Spring is an exciting time for any gardener, and as a native plant enthusiast I’m always quick to take a walk around my yard and check to see what’s emerged, what’s growing, and what is gearing up to bloom soon. The amount of early spring growth can depend greatly on the age of the plant. […]
Photographing the Native Garden in Winter: Alternative Concepts of “Beauty” and Ecosystem Benefits
I enjoy taking photos of my garden at all times of the year, but the winter is an especially interesting season. Conventional thinking is that this is when everything is “dead” and resting while it waits for spring, but when we think of the ecosystem benefits of native plant gardening, the action doesn’t stop with […]
Spring vs. Fall: When Is the Best Time to Plant Native Perennials?
So you’ve gotten inspired by all the benefits of planting native and have decided to give it a try. My initial advice is to consider not only the showy wildflowers that we most often gravitate to, but also to consider native trees and shrubs and native grasses, both of which pack a powerful punch in […]
How Late Can I Plant or Transplant Native Plants in the Fall?
Spring may be the season most commonly associated with planting in our gardens. But with native plants especially, most experienced gardeners will tell you that fall is actually the better time. This is due to a variety of factors, such as reducing transplant shock due to the cooler temperatures and sunlight levels, and giving your […]
Why You Should Plant Native Grasses in Your Garden
With native plants, the most popular species tend to be showy wildflowers with colorful blooms. And among those of us passionate about conservation and rewilding, tree planting is typically the top activity. But there’s one aspect of native plants that can unite these goals and any other gardener concerned with ecosystem health: planting native grasses. […]
Should You Raise Caterpillars Indoors? A Guide for Native Plant Enthusiasts
In our last article, we talked about enjoying one of the most important relationships you can find in your garden: that between native plants and caterpillars. It’s so vital because caterpillars require specific host plants to complete their life cycles, and they also serve as crucial cogs in the food chain. The last article was […]
Tips for Finding and Observing Caterpillars in your Garden
We’ve written about the importance of making sure to include host plants in your butterfly gardens, so you can support multiple generations of pollinators rather than just providing a food source for adults passing by. The result of this, of course, is that your goal is to support pollinator larvae, or caterpillars, in your garden. […]
Maple Trees (Red, Sugar, etc.) as a Host Plant for Caterpillars
If you’re told to picture a pollinator garden, you’ll probably imagine a sunny patch of wildflowers and not necessarily a single big tree. But although their flowers aren’t as showy as our native perennials, trees are hugely important host plants for a wide variety of butterflies and moths. Native trees typically host way more species […]
Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan): A Great Native Annual for Containers (Or Garden Beds)
Not every plant-lover is fortunate enough to have a large yard space of their own for gardening. Gardening in containers is a worthy pursuit for many reasons, no matter if it’s due to a lack of space, the fact that you’re a renter, or if you just have a patio or porch that you’d like […]
Should You Start Native Plants by Seed or Buy Seedlings?
There’s one truth about native plant gardening that sometimes makes it seem daunting to novices: it can take quite a while to enjoy the fruits (or flowers) of your labor. But there are plenty of things you can do to make the process a smooth one, which this article will go over in detail. First, […]