by Dan Jaffe Permaculture is on the rise. Like small-scale, local farming in general, permaculture is fueled by increasing reports of damage caused by industrial-scale agriculture – pollution of land…
Native Plants
Native Plants for Ecology and Horticulture
by Peggy Olwell The United States has a rich native flora of over 18,000 native plant species. Plants color our distinctive and inspirational landscapes and provide a multitude of ecological…
In the Shade: Gardening with Native Plants from the Woodland Understory
article by Heather McCargo photos by Heather McCargo and Lisa Looke Reprinted with permission from The Wild Seed Project. There are many beautiful and resilient plants from the woodland understory…
Natives Beyond Naturalizing
by Susan Barbier “I thought a nice line of Boxwood flanked by Gold Mop Cypress and skirted with Blue Star Juniper would be great for this property. I pitched that…
Green Landscapes on Solar Sites—an Enormous Business Opportunity
Public Benefits from Ecological Landscapes Include Pollinator Habitat, Improved Water and Soil Quality by Rob Davis Dramatic changes in cost can drive dramatic changes in customer behavior—and create extraordinary business…
Native Shrubs for the Increasingly Challenging Landscape Environment
This article previously appeared in the Connecticut Botanical Society Newsletter by Dr. Jessica Lubell The sustainable landscape featuring native plants is a rapidly expanding trend in horticulture. Native plants enhance…
Welcoming “the Natural” into Our Gardens
by Steve Davis Over the last decade of landscape design, many more professionals have incorporated native or indigenous species into their plans. This cultural swing is due to many factors,…
The Role of Native Cultivars in the Ecological Landscape: Evaluating Insect Preferences and Nectar Quality in Phlox and Its Cultivars
by Keith Nevison Take a trip to your local nursery and head to the native plant section. Do you come across any cultivars of native plants (“nativars”) among their offerings?…
Book Review: Pollinators of Native Plants
Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants Written by Heather Holm Published by Pollination Press LLC, Minnetonka, MN, 2014 Reviewed by Bruce Wenning Heather Holm is…
Using Gardens for Climate Change Adaptation and Conservation
by Dr. Jenica M. Allen Gardens are a great way to add value to a property, provide green-space for relaxation, and improve aesthetics in many settings. In a traditional sense,…
From Invasive Lot to Native Garden
by David Smith This article first appeared in EcoRI News and is reprinted here with permission. Work will continue this summer on stabilizing a 2.6-acre undeveloped parcel owned by the…
Creating a Community Habitat for Pollinators
by Willow Cheeley, James McCarthy, and Debb Putnam The winter of 2015 will be one for the record books. It was cold, snowy, and after weeks of shoveling snow off…