Amelanchier canadensis, also known as Shadblow Serviceberry due to its bloom time when the American Shad fish swims upstream to spawn, is a deciduous multi-season shrub. Also known as juneberry, sugarplum, Indian pear, may cherry, saskatoon, and sarvisberry, I consider… Read More
-
Planting a Native Hedgerow for Wildlife
Hedgerows sound kind of old-fashioned, and you might think that they would fit better into a traditional English countryside rather than a modern American landscape. Nowadays people might call them ‘screens’, rather than a hedgerow. A ‘screen’ is just that…. Read More
-
Book Review: Fallscaping, by Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cohen
Fallscaping: Extending Your Garden Season into Fall, by Nancy J. Ondra and Stephanie Cohen Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳/5 Trees Genres: Non-Fiction, Garden Design, Horticulture Summary: Most garden design books focus on the riotous colors and full blooms of the spring and summer… Read More
-
American Beautyberry – An Elegant Native Plant
American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, is aptly named as the bright purple jewel-like berries are arranged artfully on cascading branches of this wonderful deciduous and deer resistant shrub. Native to the central and southeastern United States, it is found naturally growing… Read More
-
Why Plant in the Fall?
Spring planting is one of the most exciting times of the year for most gardeners. We have been cooped up all winter and can’t wait to get back outside to get our hands dirty and plant new additions to our… Read More
-
Book Review: Native Plants for the Small Yard, by Kate Brandes
Native Plants for the Small Yard: Easy, Beautiful Home Gardens that Support Local Ecology, by Kate Brandes Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳/5 Trees Genres: Non-Fiction, Garden Design, Horticulture Summary: Native Plants for the Small Yard recognizes that not all home gardens are large…. Read More
-
Plant This, Not That!
When choosing plants for your home or community it is worth keeping in mind the maxim, ‘First, Do No Harm’. By choosing native plants you do just that – avoid invasive species1 that displace natural plant communities thereby reducing biodiversity… Read More
-
Book Review: The Hidden Life of Trees, by Peter Wohlleben
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World, by Peter Wohlleben Rating: 🌳🌳🌳🌳/5 Trees Genres: Non-Fiction, Forestry, Ecology, Conservation One thing is for sure: you will never look at trees the same… Read More
-
Using Water Features in Your Garden to Engage Wildlife and Nature
In order to attract wildlife to your garden, their basic needs must be met – food, shelter, and water. Water especially stands out as one of the most important elements for a successful garden design for native wildlife. Even more… Read More
-
Celebrate International Pollinator Week
When we think of pollinators, we usually think of bees. But did you know that beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, and moths are also pollinators? As well as birds, bats, and small mammals? Unfortunately, many of… Read More
