New England Native Perennial Plant Seeds For Sale

I apologize for not writing recently, but I just got a brand new knee, to help serve you better! I have also been busy updating my website and collecting native plant seeds from a number of gardens in which I work. Some of the early seeds were gathered much earlier in the year, and someContinue reading “New England Native Perennial Plant Seeds For Sale”

Designing with Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are some of the most versatile and beautiful plants you can add to your garden. Many provide interest and coverage through the Winter and their seedheads can be a spectacular addition of interest and movement to the garden in Summer, Fall and Winter. Some of the larger grasses provide an anchoring element, while some modestlyContinue reading “Designing with Ornamental Grasses”

Interesting Garden Topics For The Summer

The caterpillar above will soon be a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. They lay eggs, grow and eat exclusively on plants in the Carrot Family, and you will often see them on your Parsley or Dill plants, eating away. This one is munching on some Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea.) It will shortly pupate and be a butterfly inContinue reading “Interesting Garden Topics For The Summer”

Native Plant Seeds Are Economical Way To Start A Garden

As we are in the Summer doldrums and find it hard to motivate in this heat, now is a great time to think about the future in your garden. Almost every client I meet with in recent seasons wants to add native plants to their garden, whether it means adding a few to their existingContinue reading “Native Plant Seeds Are Economical Way To Start A Garden”

Blue Stem Natives: A Native Only Plant Nursery

I finally had a chance to visit Blue Stem Natives, a native plant nursery in Norwell. I thought it was further away from me, but it took about 40 minutes, outside of rush hour to get there from north of Boston.  It is absolutely worth the trip to visit this women-owned, native only nursery. I met Kristen,Continue reading “Blue Stem Natives: A Native Only Plant Nursery”

Perennial Trends and a Native Plant Discussion with Van Berkum Nursery

I had a chance last week to catch up with John Gedraitis, owner of Van Berkum Nursery (VBN) in Deerfield, NH. He was kind with his time during the busy period to talk about what is in demand (and not) and provide some insight into where his operation is going. For some more information about VanContinue reading “Perennial Trends and a Native Plant Discussion with Van Berkum Nursery”

Garden Tasks for Late-Winter

I promise that Spring is coming with a relatively balmy week ahead.  However, don’t you dare put away those ice scrapers or your snow blower and be the cause of more snow! We all know what to expect here in New England, but I am hoping for an early Spring, with the cold we have endured thisContinue reading “Garden Tasks for Late-Winter”

Native vs Non-Native vs Invasive vs Aggressive Plants

There is a lot of discussion and interest around native plants right now. I am engaged in a conversation with most clients about adding native plants to their garden, which is a great development. If you have been reading my recent posts, I have had an interesting interview and some articles on native plants and the localContinue reading “Native vs Non-Native vs Invasive vs Aggressive Plants”

Popular Native Plants At Van Berkum Nursery

During the late-Winter of 2021, I wrote a piece on Van Berkum Nursery, a wholesale nursery based in southern New Hampshire that propagates a broad range of perennials. Their founder’s DNA, Leslie and Peter Van Berkum, is rooted in native and woodland plants, so I reached out recently to John Gedratis, the current nursery owner, to ask aboutContinue reading “Popular Native Plants At Van Berkum Nursery”

Discussion with Dr Robert Gegear about Pollinators and Healthy, Native Ecosystems

I try to provide information to help people learn and be prepared to make informed decisions. Over a number of recent posts, I have been discussing native plants, pollinators and healthy ecosystems. If any one part of the system is out of balance it can have a significant impact on the system as a whole.Continue reading “Discussion with Dr Robert Gegear about Pollinators and Healthy, Native Ecosystems”