Common Ground: Community Garden at St. John's

"God is our word for the ultimate ecosystem that holds all things in positive relationship. (see Colossians 1:17)" Fr. Richard Rohr

Gardeners are always on the lookout in nature! This expired Polyphemus Moth was found by a local gardener on a daily walk. Wingspan of about 5". Fun Facts: The caterpillars can eat 86,000 times their initial body weight in less than two months, but the adults eat nothing over their short life of 7-15 days. https://www.mothidentification.com/polyphemus-moth.htm

Agastache 'Meant to Bee™ Queen Necatarine'

One of our newest adds to the garden is this perennial, a long blooming plant that works well in a garden setting or in a large planter as a filler. Its unusually delicate flowers of peach and mauve have nectar that is a big draw for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. We hope the two we planted will thrive and spread!

These early summer blooms of this native Bottlebrush Buckeye are something to wait for! So intricate! These shrubs can grow up to 8' tall in the right environment. Ours here at Common Ground is in a rather dry, shady spot so it has not grown appreciably but holds its own in spite of that. (Don't those blackberries look good enough to eat? Hurry down and get a couple before they are all gone.) To learn more about this native shrub, click here: https://www.southernliving.com/garden/shrubs/bottlebrush-buckeye

Stokes Aster (Stokesia) is showing out in the garden now. The wide blooms attract many pollinators including this Silver-spotted Skipper butterfly (Epargyreus clarus). This native aster is low growing and absolutely low maintenance. Highly recommended for your pollinator garden. It got lots of raves from our recentgarden tour visitors. https://theplantnative.com/plant/stokes-aster/

Our newest feature at Common Ground is water for smaller creatures and native sedge grasses. Sedges give interest and habitat to a garden. Read about the many kinds here. https://nativemeadowscapes.com/8-native-sedges-for-any-garden/

Penstemon, commonly called beardtongue, is a delightful and beneficial add to a pollinator garden. We have several plants blooming now at the garden. Easily grown in poor soil, Penstemons are also drought tolerant. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love them. Learn more here.
https://www.almanac.com/plant/how-plant-grow-and-care-penstemon-beardtongue

Common Ground caretakers are thrilled to be a part of this year's Spring Garden Tour, Sunday, May 17, 1-5 pm. Grab your map at the church and then walk out toward 4th Avenue SE to see what's growing on. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLSWnPg7a/

Mark your calendars for the Historic Decatur Association Garden Tour returning Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 1–5pm, and the best part? It’s FREE!

Wander through the charming streets of Decatur and step inside a beautiful collection of private gardens, each one filled with personality, creativity, and seasonal color. From lush landscapes to cozy backyard escapes and porch container gardens, every stop tells its own story.

Start your afternoon at St. John’s Episcopal Church to grab your map, enjoy light refreshments, and get ready for a relaxing, self-guided stroll through one of Decatur’s most treasured historic neighborhoods.

This beloved tradition is all about community - neighbors opening their gates, sharing what they’ve grown, and celebrating the beauty of where they live. 🌼

Come be inspired, support local preservation, and soak in the joy of spring! 🌸🌻🪻🌷

The spiral bed is all decked out with the cheerful colors of scabiosa, catmint, and blanket flowers. Don't you know last night's rain perked them up, along with the rest of the garden.

We have two of these lovelies at Common Ground blooming their hearts out, ready for the hummingbirds that are just getting to town. Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native, the flowers of which are nectar-rich. It blooms all summer into fall. Hardy and practically maintenance free. The greatest hummingbird feeder ever!

The pollinators have started flying around looking for food. Common Ground is providing some. Among a few other things blooming now are butterweed, dandelions, mouse-ear coreopsis, and phlox.