Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Functioning In a study that mimicked the natural order of species loss in a grassland ecosystem, researchers found that declining biodiversity greatly reduced resistance to invasive species, and that the presence of even small numbers of rare species had profound functional effects. The results have important implications for understanding the biodiversity […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (Jan 2005)"
Something Extraordinary This following simple recipe for killing weeds is being presented in prose form because I’d like you to read the entire text to make sure you get the rest of the story. This recipe goes as follows: 1 gallon white vinegar; 1 pound table salt; 1 tablespoon liquid dish-washing soap. Mix together and […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (Nov 2004)"
In northwestern Oakland County, at the outer fringes of development in southeastern Michigan, fifty miles from the heart of Detroit, the residents and public officials in Springfield Township recognize the regionally and globally significant ecological features within their borders, and have worked hard to preserve them. Over the years, many approaches have been used to […] Continue reading "Springfield Township in Southeastern Michigan"
Greenways result when residents and community leaders work together for the common purpose of natural area preservation. Continue reading "Corridors for a Healthier Environment (Part 3)"
Some twenty years or more ago, I was touring the Ann Arbor (MI) Flower Show, which, at the time, was like the State Fair of Horticulture. My feet were tired, and I needed to sit down, when I saw a board advertising the three o’clock talk “on wildflowers.” The speakers were a husband and wife […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (July 2004)"
We Are Not Alone “The field of landscape design is changing, becoming more sensitive to the environment. The traditional American lawn – just ‘mow, blow and go,’ using chemical fertilizers and lots of water to keep it green – is being gobbled up by plantings of ornamental grasses; native plants are replacing bulbous shrubs.” This […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (May 2004)"
So, after reading the first article on corridors, did you rush out to see if your community’s natural spaces were “fragmented”? Did you see a bit of woodland down the street, or a wetland at the back of your neighbor’s yard? Continue reading "Corridors for a Healthier Environment (Part 2)"
Everything that lives and moves on this Earth is connected in some way or another to everything else. As most gardeners know, we have a physical, psychological, and often emotional connection to our plants; the plants have a physical connection to the soil; the soil is home to myriad microorganisms; and the microorganisms live on […] Continue reading "Corridors for a Healthier Environment (Part 1)"
Community Outreach In this issue we are again incorporating a yellow page listing for our business members. It’s our opportunity to showcase their support of our efforts in promoting the use of native plant species in natural landscaping. If you know of a business in your area that actively promotes the use of native landscaping, […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (Mar 2004)"
Stopping Slugs There are places on this Earth that support slugs and snails that are large enough to smother, with their slime, nestling birds in their nest. Most of us, however, only get to complain about our triflingly tiny, inch-long species as they decimate seedling beds and feast in our vegetable gardens. It is when […] Continue reading "The Grapevine (Jan 2004)"