Native Plants
Fall Checklist for the EcoBeneficial Landscape
Now that fall is here, is your landscape in good order? Following some simple steps can prevent or lessen the impacts of a harsh winter, and lay the groundwork for best results in the spring. Fall Checklist – 15 Steps to Ecological Health 1) If you have plants to be planted, it may be too late. Newly-planted plants should be…
Read MoreEco-Lessons from the Farm: GMO Corn & Pollinators
EcoBeneficial! went on a working vacation to Vermont this summer and visited some organic farms, including River Berry Farm in Fairfax, Vermont. After you finish this post watch my short video interview with organic farmer and pollinator advocate, Jane Sorensen, co-owner of River Berry Farm, to pick up some tips. My encounters with forward thinking organic farmers who embrace nature…
Read MoreFall Planting With Woodies – Native Trees & Shrubs
Some of our most ecologically-important native plants are trees and shrubs (aka woodies). They provide critical structure and ecological function to our landscapes. Some are early pollen sources for hungry bees, some have fruits, nuts or seeds for birds and mammals, some are host plants for butterflies, some are nesting sites for songbirds, and some, primarily evergreens, provide cover to…
Read MoreThe Value of Signs in an Ecological Landscape
How do you communicate to your neighbors why you have little or no lawn, why you have a diversity of native plants, why your trees are not topped, why your shrubs are not pruned into meatballs, why you leave your perennials and grasses standing through winter? Many of our neighbors are baffled by our ecological landscapes – filled with diverse…
Read MoreA Closer Look at Monarchs & Milkweeds: Latest Information from Xerces
Milkweeds (Asclepias species) are getting a lot of attention these days since they are the only larval host plants for the threatened Monarch Butterfly. As you may know, butterfly caterpillars have a different diet than their adult counterparts. Most caterpillars eat plant parts, usually leaves. Monarch caterpillars only eat the leaves of milkweeds. The Xerces Society, a non-profit leader in…
Read MoreExtending the Garden With Great Native Plants in Pots
If you are like many gardeners, you are scouring your landscape to figure out where else you can squeeze in another plant. No empty spots in your garden? No problem. Containers are the answer! While many gardeners plant in pots, few realize that there are many native plants which will do very well in containers. Not only are native perennials…
Read MoreBook Giveaway & New Video: Carol Gracie on Spring Wildflowers part 2
EcoBeneficial! book giveaway! Win a Copy of Carol Gracie’s wonderful book on Spring Wildflowers! Watch part 1 or part 2 of the EcoBeneficial! interview with Carol Gracie. Click at the end when prompted. (If you are watching on an iPhone the banner does not display. Please submit you entry using the contact form on the website and mention “contest entry.”…
Read MoreSpring Wildflowers With Carol Gracie part 1
After a long, cold, seemingly never-ending winter, what a treat it was to go on a spring wildflower hike with author, photographer and naturalist Carol Gracie. Gracie is the author of two excellent books on wildflowers. Her first book, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest: A Field Guide to the Northeastern United States, was co-authored with Steven Clemants and published…
Read MoreHoney Bee Losses for Winter 2013/2014
According to the latest survey results from the Bee Informed Partnership, honey bees fared better this past winter than the previous winter. Commercial beekeepers reported losing 23.2% of their colonies over the winter of 2013/2014 versus a loss of 30.5% for the previous winter. This volume of loss is still not acceptable, however, with beekeepers in this survey reporting 19% as…
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