plant of the carrot family Apiaceae. It is native to eastern Canada and the United States, from the eastern Great…
Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) — The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south…
Gooseberry 'Pixwell' (Ribes uva-crispa x missouriense 'Pixwell')
Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) — The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), spelled as grey squirrel outside of the United States, is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus. It is native to eastern North America,…
Great Angelica (Angelica atropupurea)
Ground Crab Spider (Xysticus species)
Hop Looper (Hypena humuli) — Hypena humuli, the hop looper or hop vine moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. It is found from coast to coast in Canada south…
Hops 'Willamette' (Humulus lupulus) — Humulus lupulus, the common hop or hops, is a species of flowering plant in the hemp family, Cannabaceae. It is a perennial, herbaceous climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and…
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) — Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, syn. Cochlearia armoracia) is a perennial plant of the family Brassicaceae (which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, cabbage, and radish). It is a root…
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) — The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a North American bird in the finch family. It is native to Mexico and southwestern United States, but has since been introduced to the eastern part of North…
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) — The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. It is a small bird that has a typical length of 16 cm (6.3 in) and a mass of…
Late Figwort (Scrophularia marilandica) — Scrophularia marilandica, also called late figwort, Maryland figwort, carpenter's square, or eastern figwort, is a flowering plant in the family Scrophulariaceae, native throughout eastern and…
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) — Syringa vulgaris, the lilac or common lilac, is a species of flowering plant in the olive family, Oleaceae. Native to the Balkan Peninsula, it is widely cultivated for its scented flowers in Europe…
Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba) — Spiraea alba, commonly known as meadowsweet, white meadowsweet, narrowleaf meadowsweet, the botanical pale bridewort, or pipestem, is native to the wet soils of the Allegheny Mountains and other…
Missouri Evening Primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa) — Oenothera macrocarpa (syn. Oenothera missouriensis), the bigfruit evening primrose, Ozark sundrops, Missouri evening primrose, or Missouri primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the evening…
Mock Orange (Philadelphus coronarius) — Philadelphus coronarius (sweet mock orange, English dogwood) is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native to the Caucasus and northeastern Turkey.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) — Leonurus cardiaca, known as motherwort, is an herbaceous perennial plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. Other common names include throw-wort, lion's ear, and lion's tail. Lion's tail is also a…
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) — Acer platanoides, commonly known as the Norway maple, is a species of maple native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from Spain east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and…
Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) — Matteuccia is a genus of ferns with one species: Matteuccia struthiopteris (common names ostrich fern, fiddlehead fern, or shuttlecock fern). The species epithet struthiopteris comes from Ancient…
Pavement Ant (Tetramorium immigrans) — Tetramorium immigrans—also known as the immigrant pavement ant, pavement ant, and the sugar ant in parts of North America—is an ant native to Europe, which also occurs as an introduced pest in North…
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) — Anaphalis margaritacea, commonly known as the western pearly everlasting or pearly everlasting, is an Asian and North American species of flowering perennial plant in the family Asteraceae.
Phlox (Phlox subulata) — Phlox subulata the creeping phlox, moss phlox, moss pink or mountain phlox, is a species of flowering plant in the family Polemoniaceae, native to the eastern and central United States, and widely…
Picture-winged Fly (Delphinia picta) — Delphinia picta is a species of picture-winged fly in the family Ulidiidae. The specific name picta is from Latin and means "painted". It is the only species in the monospecific genus Delphinia. It…
Pink Currant 'Pink Champagne' (Ribes rubrum) — The redcurrant or red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes in the family Grossulariaceae. It is native to western Europe. The species is widely cultivated and has escaped into the…
Prairie Alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)
Prairie Violet (Viola pedatifida) — Viola pedatifida, known variously as prairie violet, crow-foot violet, larkspur violet, purple prairie violet, and coastal violet, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Violet family (Violaceae). It…
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) — Echinacea purpurea, the eastern purple coneflower, purple coneflower, hedgehog coneflower, or Echinacea, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to parts…
Purple Giant Hyssop (Agastache scrophulariifolia) — Agastache scrophulariifolia, also known as the purple giant hyssop, is a perennial plant that grows throughout the United States and northern Ontario, Canada. Its name comes from the similarity of…
Raspberry 'Joan J' (Rubus idaeus) — Rubus idaeus (raspberry, also called red raspberry or occasionally European red raspberry to distinguish it from other raspberry species) is a red-fruited species of Rubus native to Europe and…
Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) — Eryngium yuccifolium, known as rattlesnake master, button eryngo, and button snake-root, is a perennial herb of the parsley family native to the tallgrass prairies of central and eastern North…
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) — Vanessa atalanta, the red admiral or, previously, the red admirable, is a well-characterized, medium-sized butterfly with black wings, red bands, and white spots. It has a wingspan of about 2 inches…
Red Currant 'Jonkheer Van Tets' (Ribes rubrum) — The redcurrant or red currant (Ribes rubrum) is a member of the genus Ribes in the family Grossulariaceae. It is native to western Europe. The species is widely cultivated and has escaped into the…
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) — Cornus sericea, the red osier or red-osier dogwood, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cornaceae, native to much of North America. It has sometimes been considered a synonym of the Asian…
