by Jessamine (Jessa) Finch The current environmental moment is dominated by messaging about the importance of animal-mediated pollination in response to the recent, alarming pollinator declines. Contributing factors include habitat loss, agriculture chemicals, and disease, and affect honeybees and native pollinators alike. One of the most common “calls to action” included in such messaging encourages […]
Archive | Native Plants
ELA Names Winners of 2019 Spotlight on Natives Contest
by Maureen Sundberg Photographers from across the country submitted nearly 100 images to ELA’s 2019 Spotlight on Natives Photography Contest. Each sought to capture the special allure of native plants – the unique structure of trunks, stems, leaves, blossoms, seeds; the juxtaposition of plants in a community; the interaction of flora and fauna. (more…)
More Edible and Landscape-Worthy Native Plants of New England
by Georgia Hann and Russ Cohen There are many reasons to plant native plants in our landscapes, including to increase support for pollinators and beneficial insects, to boost resources for birds and other wildlife, and to stabilize habitats despite environmental and climatic changes. When the native plant species a landowner chooses to add to the […]
Native Hedges and Hedgerows: Beauty and Biodiversity
by Heather McCargo A native hedge will bring beauty and vitality to your landscape. While a fence may be a great solution in a tight space, shrubs can be planted to create a “living fence” for enclosure, privacy, and beauty. Shrubs add three-dimensional diversity to a landscape and provide important year-round habitat for fauna such […]
Are Flowering Landscapes on Solar Farms Part of the Future of Pollinator Conservation?
by Ashley M. Dow, Claudia L. Jolls, and Rob Davis Declining pollinator populations and the loss of their ecosystem services are well-documented. We need impactful conservation measures that can help resolve this problem. Solar farms may be a part of a solution that is beneficial to both wildlife and humans. (more…)
Featuring Native Plants in Your Landscape
by Maureen Sundberg ELA’s Native Plant Tours are an enjoyable way to see native plants in all kinds of landscapes – urban to rural. Hosts generously share their gardens for a few hours, but they also share invaluable lessons they’ve learned about incorporating natives into their landscapes. (more…)
Pioneering Higher Ground: Green Roof Lessons for Planting Design
by Laura Hansplant When I first started designing green roofs six years ago, my secret fear was that they’d be predictable and monotonous. Fortunately, they’re not. In fact, reflecting on climate resiliency, urban habitat, and access to nature in cities, we have only begun to dig into the potential of green roofs. And unexpectedly, green […]
Rethinking Black Locust
by Dan Jaffe While there are about as many definitions of “invasive species” out there as there are definitions for “native species,” they all agree on a few basic principles: An invasive species is a non-indigenous species, introduced outside of its natural range (either intentionally or unintentionally), that causes ecological and/or economic harm. And there […]
Eco-Answers from the Pros: Native Evergreen Groundcovers for Sun
I am looking for a native groundcover recommendation for my yard. It is a slope between wetlands and uplands that gets full sun exposure. Ideal plant would be perennial evergreen that will help suppress weeds and is low maintenance and drought resistant. Thanks for any recommendations! (more…)
Native Plants for the Small Yard: Easy, Beautiful Home Gardens that Support the Local Ecology
Text by Kate Brandes Illustrations by Tom Maxfield Social scientists have looked at how people feel about their yards, and their research shows that preferences are determined mostly by people’s desire to fit in with the neighbors. Unfortunately, native plants have developed something of a bad rap among homeowners as messy and hard to manage […]