We all love holly for the holidays, and so do birds. We value native hollies for decorations and for landscaping, while birds appreciate their berries, abundant during the lean times of winter. The American holly, (Ilex opaca), is the only native holly with evergreen spiny leaves and red berries – the classic characteristics of holly. Continue reading "Beyond the Bird Feeder: Holly"
Wild Ones members make an effort to save native plants that would otherwise be destroyed by a bulldozer because of land development. This bittersweet situation provides you the opportunity to retrieve plants for your landscape. Rules vary from chapter to chapter, but a code of ethics and liability waivers are required. Following are some guidelines. […] Continue reading "Conducting a Plant Rescue"
Sharing your native garden with the media? Prepare thoughtfully. Reporters may not understand ecological landscaping, so avoid jargon, focus on key points, and offer vivid examples. Educate, inspire, and celebrate the joy your garden brings. Continue reading "Talking about your landscape? For best results, remember these points, and cut back on the jargon"
Bring both berries and birds to your garden with a native mulberry tree. There are two species native to North America – the red mulberry (Morus rubra) and the Texas mulberry (Morus microphylla). Continue reading "Beyond the Bird Feeder: Mulberry Tree"
The beautiful red Canada columbine (Aqiulegia canadensis) is the only native columbine found throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. Continue reading "Beyond the Bird Feeder: Wild Columbine"
Native to much of Canada and the northern half of the United States, the beloved pussy willow (Salixdiscolor) heralds spring by bursting its bud scales, revealing catkins clothed in silk. Continue reading "Beyond the Bird Feeder: Pussy Willow"
Pines rank above every other conifer in their value as a food plant for birds and other wildlife. Winter, when their green limbs are often frosted with snow, is the one of best times of year to admire both their value and their beauty. Continue reading "Beyond the Bird Feeder: Pines"
This has been a topic of discussion and disagreement for some time. There is finally some research that sheds light on the subject. The answer is: yes, no, maybe, sometimes, and it depends. Continue reading "A Mystery Explored: Buckthorn, Birds, and Diarrhea"
Sitting on a folding chair in a bracken fern meadow, I’ve just watched my daughter plan and plant our section of a “green and natural cemetery.” Continue reading "Evergreen On Being Part of the Land"
Natural Areas Maintenance from the JFNew Nursery Newsletter, 2009 As the year winds down, fall is a great time to prepare new areas for a dormant or “frost” seeding. Many people associate fall plantings with just cool-season grasses, but many wildflower species do well if planted in the fall. The ideal planting time is from […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (Nov 2009)"