Rosy Sedge (Carex rosea) — Carex rosea, the rosy sedge, is a flowering plant and part of the family Cyperaceae. Synonyms for Carex rosea include Carex concoluta, and Carex flaccidula. It is native to central and eastern North…
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Hylotelephium telephium) — Hylotelephium telephium (synonym Sedum telephium), known as orpine, livelong, frog's-stomach, harping Johnny, life-everlasting, live-forever, midsummer-men, Orphan John, witch's moneybags, and garden…
Sharp Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) — Hepatica acutiloba, the sharp-lobed hepatica, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is sometimes considered part of the genus Anemone, as Anemone acutiloba, A.…
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) — Acer saccharinum, commonly known as silver maple, creek maple, silverleaf maple, soft maple, large maple, water maple, swamp maple, or white maple, is a species of maple native to the eastern and…
Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) — Hydrangea arborescens, commonly known as smooth hydrangea or sevenbark, is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae. It is a small- to medium-sized, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub up…
Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda) — Rosa blanda, commonly known as the smooth rose, meadow/wild rose, or prairie rose, is a species of rose native to North America. Among roses, it is closest to a "thornless" rose, with just a few…
Sochan (Rudbeckia laciniata) — Rudbeckia laciniata, the cutleaf coneflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Other common names include cutleaf, goldenglow, green-headed coneflower, tall coneflower, sochan…
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) — Urtica dioica, often known as common nettle, burn nettle, stinging nettle, nettle leaf, or just a nettle or stinger, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Urticaceae. Originally…
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) — Acer saccharum, the sugar maple, is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is native to the hardwood forests of eastern Canada and the eastern United States.…
Tall Thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) — Anemone virginiana is an upright growing herbaceous species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial that grows 30–80 centimetres (12–31 in) tall, flowering from…
Tooth Moss (Plagiomnium cuspidatum) — Plagiomnium cuspidatum, also known as toothed or "baby-tooth" plagiomnium moss and woodsy thyme-moss, is a species of thyme-moss that originated in North America, but can now also be found throughout…
Virgin's Bower (Clematis virginiana) — Clematis virginiana (also known as devil's darning needles, devil's hair, love vine, traveller's joy, virgin's bower, Virginia virgin's bower, wild hops, and woodbine; syn. Clematis virginiana L.…
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) — Mertensia virginica (common names Virginia bluebells, Virginia cowslip, lungwort oysterleaf, Roanoke bells) is a spring ephemeral plant in the Boraginaceae (borage) family with bell-shaped sky-blue…
White Starflower (Ipheion uniflorum Album) — Ipheion uniflorum is a species of flowering plant, related to the onions, placed in the allium subfamily (Allioideae) of the Amaryllidaceae. It is known by the common name springstar, or spring…
Widow's Cross (Sedum pulchellum) — Sedum pulchellum is a species of flowering plant in the family Crassulaceae known by the common names widowscross and widow's cross. It is native to calcareous areas of the South-Central and…
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) — Geranium maculatum, the wild geranium, spotted geranium, or wood geranium, is a perennial plant native to woodlands in eastern North America, from southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to…
Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) — Asarum canadense, commonly known as Canada wild ginger, Canadian snakeroot, Indian Ginger, Coltsfoot, and Broad-Leaved Asarabacca, is a herbaceous, perennial plant. It should not be confused for…
Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) — Camassia scilloides is a perennial herb known commonly as Atlantic camas, wild hyacinth, and eastern camas. It is native to the eastern half of North America, including Ontario and the eastern United…
Wild Leek (Allium tricoccum) — Allium tricoccum (commonly known as ramps, ramson, wild leek, wood leek, or wild garlic) is a bulbous perennial flowering plant in the amaryllis family Amaryllidaceae. It is a North American species…
Wild Stonecrop (Sedum ternatum) — Sedum ternatum is the most widespread native Sedum species in eastern North America, commonly known as woodland stonecrop. It has white flowers, blooming April to May. This shade-tolerant species is…
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) — The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the…
Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) — Hamamelis virginiana, known as witch-hazel, common witch-hazel, American witch-hazel and beadwood, is a species of flowering shrub native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota,…
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow () or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Growing to 1 metre (3+1⁄3 feet) tall, it is characterized by small whitish flowers,…
Yellow Buckeye (Aesculus flava) — Aesculus flava, also known commonly as the common buckeye, the sweet buckeye, and the yellow buckeye, is a species of deciduous tree in the subfamily Hippocastanoideae of the family Sapindaceae. The…
Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) — Erythronium americanum, the trout lily, yellow trout lily, fawn lily, yellow adder's-tongue, or yellow dogtooth violet, is a species of perennial, colony forming, spring ephemeral flower native to…
Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) — Solidago flexicaulis, the broadleaved goldenrod, or zigzag goldenrod, is a North American species of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Asteraceae. It is native to the eastern and central…

Garden zones

Berry Border — Mostly sunny. Soil is lighter, drier, and looser relative to the other zones.
Front Yard — Mostly shady through the day with increased late afternoon sun. Soil is compacted clay loam, wet in spring and dry in the summer.
Hydrangea Border — Sun in the morning and evening with shade through most of the day. Steep slope with stone retaining wall. Soil is loose, loamy, and dry.
Kitchen garden
Maple — Mostly shaded by a Norway Maple, with part sun on the east and south sides. Ground is heavily mulched with wood chips and leaves. Soil varies between dry and moist due to root presence, sun exposure,…
North Boulevard — Mostly sunny with isolated areas of shade near trees. Soil is compacted and varies in moisture from very dry at the edges to damp in low areas.
Side Yard — Sun exposure varies from heavy shade to mostly sunny. Yard is narrow and steeply sloped from the house down to the sidewalk. Soil is generally compacted and varies in moisture from damp at the shady…
West Boulevard