Hi friend, Did you know that many North American native plant seeds need a cold period before theyâll germinate? In nature, as seeds fall off plants, they stay dormant in the soil through the winter until itâs time for new growth to emerge in spring. Because of this, many species evolved to need that period of cold temperatures to tell them when itâs time to wake up once it starts getting warmer. So if youâre going to direct sow native seeds, now through the next few months is the time to do...
6 days ago â˘Â 1 min read
Hi friend, Itâs that time of year again already. The leaves are falling and the humans are packing them into trash bags to send to the landfill, then wondering why they donât see as many bees or lightning bugs as they used to. Itâs not just some weird unimportant coincidence that all the different deciduous trees lose their leaves in autumn. Leaf litter is crucial to healthy soil, wildlife survival & reproduction, and overall ecological health. As the leaves decompose, they add the nutrients...
28 days ago â˘Â 2 min read
Hi friend, As I post more on social media about the problems caused by invasive plants, I realize how much misunderstanding there is around these issues. I always get a little discouraged when I see firsthand how misinformed the general public is about how nature works. But I also understand that it's a systemic issue. We aren't taught about these things. I recently made this post on Facebook and Instagram, showing a handful of common invasive species in North America. For some reason, people...
3 months ago â˘Â 2 min read
Hi friend, Galls! What are they? Should you be concerned if you see something like this on your plants? A gall is an abnormal growth on exterior plant tissue (leaves, branches, flowers, etc.). They may look like tumors, warts, balls, or lumps, and vary widely in shape, size, color, etc. Theyâre complex and highly organized structures, and science still has a lot to learn about them. Most galls are caused by insects and other invertebrates like wasps, midges, aphids, mites, etc. either feeding...
4 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Hi friend, Something that I donât think is talked about enough is the fact that weâre living through one of the largest mass extinction events to ever happen on Earth. Our planet has lost 73% of wildlife biodiversity between 1970 and 2020, according to the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report Right now, 40% of all insect species globally are in decline. And up to 1/3 of all insects are in the range to be endangered. Insects are the foundation of the food chain for both human and...
4 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Hi friend, Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of turning your whole yard into an eco-garden? Well, you donât need to do everything at once! Itâs okay to go at your own pace. Adding a few native plants at a time to slowly replace your lawn is so much better than not doing it at all. Personally, I have chronic health problems that have made it hard over the past few years to garden for extended periods of time. So I converted my front lawn into a native garden just a patch at a time If everyone...
5 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Hi friend, A lot of people tell me they can't garden because they don't have a "green thumb." But having a naturally âgreen thumbâ doesnât dictate whether or not you can garden. Anyone can grow things, I promise. Especially in an eco-garden! The emphasis on working with nature instead of against it makes everything easier. Eco-gardens are low maintenance and sustainable When you set up a functioning ecosystem, youâre set up for success. Let the ecosystem do its thing, sit back, and enjoy!...
5 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
Hi friend, Have you ever wondered about the history behind lawns? Where did they come from? Why do we have them? Well, lawns can be traced back directly to the colonization of America. There are no turf grasses that are native to North America, including âKentuckyâ bluegrass. European settlers brought these grasses with them from Europe to feed their livestock. Manors owned by the upper class in England had large lawn-like areas of turf grass surrounding the buildings. These areas were used...
6 months ago â˘Â 2 min read
Hi friend, If youâve been following me, you probably know that a lot of really common gardening practices can cause serious ecological harm. Gardeners have been taught to work against nature instead of working with it. And itâs hurting our planet. But what do those harmful traditional practices look like? And what should you do instead? Check out my free virtual training on Eco-Gardening Myths, Misconceptions, and Mistakes to learn about the most common mistakes I see from clients and what to...
6 months ago â˘Â 1 min read
