Thoughts and Tips on Ecological Landscapes
Although much of the landscape is dormant this time of year, if you look closely, there are amazing textures all around you. Evergreen branches and winter berries are commonly used, and with a little more exploration, you can add interest to your arrangements from unexpected places. Use cuttings from your yard to create beautiful arrangements for outdoor planters, indoor centerpieces, …
How we manage leaves is one of the most financially wasteful and environmentally harmful landscape practices common to our area. The good news is that an ecological approach to leaf management can be embraced by fiscal conservatives and passionate environmentalists alike. So, what is a better way to manage leaves? The answer is the ‘Love ‘em and Leave ‘em’ approach …
As much fun as it can be to work in the garden, we ultimately want to make it an enjoyable place to use. Think of your landscape as an extension of the home and you may quickly identify opportunities to create outdoor living spaces such as kitchens, dining areas, and play rooms. All of these rooms have a few things …
Working with a professional landscape designer can be a very rewarding experience. Professional designers can turn your dreams and ideas into reality and may help you avoid costly mistakes in the process. They consider the site, seasonal changes, plant requirements, spacing, wildlife, and your vision, and put it all on paper. A landscape designer is a professional who can dream …
While most landscapes are designed to be enjoyed during daylight hours, when autumn rolls around, we have far fewer of those hours to spend outside. If you want a dynamic and inviting fall landscape, use fire features to draw friends and family into the brisk autumn air. Fire features create a reason to gather, socialize, and celebrate with your friends …
Of all the advice we offer as landscape professionals, at the top of the list is ‘Right plant, right place”. Appropriate design and plant selection ensures your gardens will be lush and full most of the year, regardless of the weather. However, even well designed gardens need supplemental watering, especially during the first two years after planting, or the establishment …
Did you ever wonder, why birds returning to our area each spring bring joy and hope to people of all ages? Maybe it is their hustle and bustle of activity as the weather warms. Or maybe it is the beauty and apparent fragility of these tiny creatures. Or maybe it is that they sing. Henry David Thoreau wrote of the …
Many people are aware of the threats to Monarch Butterflies and honeybees, yet they do not like other bugs. While these pollinators are very important, maybe we should start looking at ecosystems as a whole. Several recent studies have measured insect populations, and they have yielded some alarming results. Overall, it appears that worldwide insect populations have dropped as much as …
You probably know that local produce is fresher and tastier, better for the local economy, and uses less resources in transportation than produce from farther away. But did you know it can be easy to grow your own? To add edible plants to your yard, read on. Some of the ways may surprise you! Add Edible Plants With Trees One …
Most people love spring bulbs. Daffodils, hyacinths, and tulips planted in the fall reward gardeners who plan ahead with some of the first blooms of spring. However, none of these plants are native to North America. So add some of these native plants to your garden and celebrate the excitement of spring while benefiting nature! Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginiana) A …
