Throughout her career working with people, plants, and landscapes, author/designer and gardener extraordinaire Carolyn Summers has often been puzzled by the lack of interest in certain plants that she finds exceptionally useful. These plants bridge the gap that sometimes exists between what humans want and what wildlife needs. Carolyn introduces us to three underused plants that are a must-have for native gardeners.
Hosted by Dan Jaffe Wilder
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary (NWS) is 8000 acres of forests, meadows, and wildlands, which is managed and maintain for the benefit of native plants and animals of New England. As the Sanctuary works on re-opening plans, a tour of the property is a wonderful respite from pandemic lockdown.
Hosted by Kristin Andres
Take a walk on the wild side of Cape Cod. Located in Dennis, MA the Association to Preserve Cape Cod has built a wonderful garden to show residents of Cape Cod how beautiful and easy it is to plant and maintain a native garden. With veggie demonstration gardens and rain gardens, there really is a garden solution for every obstacle a gardener might face.
Hosted by Robin Wilkerson
Over thirty years in the making, this series of home gardens pays tribute to native plants. Lovingly created by a homeowner who is a native plant enthusiast, an accomplished gardener, and volunteer at the Garden in the Woods, this beautiful, mature landscape includes mixed perennial borders, a large vegetable garden, and a delightful woodland garden that encompasses an acre of native plants. A visit to this garden will inspire even the seasoned gardener with surprises.
Hosted by Sally Muspratt
This native plant installation provides a welcome respite for residents and guests at the Coleman House. The quiet woodland walk through the lovely, tall pines links the bright annual plantings of the parking lot and Memorial Garden with the contrasting experience of an enhanced natural woodland and provides an opportunity for safe, gentle exercise in the open air for the elderly residents.
by Julia Frederick
Shade trees are more important than ever as we face rapid development and suburban sprawl, deforestation, and desertification. These gentle giants help combat rising temperatures, habitat loss and declining air and water quality. Additionally, native canopy trees provide abundant food and shelter for insects, amphibians, birds, and mammals.
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.
Hosted by Marie Chieppo
Avery Park, a busy commuter rail station park becomes a native plant oasis for people and pollinators alike. Follow Needham based landscape designer Marie Chieppo’s journey through a barren weed-infested plot to a popular garden gathering spot that is doing double duty during the COVID pandemic as a great place to socialize while staying six feet apart.
We’ve scanned the media – in print and online – for items of interest to ELA’s ecologically focused audience.
Inside ELA If you’ve been to an ELA event, you know that besides bringing in great speakers, we gather great audiences. Everyone in the room – not just on the stage – is an innovator, an idealist, and a practical problem-solver. As a result, there is no better place to catch up with friends and…
by Rachel Lindsay
An accessible landscape provides not just access but varied experiences to all visitors. Ecological designers take the concept of universal design even farther and consider how the landscape, especially public and participatory gardens, can benefit not just people of all abilities, but also wildlife, pollinators, soil microorganisms, and watersheds.
by Russ Cohen
A newly daylighted stream at Willard’s Woods in Lexington, MA presented a serendipitous opportunity for introduction of edible native plants to the conservation area. At a double session focused on propagating and planting edible native plant species, Russ Cohen and co-presenter Georgia Hann included this 2017 project at ELA’s 2020 Conference & Eco-Marketplace in March. Here, Russ follows up the conference session with a deeper dive into the Willard’s Woods project.
