Encourage Self-Sowing Plants to Go Forth and Multiply
Fertile, self-sowing, open-pollinated plants are full of genetic diversity and food for pollinators. They often charmingly appear in places we’d never think to plant them.
Reduce Artificial Light at Night
Moths are drawn to light. They exhaust themselves flying toward strong security lights and die or get picked off by predators (bats, birds, rats, mice). More than 60% of invertebrates are nocturnal. The Xerces Society’s advice on being thoughtful about night lighting to help fireflies helps a lot of insects - and saves energy too.
Plant a Menagerie for Kids
If we want to share our love of gardening with the kids in our lives, we need to give them something fun to remember. Tickle their fancy with plants named after the animals they resemble - in a pot, in a plot or as a secret to share. Bat-faced cuphea (Cuphea llavea) Lamb’s ears (Stachys [...]
Provide Safe Nesting Materials for Birds
Providing nesting material helps birds save energy otherwise expended looking for it, but what materials? Birds will construct nests with whatever they find. When filling nesting balls or leaving nesting material outdoors, make sure it's non-toxic, untreated materials that don’t absorb moisture, degrade or entangle baby birds ...
Early Spring Garden Cleanup Tips
Try to avoid compacting soil by stepping into garden beds when soil is wet. There's plenty of spring garden cleanup within arm's reach.
Independent Non-GMO Seed Catalogs
This time of year, my p.o. box runneth over - with a bounteous crop of specialty mail order seed catalogs that get my mouth watering. With giant chemical companies owning and controlling most of the global seed market, I urge you to seek out independent seed houses. They tell you who they are right up front.
Perennials That Look Good in Winter
How do we make gardens that still look like gardens in the winter? It’s worth scoping out what perennial foliage still looks good in your garden in cold weather. Gather these "foul weather friends" together for winter garden beauty.
Birds and Bird Feeders Outside My Windows
How to help birds in winter and protect birds from predators and collisions with glass.
Looking Across the Fall Line
Dead and dying trees provide wildlife habitat and are critical to forest health. Let's look at fallen branches and trees as natural resources rather than disposal problems.
Gather A Garden Wreath
Complete the cycle of the seasons by gathering greens and other plants from the garden to make a holiday wreath that will give you pleasure all winter long.