by Anthony J. Zemba Now that spring is here and our migrant songbirds have returned to our yards, gardens, and woodlands it is a time to consider giving something back…
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.
Bringing Butterflies to Martha Jones Elementary School
A former student’s Eagle Scout project provides students a place to learn about butterfly and pollinator conservation. by Bruce Wenning Boy Scout, Sam Gantert (17) of Westwood, MA had an…
Strategies to Protect Vernal Pools in the Built Environment: Raising Awareness
by Bruce Wenning There are many types of wetlands in our environment, but all of them are declining. Learn more about the special nature of vernal pools, our smallest wetlands,…
Everyone Can Play a Role in Pollinator Conservation
by Kelly Gill Pollinators – especially bees – are an indispensable part of a healthy environment and a secure food supply. Nearly 85 percent of the world’s flowering plants depend…
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Reining in Raspberries for Wildlife
We have raspberries growing in our field and would like to promote their growth to feed the wild birds and mammals. Can you tell me “best practices” for mowing the…
Designing Hedgerows to Connect Habitat
by Rebecca Lindenmeyr Habitat fragmentation is a serious problem across the country and a significant contributor to the loss of biodiversity worldwide. Here in Vermont, development in the Burlington area…
The Lives of Spring Wildflowers
by Carol Gracie Our spring wildflowers, many of them ephemerals that grace our woodlands for only a brief period each year, are intricately tied to other organisms in the environment….
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…
Where the Wild Things Are: How to Support Wildlife in the Modern Gardening World
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…
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,…
Are Neonicotinoids Killing Bees?
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,…
Attract Mason Bees – No Protective Gear Needed
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…