Learn about upcoming programs and find out what’s happening within the organization.
The Art of Integrating Rainwater
by Steven Torgerson
Both a precious resource and a damaging event, rain is a natural part of the earth’s ecological system. Although we can’t control the rain, we can help direct rainwater once it hits the earth. And direct it in ways both practical and beautiful.
MOSS: Providing Year-round Green Solutions for Erosion Control
by Annie (Mossin’ Annie) Martin
Mosses are far more than an appealing green ground cover; these verdant miniature plants can provide solutions for challenging erosion issues in today’s landscapes. In this case study, moss species, intentionally planted, are the entire stormwater solution.
Many Storms and Seasons Later, How Are These Rain Gardens Holding Up?
by Amanda Sloan
After a rainy night, rain garden designer ventures out to assess the performance of three gardens she designed and installed over the last eight years. Her review considers each garden’s visual appeal, system function, habitat value, and maintenance record.
The Orchard Ecosystem: Haphazard Mulching
by Michael Phillips
Orchard health isn’t about a tidy appearance, it’s about rich biology that feeds your trees. By releasing cultural notional about the manicured garden, you can find a way to please the neighbors while accommodating principles of health and diversity.
Citizen Scientists Help Parse the Native/Nativar Debate
by Jessamine (Jessa) Finch
As pollinators lose ground, we’ve been urged to create more pollinator-friendly gardens, but are all pollinator gardens created equal? A team at the Chicago Botanic Garden has developed a project to evaluate native and nativar support of pollinators by gathering data on pollinator preferences across the country. You can become part of the research team.
Planting a Wildflower Meadow? Site Preparation Comes First!
by Cathy Neal
Successfully establishing a meadow from seed is a three-year process, with the first year devoted to good site preparation. It can be a hard sell, but time spent eliminating competitive vegetation before you plant is essential to long-term success.
ELA News – July 2019
Learn about upcoming programs and find out what’s happening within the organization.
Gleanings from Headline News – July 2019
We’ve scanned the media – in print and online – for items of interest to ELA’s ecologically focused audience.
ELA Names Winners of 2019 Spotlight on Natives Contest
Photographers from across the country submitted nearly 100 images to ELA’s 2019 Spotlight on Natives Photography Contest. Each sought to capture the special allure of native plants – the unique structure of trunks, stems, leaves, blossoms, seeds; the juxtaposition of plants in a community; the interaction of flora and fauna. This year’s entries again encompassed an outstanding array of plants and habitats.
More Edible and Landscape-Worthy Native Plants of New England
Five years ago, landscape designer Ellen Sousa and edible plant guru Russ Cohen wrote about Edible and Landscape-worthy Native Plants of New England. In this follow-up article, Russ joins plantswoman Georgia Hann to extol the comestible virtues of more than dozen additional native species.
Native Hedges and Hedgerows: Beauty and Biodiversity
by Heather McCargo
A native hedge introduces beauty and vitality into the landscape. While a fence may be a great solution in a tight space, shrubs can create a “living fence” for enclosure, privacy, and beauty. Additionally, shrubs add three-dimensional diversity to a landscape and provide important year-round habitat for fauna such as birds, pollinating insects, and other small creatures.
