By: Renee Godfrey Quillin It has been shown there are many benefits to gardening, whether it be an herb, vegetable, or ornamental garden, being outside and working with the earth is one of the best things one can do to increase overall wellbeing, improve mental health, and help the environment. Gardening improves health and well-being. Exercise from the rewarding physical activity of gardening increases mobility, balance, and core strength. The […]
February 24, 2025,
In Ecological, Edible Landscape, Fresh Garden, Landscaping, Native plants, Naturescaping, Sustainability,
2025 Perennial Plant of the Year
By: Renee Godfrey Quillin Every year since 1990 the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) votes on the Perennial Plant of the Year (PPOY) by its members. I am happy to announce the PPOY for 2025 is Pycnanthemum muticum which is commonly known as Short Toothed Mountain Mint or simply put, Mountain Mint. Mountain Mint is native to Eastern North America which ranges as north as Maine, south as Florida and as […]
March 26, 2024,
In Design, Ecological, Environmental Stewardship, Mutualistic Relationship, Native plants, Naturescaping, Planted Earth, Sustainability,
The Perennial Movement
By Renee Godfrey Quillin There has been an increased focus on a new trend in 2024 that could be a garden game changer. The Perennial Movement is advocating for a more naturalistic and low-maintenance garden to celebrate the beauty of nature as the landscape changes from season to season. This creative process is accomplished by utilizing a naturalistic design, a colorful plant palette, use of natives and their cultivars, and […]
August 3, 2023,
In Ecological, Edible Landscape, Fresh Garden, Herb Gardening, Sustainability,
Mosquitos
By: Karl Deibert Mosquitoes can be real nasty pests, especially during the warmer months of the year. Not only do they annoyingly buzz around your ears at night and leave itchy bites all over, but they can also transmit a myriad of diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. While many people turn to chemical sprays and insecticides to keep mosquitoes at bay, these often […]
June 29, 2022,
In Clean & Removal, Ecological, Native plants,
Getting to Know Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
By: Avery Myers If you have spent time outside in North America, you are probably familiar with poison ivy. For most people, just hearing “poison ivy” is enough to make them itchy. While we have all heard plenty of advice on how to avoid this garden terror and how to remedy the rash that follows contact with it. Today we are going to take a closer look at this plant […]
June 5, 2022,
In Ecological, Garden Care, Herb Gardening, Mutualistic Relationship, Native plants, Naturescaping, Sustainability,
Bee-Friendly Garden
By: Shannon Sullivan One of the most important tasks in the world, pollination, relies on the work of bees, bumblebees, hummingbirds, bats, butterflies, and other insects. Pollinators are important to the reproductive success of over seventy-five percent of the world’s flowering plants and over 150 food crops in the United States including blueberries, apples, oranges, squash, tomatoes, and almonds. Protecting pollinators with economically feasible and environmentally sound horticulture practices by […]
May 3, 2022,
In Ecological, Fresh Garden, Garden Care, Herb Gardening, Mutualistic Relationship, Symbiotic,
5 Plants that Control Bad Pests
by Casey Beall With many people looking to find natural ways to repel pests and bugs, different plants have been researched and proven to repel different species. There are five common plants that are very popular in repelling insects. Pelargonium ‘Citronella’ Geranium repels mosquitos like any outdoor candle that contains citronella would do. When the plant is damaged, cut or bruised, a strong scent is released into the air. Many […]
October 4, 2021,
In Ecological, Invasive, Sustainability, Symbiotic,
Are all Invasive Species Bad?
By: Andrew Obloy We should all do our best to help our native plant species thrive. Whether in the environment around us, or in our own home gardens. Care should always be taken when introducing non-native plant or animal species anywhere. The potential damage could be catastrophic to an ecosystem. Today we are going in a different direction. I want to talk about the invasive species that have […]
August 2, 2021,
In Ecological, Environmental Stewardship, Landscaping, Native plants, Naturescaping, Sustainability,
Going Native: Part 2
By: Gabrielle Phillips Benefits of adding more native plants to your garden. Climate change, it is a hot topic. Some say if we don’t do anything to remedy the issue the earth is going to kick us off into outer space and we will be sucked into a black hole. I am not actually sure if anyone said this nor do I believe that will happen but, I do believe […]
July 9, 2021,
In Ecological, Native plants, Naturescaping, Sustainability,
Going Native
By: Gabrielle Phillips The days begin to get longer and hotter, sweat seems to be a regular part of our wardrobe and the lush foliage of our landscape is in full effect. Flowers are in bloom everywhere and if you have a vegetable garden you maybe harvesting fresh tomatoes, herbs, and squash for your dinner. The summer brings us a feeling of abundance due to the great amount of growth […]