by Ellen W. Sousa The 2013 season? Well, with apologies to the late Jerry Garcia, I have to say, “What a long, strange trip it’s been….” First, the snow never…
Designing Ecological Landscapes
Landscapes that mimic natural systems deliver important ecosystem services and are also aesthetically pleasing. Guided by principles that reduce resource consumption, ecologically designed landscapes provide natural solutions when land is disturbed by the construction of buildings or roadways, and they support landscaped communities from tiny rooftops to grand urban parks.
Practical Application of Tree Filter Systems
by Paul Iorio I recently brought to completion a large parking lot project that illustrates the applications as well as adaptability of tree filter systems in an urban environment. Tree…
The Spicket River Greenway: Habitat Creation at Manchester Street Park
by Brad Buschur The City of Lawrence, MA, has three very distinct rivers flowing through its boundaries. The wide Merrimack River flows through the heart of Lawrence’s Mill districts. The…
A Master Plan for Garden in the Woods
by Mark Richardson Garden in the Woods has inspired generations of professional horticulturists, landscape designers, and backyard gardeners alike to create gardens that look to nature for inspiration. Embracing an…
Book Review: A Native Plants Reader
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Guides for a Greener Planet Edited by Niall Dunne Published by Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 2012 Reviewed by Bruce Patterson A Native Plants Reader is an impressive collection…
Re-Introducing Hedgerows to Residential Landscapes: Why We Still Need a Side Order of Messy
by Rebecca Lindenmeyr Thanks to the pioneering work of E.O. Wilson, Doug Tallamy, Jonathan Foley, Marla Spivak and many others, the public has begun to accept the need for native plants in the landscape in…
Find the Right Native Plant for Site Conditions
Wet or dry, sunny or shady…. Site conditions can determine whether or not a plant survives beyond a single season. If you’re designing with native plants, you’ll want to be…
Monarch Memories Last a Lifetime
by Hendrica Regez and Donna VanBuecken Butterfly gardeners show they care deeply about the environment and their connection to nature. While providing food and shelter for monarchs and other pollinators,…
Edible and Landscape-worthy Native Plants of New England
by Ellen Sousa and Russ Cohen Edible gardening generally brings to mind beds of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, melons, and other foods with origins in distant continents. As natives of often…
Go Botany! A 21st-Century Approach to Learning About Plants
by Elizabeth Farnsworth All of us who grow plants, design with plants, or simply admire plants know how to recognize different species. But with over 3,500 species, subspecies, and varieties…
This Place We Call Home
by Cayte McDonough Imagine you have been abducted by an alien spaceship, whisked away from your homeland, then deposited back on earth in a fast food restaurant. The place looks…
Save the Trees – Stop their Enemies
Updates on ALB and Emerald Ash Borer by Stacy Kilb Eradicating ALB: The Threat of the Asian Longhorned Beetle Thirty thousand of something is a difficult number to imagine. It’s…