This article by Shannon Kingsley first appeared in WildfloraRI, Spring 2023 Shannon Kingsley is the botanist for ReSeeding RI For the ReSeeding Rhode Island Initiative—RIWPS’s five-year plan to amplify native, ecotypic…
Plant Science
Healthy Plant Metabolism
By Michael Phillips
Healthy plant metabolism begins with a molecule of water, a breath of carbon, and light energy from our nearest star. The tangible science behind all this unlocks the righteous way to farm and garden, give honor to trees, and plain do right by this earth. Nothing has ever excited me more.
Book Review: Summer Wildflowers of New England
Written by Carol Garcie, Princeton University Press, 2020
Reviewed by Maureen Sundberg
Carol Gracie’s admiration and affection for the flowers she researches and photographs is evident on every page of her new book Summer Wildflowers of the Northeast. Those familiar with the thoughtfully detailed life histories of plants in Gracie’s Spring Wildflowers of the Northeast will recognize in this companion volume her wide-ranging mix of the natural history of species and spectacular photography.
Behold the Magic of Warm-Season Grasses
by Shannon Currey
It finally clicked. Working with grasses, I knew about the distinction between warm season and cool season. I had written about it and included it in presentations. But it took a webinar on native, warm-season grasses to understand how magical and fascinating that distinction is.
Local Ecotypes – What’s Your Interest?
Landscape clients and home gardeners are increasingly interested in native plants, but are all native plants equally beneficial in the landscape? “Local ecotype” native plants, those cultivated in environmental conditions similar to their local source, offer certain advantages. What is your interest in local ecotype plants?
Documenting the Spontaneous Flora of New York City with EcoFlora
by David Atha and Brian Boom
The New York Botanical Garden is documenting the flora of New York City using all available tools from traditional botanical techniques to modern technology and broad community participation. The goals of the project: document the spontaneous flora of NYC, enhance botanical and ecological understanding, and conserve the native biodiversity.
Phytoremediation: Overview and Opportunities
by Steven Rock The following Foreword to Phyto: Principles and Resources for Site Remediation and Landscape Design, Routledge, June 2015, is reprinted with permission of the author. People have deliberately grown…
Mystery Plant Identification
Plant Identification Challenge Solved Thank you to the many readers who responded to the June Plant Identification Challenge. Glenn White, New Jersey, was the only entry to correctly identify Ixeris stolonifera,…
The Compelling Case for Coreopsis
by George Coombs With new cultivars arriving on the market each year, it’s hard to deny the incredible popularity of coreopsis. Their colorful, daisy-like blooms are a coveted addition to…
Gathering Gardeners’ Knowledge
by Dr. Noel Kingsbury Dr. Kingsbury, British plantsman and author, presents “Plant Morphology: Guide to Predicting Plant Performance” at an ELA Intensive Workshop, November 20, 2015 at Longwood Gardens. Many…
Pollutant Purging Plants!
Using phytotechnologies to clean up contaminated soils and groundwater by Kate Kennen Ms. Kennen presents “Phytoremediation: Pollutant Purging Plants” at an ELA Intensive Workshop, November 20, 2015 at Longwood Gardens. So,…
Book Review: The Allergy-Fighting Garden
Stop Asthma and Allergies with Smart Landscaping Written by Thomas Leo Ogren Published by Ten Speed Press, 2015 Reviewed by Tom Benjamin Do you or does someone you know or…