What's arriving from Kind Earth Growers
Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum muticum
100 plants · 2 trays
- Soil
- Adaptable (clay to loam)
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Moisture
- Medium to wet
- Deer
- Deer-proof
Aromatic Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
250 plants · 5 trays
- Soil
- Well-drained; tolerates clay
- Sun
- Full sun (tolerates part)
- Moisture
- Dry to medium
- Deer
- Deer-proof
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
50 plants · 1 tray
- Soil
- Rich, organic
- Sun
- Full sun
- Moisture
- Medium-wet to wet
- Deer
- Deer-proof
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
100 plants · 2 trays
- Soil
- Any, incl. clay
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Moisture
- Dry to medium
- Deer
- Deer-proof
Planting Day Notes — May 4, 2026
- Water plants thoroughly the evening before planting, while still in their trays.
- Dig holes twice as wide as the plug and the same depth. Don't bury the crown.
- Spacing: 18–24" between plants for all four species. They'll fill in by year 2.
- Water in deeply at planting and again 2–3× per week for the first 3 weeks if no rain.
- Extras from the Flex pile should go into the Septic Lawn by default — there's nothing planted there yet, so it can absorb as much as we have.
- Plant tags: save at least one tag per species in case we need to reference supplier info later.
Where each plant goes — by the numbers
| Area | Mountain Mint | Aromatic Aster | Swamp Milkweed | Wild Bergamot | Area Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Bed | — | 15 | — | — | 15 |
| West Bed | — | 15 | — | 10 | 25 |
| Porch Pocket | — | 10 | — | — | 10 |
| Stoop Garden | — | 10 | — | 8 | 18 |
| Septic Lawn | 15 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 85 |
| Meadow Edge | 15 | 30 | — | 15 | 60 |
| West Edge – Sun | 10 | 20 | 30 | 15 | 75 |
| South Edge | 20 | 60 | — | 20 | 100 |
| East Edge | 15 | 40 | — | 12 | 67 |
| Flex / Backup Stock | 25 | 20 | — | — | 45 |
| Total | 100 | 250 | 50 | 100 | 500 |
Around the House
South Bed
Clay/RockFull SunDeer: LowAverage moisture
15 Aromatic Aster
Most sun on property. Best-performing bed. Clay/rock soil causes tall species to flop first year — stake if needed.
West Bed
Clay/RockAfternoon SunDeer: LowAverage
15 Aromatic Aster10 Wild Bergamot
Clear Japanese stiltgrass before planting. Stay well clear of the stone foundation.
Porch Pocket
Clay/RockPartial SunDeer: Very LowAverage
10 Aromatic Aster
Most deer-protected spot on the property. Swamp milkweed already established here.
Stoop Garden
Heavy ClayPartial SunDeer: LowAverage
10 Aromatic Aster8 Wild Bergamot
High visibility (first thing visitors see). Work around the 10 wild columbine planted April 2026.
Front / North Slope
Septic Lawn
Disturbed FillPartial SunDeer: MediumDry
15 Mountain Mint30 Aromatic Aster20 Swamp Milkweed20 Wild Bergamot
Meadow-conversion zone — currently nothing planted, so pack it in. All four Phase 1 plants are appropriate here.
Front / East Slope
Meadow Edge
Rocky LoamFull Sun (summer)Deer: HighWell-drained
15 Mountain Mint30 Aromatic Aster15 Wild Bergamot
Best-drained soil on the property. Heavy deer traffic — only deer-proof plants here (all four Phase 1 plants qualify).
Western Edge
West Edge – Sun
Rich forest-edge soilGood SunDeer: MediumWell-drained
10 Mountain Mint20 Aromatic Aster30 Swamp Milkweed15 Wild Bergamot
Most successful planting area on the property. ~24 thriving swamp milkweed already here — expand the colony.
Forest Edges
South Edge
Rich forest-edge soilDappled SunDeer: HighWell-drained
20 Mountain Mint60 Aromatic Aster20 Wild Bergamot
Heavy deer traffic — all four Phase 1 plants are deer-proof. DO NOT plant swamp milkweed here (not enough light, has failed before).
East Edge
Rich forest-edge soilMidday–Afternoon SunDeer: HighWell-drained
15 Mountain Mint40 Aromatic Aster12 Wild Bergamot
Trees block early-morning sun here; plants get hit from late morning through afternoon. Same rich, well-drained forest-edge soil as South Edge. All four Phase 1 plants are deer-proof.
Reserve
Flex / Backup Stock
Default: Septic Lawn
25 Mountain Mint20 Aromatic Aster
Extras should go straight into the Septic Lawn — nothing planted there yet, so it can absorb everything. Use only if you run short of space there, then fall back to West Edge-Sun or South Edge.