Covering Ground
Small Changes Help Small Creatures in a Changing World
How much do you think global warming will harm plant and animal species?
A representative sample of Americans responded to that question in a 2022 survey. A whopping 70% said “a great deal” (52%) or “moderately” (18%). Only 11% responded that global warming will not harm plants and animals in any way.
Spring: Time to Collect Summer's Extra Water Supply
Connecticut’s climate could hardly be described as arid. In fact, historical rainfall averages 45 to 50 inches each year.
But averages are meaningless when your summer gardens are going brown, and there’s no rain in the forecast. Historical records show our summers are often dry and sometimes for many weeks.
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 Lanternfly 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. Now, the insect is well established in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. It is on a watch list for southern Maine.
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
These days, lots of people are looking for native plants that support pollinators and birds. But in many cases, they also want those plants to be deer-resistant and tolerant to the summer droughts that are an almost-annual Connecticut shoreline event.
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.