Great White Trillium (trillium grandiflorum) is one of the most beloved spring ephemerals in many areas of the US, including my own state of Ohio where it’s the state wildflower. In this article I’ll share answers to some important questions about growing it based on my own garden experience in combination with the research I’ve […]
What’s a Host Plant? Why It’s Important to Plant for Caterpillars, Not Just Butterflies
All plants have some baseline ecological benefits. They prevent erosion, keep moisture and nutrients in the soil, and sequester carbon. They also provide shade, shelter, and cover for species ranging from tiny insects to large mammals. But when we talk about the most beneficial plants and trees to plant (or conserve) in a given area, […]
Should I Worry About Unseasonably Early-Growing Native Plants?
Due to this year’s warm winter (which is, of course, not a one-off but rather a look into the future with a changing climate), many regions of the United States are seeing much earlier emergence and growth of a variety of native perennials. For a couple of weeks I’ve been excited to walk through my […]
Sedum Ternatum (Woodland Stonecrop), a Great Native, Evergreen Groundcover
Recently I took a walk through my winter garden looking for green. Most of what I saw were invasive groundcovers that are ubiquitous in my area (English ivy, vinca) and other aggressive introduced annuals like purple deadnettle. It’s a good time of the year to get ahead on some weeding without thinking too hard because […]
Will My Coneflower (Echinacea) Come Back if Eaten by Rabbits?
Popular native perennials like purple coneflower (echinacea) and black eyed susan (rudbeckia) look beautiful in the garden and also are beneficial for your local ecosystem. In one way, however, they can be a bit too beneficial for gardeners’ liking: the fact that they are a favorite food of rabbits and other small mammals. Many gardeners […]
How to Deter Rabbits and Deer from your Native Plants (And Should You?)
There’s certainly no debate as to whether mammals both small and large can wreak havoc in a garden. Deer, rabbits, and even squirrels and chipmunks can eat tree saplings, tender young shoots and even entire perennial plants. How to best stop them is a frequent topic of discussion in any gardening circle. But taking a […]
Should You Deadhead Your Native Plants?
Deadheading, or removing spent flower heads from your plants, is a standard practice in the traditional garden, but how does it translate to native plant gardening where most gardeners are trying to maximize their ecological benefit? To answer this question, let’s start by running through the “traditional” reasons for deadheading flowers in a garden. What […]
Why You Should Grow a Shade Garden
The native plant movement has been growing in recent years, and for many this means sun-loving plants and showy wildflowers. It’s increasingly common to find gardens showcasing plants like purple coneflower, black eyed susan and milkweed, while concepts like the “pocket prairie” and “mini meadow” have become more mainstream. Native shade plants, on the other […]
Why Are Fall Blooming Plants Important in a Garden?
This year I’ve been trying to diversify my garden according to one crucial principle: the season when plants flower. Ensuring that there are blooms all months of the growing season is an important practice for multiple reasons. From an aesthetic standpoint, having blooms at all times gives your garden more color and visual interest throughout […]
Progress: Planning a Small Front Yard Native Garden by a Parking Space
Last fall and this year I’ve been working on a new small garden at the edge of our front yard next to a parking pad. It’s been doing great and I’ve had a lot of nice late-season blooms, and it’s been exciting to see first-hand how you can support wildlife even with a small yard. […]