This week: Woolly Bear Caterpillars
Hello! This week I encountered a very famous caterpillar—the Woolly Bear. This caterpillar has at least two festivals celebrating it, and the size of its...
This week: Another method to grow natives from seed
Hello! Previously in this space, we talked about starting native plants from seed as one affordable option for getting a lot of plants for not a lot of...
This week: Getting rid of grass, part 2
Hello! Last week, we covered how to get rid of smaller areas of grass—techniques one might use to enlarge a flowerbed or start a small garden. But what if...
This week: Getting rid of grass, part 1
Hello! Are you planning to expand or create a new garden bed for native flowers this spring? If so, you will likely need to get rid of some grass. There are...
This week: Basal foliage provides winter greenery
Hello! Imagine that it’s the first week of January and you notice bright green foliage popping out of the ground. Maybe it’s been warmer than usual and...
This week: Winter sowing natives
Hello! This week is the perfect time to get outside and plant some native flowers. Starting from seed can be a more affordable way to procure native plants,...
This week: Garden sounds
Hello! When you imagine garden sounds, what do you hear? Birdsong and bees buzzing for sure, but incorporating other sounds can also enhance your time...
This week: The difference between moths and butterflies
Hello! This week I was listening to the latest podcast from The Field Guides and they cleared up a niggling question I’ve had: what’s the difference between...
This week: Plant flops
Hello! Lots of plants are tall. This is especially true of native perennials. Whether it’s 3 feet or 8 feet, plants that achieve great heights are prone to...
This week: Let violets grow wild
Hello! It’s never too early to look forward to the first flowers of spring, and one of the most common native bloomers is the violet (Viola spp.). While it...
This week: Mushrooms in the lawn
Hello! A reader recently asked why mushrooms were growing in her lawn and what she should do about them. I always have mushrooms magically appearing in my...
This week: Baptisia and Purple Dome Aster, a perfect pairing
Hello! Looking for a fantastic native plant combination that’s suitable for garden borders small and large? Look no further than Baptisia australis and New...
This week: Winterberry holly
This week: Winterberry holly Hello! Here in western Pennsylvania the leaves are mostly off the trees, which makes it the perfect time to notice Winterberry...
This week: Smooth Sumac
This week: Smooth Sumac Hello! Let’s talk about Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra), a ubiquitous native tree that turns a spectacular flaming red in the fall. Smooth...
This week: Bluestem grasses
Hello! Recently I visited Davidson Mesa in Louisville, Colorado, a public open space with trails winding through a native grassland prairie. The mesa’s...
This week: Guarding trees against antler rub
Hello, 'Tis the season for antler rub damage on trees, and sadly, my Sweetbay Magnolia has fallen victim. My loose understanding of why this happens is that...
This week: Water for birds
Hello, So you’ve attracted birds and butterflies to your garden with a fabulous array of native flowers and pollinator plants. What more can you do to make...
This week: Calico aster, native wildflower
Hello! In this week’s edition of “flower or weed?” we have Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum). I’ll admit that I weed this one out of my garden but...
This week: Perennial asters for fall blooms
Hello! What flower reliably blooms at the end of September and well into the fall? Native asters! The one that is currently blooming in my garden is...
This week: Choosing goldenrod for the garden
Hello! This week goldenrod came into full bloom in my garden. However, this particular goldenrod was unintentional—it’s a volunteer plant that popped up on...