Sunflowers at Biltm...
Saturday, 25 July 2015
Thursday, 23 July 2015
Morning glory magic
The telephone pole out front has enjoyed our morning glory plantings for a number of years. Yes, they're weedy. Yes, they require thinning. Yes, we have to pull them down before they reach the transformer.But they're wonderful, regardless. This year, there's a mixture of blue-purple...
Wednesday, 22 July 2015
An exuburant front vegetable garden
The filet pole beans are coming in now, as are the climbing squash (winter squash varieties). And, I've been harvesting tomatoes and early peppers for weeks now. There are paste tomatoes, slicing tomatoes and cherry tomatoes -- hard to beat that, along with the ancho and romano peppers.front...
Friday, 17 July 2015
Natural neighborhoods: re-knitting the fabric of life
What's interesting me now, especially, as I've transitioned to volunteer outreach, is how those of us who are keen and passionate about gardening for nature (especially with native plants in mind) can help reach more folks.And even more importantly, how do we create neighborhoods that help sustain...
Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, gardening with natives, landscaping with native plants, native plant nurseries, native plants, natural gardening
Landscaping with Native Plants
It's been a lovely couple of days at the Landscaping with Native Plants Conference in Cullowhee, NC. Now in its 32nd year, the conference brings together native plant enthusiasts of all sorts, from horticulturists to academics, homeowners to designers, wonderful native plant vendors, and everyone in between.I've been coming sporadically since the mid 80's, but have been here the last three years,...
Monday, 13 July 2015
Asclepia incarnata, Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed, gardening for pollinators, milkweed, natural gardening, swamp milkweed
A milkweed on the greenway
I'm thinking this is swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata. I haven't ever bothered to really learn all of the milkweeds and their specific characteristics -- there are actually quite a few species out there, although only a few "in cultivation."This one is along the Weaver Boulevard greenway in...
Sunday, 12 July 2015
gardening for pollinators, million pollinator garden challenge, natural gardening, pollinator friendly gardens, pollinator-friendly plants
Planting pollinator gardens
There's an excellent new initiative, from a consortium of groups, from non-profits to garden groups, in association with the recent federal initiative around promoting pollinator plantings.It's called the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge. It's a good thing.I "registered" my small landscape yesterday,...