This has been an interesting year for me with the number of jobs with which people wanted to plant all or mostly native plants. When the gardens mature they will be as beautiful as any traditional, or non-native, garden. They will just look a little different and require slightly different and less intensive care. Almost all of myContinue reading “How To Determine What Plants Are Native For Your Garden And Why”
Tag Archives: native plants
Summer Garden Topics: Spring Bulbs, Fireflies, Checkerspot Farm, and Doug Tallamy
Spring Flowering BulbsIt’s that time of year to think about what bulbs you might want to plant in your garden this Fall. Spring Flowering bulbs are planted in the Fall and are some of our earliest flowering plants that go well into early Summer. They add important color when nothing else is happening. The evenContinue reading “Summer Garden Topics: Spring Bulbs, Fireflies, Checkerspot Farm, and Doug Tallamy”
Hugelkultur: Creative Idea For A Native Garden
I had the pleasure of meeting a new client last summer, who lives on a lovely property in Belmont, MA. It historically had been planted with traditional, non-native plants with an extensive overstory of Red and Black Oak. Over the years, she has added an extensive layer of native shrubs, trees and perennials. In the frontContinue reading “Hugelkultur: Creative Idea For A Native Garden”
Summer Garden Topics: Monarchs, Jumping Worms, Caterpillars, Rabbit Glue and a Photo Contest
With Summer in full bloom and the heat settling in, I wanted to share some interesting topics, since you may not want to go work in your garden. Monarch ButterfliesThe Eastern Monarch Butterfly is having a resurgence in populations that have overwintered in Mexico, according to Monarch Watch. While the numbers are significantly below recent levels, itContinue reading “Summer Garden Topics: Monarchs, Jumping Worms, Caterpillars, Rabbit Glue and a Photo Contest”
Van Berkum Nursery: Supporting a new ecosystem of native plant growers.
Before I get to my discussion with John, a quick real-time look into our gardens. I expect all the snow to be gone around Boston, except for the largest piles, by Wednesday. As it melts and we get out to do some pruning, I am seeing extensive rabbit damage with girdling of stems and trunksContinue reading “Van Berkum Nursery: Supporting a new ecosystem of native plant growers.”
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”
Barking Dog Gardens - Gardening in New England 