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 order to help increase biodiversity and protect pollinators. It turns out that people really do like nature and are willing to change their habitats if…
Landscaping for Wildlife
Seeing and learning about wildlife is an enriching experience that anyone can enjoy. When landscapes provide food, shelter, water, and nesting areas for reproduction, a rich variety of life follows. The result is a healthier, more resilient ecosystem for all inhabitants.
Where the Wild Things Are: How to Support Wildlife in the Modern Gardening World
February 17, 2014 in Native Plants, Wildlife Habitats
by Dan Jaffe One of the great reasons to plant native species rather than their non-native counterparts is the support they provide to local wildlife populations. Simply put: If you plant native species–any native species–you will support a greater array of wildlife than if you had planted the same area with non-native species. The basic…
Monarch Memories Last a Lifetime
September 15, 2013 in Gardening Basics, Native Plants, Wildlife Habitats
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, they also help to conserve native plants, reduce habitat fragmentation, and increase biodiversity in the landscapes. In turn, these healthy ecosystems directly affect the quality…
Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?
June 14, 2013 in Beneficials/Pollinators
Reprinted with Permission A Review of Research into the Effects of Neonicotinoid Insecticides on Bees, with Recommendations for Action. By Jennifer Hopwood, Mace Vaughan, Matthew Shepherd, David Biddinger, Eric Mader, Scott Hoffman Black, and Celeste Mazzacano. A possible link between neonicotinoids and honey bee die-offs has led to controversy across the United States and Europe….
Attract Mason Bees – No Protective Gear Needed
March 15, 2013 in Beneficials/Pollinators
by Judy Beaudette Few strategies for keeping our environment healthy are as interesting, simple and fun as raising mason bees, tiny insects that are gaining popularity with gardeners and farmers alike. What’s more, encouraging wild mason bees to your slice of earth – no matter how small or urban – could help counter negative effects…
Late Blooms in the Landscape
February 15, 2013 in Native Plants, Wildlife Habitats
by Kathleen Salisbury As you spend the winter planning additions for your landscape and troll through the countless catalogs you have been getting in the mail, it is easy to think about the colorful spring blooms that put an end to the dull winter months. However, as you plan, don’t forget the late blooming flowers!…
In Defense of Native Bees
January 15, 2013 in Beneficials/Pollinators, Wildlife Habitats
by Karen Lyness LeBlanc Native bees are not receiving the attention honeybees have been given recently, but they are also experiencing a significant population decline. In places where there is significant natural habitat, native bees may provide all of the pollination needed for some crops. So maintaining habitat for native bees has economic, as well…
Landscaping for Butterflies and Other Pollinators: Exotics can be Useful
August 11, 2012 in Beneficials/Pollinators
by Sharon Stichter Constructed landscapes can provide excellent habitat for many butterflies and other beneficial insects. For butterflies, a complete habitat includes both nectar sources for the adults and larval host plants for the next generation. There are many good sources of information about which plants to use. What is not generally known is that…
Conserving Bumble Bees
August 11, 2012 in Beneficials/Pollinators
Guidelines for Creating and Managing Habitat for America’s Declining Pollinators This excerpt is reproduced, with permission, from Conserving Bumble Bees: Guidelines for Creating and Managing Habitat for America’s Declining Pollinators, published by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, OR. For more information or to obtain a copy of the guidelines, please visit http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/guidelines/. by…
Tantalize Your Butterflies (or How to Make a Container Garden a Habitat)
March 17, 2011 in Landscape Design, Wildlife Habitats
by Nanette Masi Invited to submit an entry for the Container Garden Invitational Display at the 2011 Boston Flower & Garden show, ELA put out a call to members for designs. A committee selected Nanette Masi’s native habitat garden design to represent ELA. ELA wants to thank Cavicchio Greenhouse for the loan of pots for…
If You Plant It, They Will Come…Monarchs (and Milkweed)
January 15, 2011 in Native Plants, Wildlife Habitats
by Louise Barteau There is a special feeling that comes from planting a tree and watching a bird land in it for the first time. Or planting milkweed for monarch butterflies and watching the first monarch fly across the backyard and lay her eggs on it. I felt that small rising of hope and connection…
