Covering Ground
Where Shall We Walk Today?
I've frequented the woodland trails of southeastern Connecticut for many years and become proficient at researching new walking opportunities. Despite all my searches, I have never found any single source for a complete list of woodland walks. After all, open spaces have many owners, including state, municipalities, land trusts, and more.
Fighting the Spotted Lanterfly in Winter
The flying scourge called spotted lanternfly was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, less than a decade ago. The insect quickly made headlines as it ravaged forests, farms, orchards, and vineyards around the mid-Atlantic states.
Save the Stems: Pollinator Protection in Winter
Summer’s bright flowers and wavy grasses are dry and grey in winter. Many would say they’re not worthy of reprieve from autumn clean-ups.
But there’s another perspective circulating among folks who offer ways to protect pollinators. The idea is called “Save the Stems,” calling upon gardeners and landscapers to leave dead-head flowers standing until spring.
Why?
Time to Rethink Invasive Plants
As someone who works in the land care business, I sometimes feel as though I’m caught in an endless game of whack-a-mole. Between spotted lantern flies and jumping worms, from knotweed to tree-of-heaven, I sometimes think, who needs Halloween or a scary movie?
Is there are more systematic, less fatiguing way to think about the problem of invasive plants?
Ten-plus Native Shrubs That Withstand Drought and Deer
Lots of us look for native plants that support pollinators and birds, but need those plants to be deer-resistant and tolerant to annual summer droughts. In my latest article, I nominate some selections that meet all three criteria—native, deer-resistant, and drought-tolerant. In my experience, these are the best natural bargains you can buy.
Pollinator Protection Is Buzzing
It was 2019 when Heather Bradley accidentally killed a frog with her lawnmower.
"It hit me that keeping a turf lawn was a total waste of time, space, and resources, not to mention a detriment to ecology and the environment," said Bradley.
Plant Debris Overruns Transfer Stations
We cut and pull plants and branches to neaten and manage outdoor spaces. It arrives at brush dumps and town transfer stations. What happens next?
After the Flowers Are Planted
Plastic pots do a great job of helping us bring home the beauty of plants. But what can we do with the pots?
In Connecticut, we can recycle green, white, and red pots. (Clean them out first, please.) This unfortunately leaves out all the black pots and trays, which are the majority.
On Earth Day, Admiring the Work of Volunteers
Once upon a time, I called a newspaper editor and inquired if she needed a garden column. She said they’d give me a try, and my regional column, Green & Growing, launched in February 2013. I started out imagining that I’d write veggie and flower garden how-to articles with an organic flair and a local bent.
Where Do the Wild Things Grow?
We know that native plants didn’t begin their evolution in the black plastic pots we see at garden centers. But where are the native plants in nature? How do we know if they are thriving or disappearing or just holding their own?