Many people are wrapping up their garden work for the year, but it’s never too early to plan for the spring! If you’ve been putting off planting a pollinator garden for want of ideas on how to start, the Missouri Prairie Foundation has put together sample garden plans for people with sun, shade, and even picky neighbors. If you don’t know where to start, you should start here.
It is now fall, and I am getting close to being done with my garden work for the year. While the Garden is never done, it is amazing to watch it evolve over time, and I’m happy to share 2023 updates that include adding more square footage, discovering new plants, and relearning lessons about how an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Love it or hate it? Rose of Sharon is an oft-planted ornamental shrub, but it is considered invasive in Pennsylvania. The original bush planted by our home’s previous owners has allegedly colonized our neighbor’s yard and is now trying to expand further into ours. Meanwhile, I’m trying to figure out how to get rid of it before it annexes any more territory.
The slow transformation of my yard continues, with gardening choices occasionally coming into conflict with existing hardscapes. After a young ash tree contributed to the demise of a retaining wall last year, I knew that I needed to consider potential long-term consequences of plants as they grow, especially when deciding what type of native hedge to put on top of a retaining wall.
Pollinator gardens are beneficial for birds, bees, butterflies, and other animals too. However, increased residential development and the continual pressure to have a manicured, uniform lawn puts all of those creatures at risk. Some homes are pushing back against societal expectations around landscaping to create safe corridors for native species, but in more than one case, the resulting fight has gotten ugly.
A major component of my pollinator garden is finally taking off this year: the milkweed, which I hope will host many generations of monarch butterflies. The three different species in my garden have gotten varying reviews from monarchs, milkweed bugs, and aphids. After seeing it in action, I’m happy to share what I’ve learned in case you’d like to grow your own too.
Gardening is part science and part art, but the art component is far more demanding than I’m comfortable tackling on my own, and the moving target that is nature eliminates much of the certainty that comes with the scientific component. After several years of analysis paralysis, I decided it was time to get some professional help – by way of a landscape designer.
I’ve always loved bats. They’re adorable and beneficial but often get a bad rap. With populations in rapid decline, there are few actions we can take, and one of them is adding a bat box… in certain situations. Following proper guidelines on size and placement can ensure a safe, comfortable place for bats to spend the summer (that doesn’t include your attic).
No Mow May is a new trend sweeping the yards of mindful (or lazy – I don’t judge) homeowners. Whether you decide to forgo mowing your lawn for the entire month of May, mow less often than usual, or sow seeds for grass alternatives in your lawn, there are valuable steps you can take to support biodiversity and feed pollinators in your yard.
Compassion for animals is often cited as the most important reason to go vegan. It is why I originally went vegetarian, but the extra step toward veganism seems unnecessary if the animals are treated well as they produce milk, lay eggs, or make honey. In fact, there are some foods that are vegan by definition but that can have some unpleasant effects on animals.