Native Plants
Top 20 Ways to Create An EcoBeneficial Garden
Wondering how you can give a huge “eco-boost” to your garden? Look no further. Here are 20 of the best ways: 1) Reduce or eliminate the “Green Desert” (lawn/turf). It is an ecological wasteland. 2) Increase the health of your soil. Everything starts with the soil: healthy soil makes for healthy plants. Disturb your soil as little as possible. Leaves…
Read MoreSpotlight on Invasive Plants: Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
At this time of year, there are some very compelling plants in the landscape, strikingly beautiful as they take on their amazing fall color. One of the loveliest to look at is Euonymus alatus, commonly known as burning bush or winged euonymus. Its foliage and unusual fruit begin to turn bright red in October and are highly visible in the landscape.…
Read More7 EcoBeneficial Tips for Planting Native Trees this Fall
Fall is a fantastic time to plant many trees. In most parts of the country, the warm days and cool nights of autumn favor healthy root development before winter arrives. Choosing appropriate plants and using proper planting methods are critical to your planting success and to the long-term health of the trees. Here are 7 tips to help you get…
Read MoreMeadowscaping: A Perfect Alternative to Lawns
You might be thinking about doing some planting this fall. Why not consider planting a native meadowscape: a meadow or a meadow-like garden? Meadowscapes are fantastic ecological alternatives to lifeless lawns (“green deserts”). Whether you have a tiny yard or an expansive landscape, you can create a native meadowscape and give your landscape a big ecological boost. Bees, butterflies, other…
Read MoreHelping Pollinators & Improving Ecosystems: Inspirations from the UK
Just “across the pond” in the United Kingdom, there are some inspiring initiatives going on to help pollinators and create environmental improvements. In June of this year the British Government’s Minister for Environmental Science announced that a National Pollinator Strategy will soon be created. This is the only country I know of which has placed pollinators, and their critical role…
Read MoreThe Power of Every Landscape
It’s no secret to followers of this blog that I encourage the use of regional native plants because they have co-evolved with other living things and support our ecosystems. These symbiotic relationships are fundamental to a healthy environment. The great news is that every backyard, every community garden, every rooftop garden, every commercial landscape and every container on a patio…
Read MoreBee City USA: Helping Bees, City by City
You may have heard about Tree City USA, a nationwide program for communities which have demonstrated a commitment to caring for and managing their public trees. Over 3,400 communities now have Tree City USA status. Borrowing from this idea there is a new, exciting program to help support bees across the country: Bee City USA. In 2011, Phyllis Stiles,…
Read MoreFeeding the Bees: Creating a Bee Buffet!
We are hearing more and more about the challenges which honey bees and native bees are facing. There are many things you can do in a landscape to help bees. One thing we all can do is create an appealing and nutritious “bee buffet” to help our pollinator friends. As you likely know, bees need both pollen and nectar. Let’s…
Read MoreHost Plants: Feeding Caterpillars = Building Butterflies
Many homeowners and landscapers don’t realize the futility of just planting exotic nectar plants to support butterflies. Caterpillars of butterflies have evolved with specific host plants on which they depend. Some caterpillars use a very limited number of native host plants, some have the ability to use a wider range of plants. Caterpillars typically eat a small portion of the…
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