Clik here to view.
New Year’s Garden Resolution: Cultivate Untidyness
An “untidy” unlawn of native wildflowers and grasses, each species allowed to grow where it prefers in natural groupings. “How can I attract wildlife to my yard?” asked an attendee after one of my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Bestiary: Part Fourteen ~ Woodpeckers: Pileated Woodpecker
The avian slice of ‘A Bestiary’ continues with the Picidae family of woodpeckers . . . and where else to begin but with the most striking and strident of these birds . . . North America’s own . . ....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Restoration and Reclamation
Conservation Seeding and Restoration, Inc. is a success driven, applied action, native plant corporation operated as a for profit business enterprise. The unique nature of what we are and are trying...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Natives Plants for Your Yard: the Next Step
Grassleaf Barbara’s Buttons (Marshallia graminifolia) are beautiful Florida natives suitable for any fairy tale garden… Is native gardening a fairy tale? Once upon a time, a gardener decided that she...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Revolutionize Your Lawn
Lawnscape with sprinkler system wasting water in the hot part of the day. (The mule deer are just passing through.) With much of the Southwestern US, including the valley where I live, in drought–a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Not-So-Clean Up Garden
An arboreal salamander gets moved to a new hiding place. This salamander was found between a garden stump seat and the falling-off bark. Ahhh, spring is on its way. My bones are starting to thaw....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Why Native Plants?
Pediocactus simpsonii, Hedgehog cactus, photographed in southern Idaho. I am constantly bombarded with the simple question of “Why Native Plants?”. I have heard and read from my peers in this forum and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Elderberry Pond — A Greywater Habitat
Sambucas mexicana in Elderberry Pond wildlife habitat. Perhaps the cutting shrub propagation will be successful. The young shoots look promising. Come on, Blue Elderberry, you can do it! Grow,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“Native Roots”
Eriogonum brevicaule – Shortstem buckwheat I’m excited to share the start of a new company that I believe will have far reaching and applicable impacts to the plant markets in the USA for years to come...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Adventures in Creating a Native Garden
Stage one: Lawn removal & three bunching grasses Three Elliot’s love grass bunches glow in the early morning sun. Last September I began this set of garden adventures with the purchase of some...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Plant it and they will come….
This interview with the founder of the Habitat Hero project, Connie Holsinger of the Terra Foundation, shows the power of that ”aha!” moment when we see the importance of gardening for wildlife, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ladybugs, Lady Beetles or Ladybird Beetles. How Good are They?
Polished lady beetle. © Beatriz Moisset. 2012 What is in a name? Most call it a ladybug; others, ladybird or ladybird beetle or just lady beetle. Is one name more appropriate than others? Is there just...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Gall! Ceanothus As Wasp Habitat
Cynipid wasp on ceanothus leaf, with gall below. A young Blue Jeans ceanothus (Holly Leaf Mountain Lilac) grows along our driveway property line. Our neighbors practice xeriscaping in their yard, so...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Teeming with Zebras
The zebra longwing butterfly drinks at the snow squarestem. Zebra longwing butterflies that is. (Heliconius charithonia) This year we’ve had a huge jump in population, so our property is aflutter with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pollinator-Friendly Lawns
Lawn and more lawn. © Catherine Zimmerman Ordinarily a lawn is a desert, unwelcoming to wildlife from tiny insects to birds. The total surface of lawns in the United States has been estimated with the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Red Cone Gall Wasps and Their Galls
Red Cone Gall Wasp galls on an oak leaf.© jillmotts, via Electric Orchids What are those? How strange! Such was my reaction when I was strolling through a California patio garden. Just above my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Planting Seeds
Creek House at sunset Creek House, my new tiny house, faces south to harvest the winter sun for heat. That puts it sideways to the street, a fact that challenged my designer and me in making the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
School Habitat Garden in Illinois Prairie Country
Building a Habitat Garden at Carrie Busey Elementary School — 4th graders carry corrugated drain pipe to be installed under a dead tree wood slab to create habitat for wildlife.Photo copyright Rick...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Elderberry Pond — A Greywater Habitat
Sambucas mexicana in Elderberry Pond wildlife habitat. Perhaps the cutting shrub propagation will be successful. The young shoots look promising. Come on, Blue Elderberry, you can do it! Grow,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Plan ahead!
Plants don’t a have a choice–they must do the best they can where they are. Sometimes Mother Nature doesn’t leave enough growing space for her trees and shrubs. Once the plants start growing out in...
View Article
