Declining Insects — Declining World: Part 2 Causes of Insect Decline
Insect populations around the world are rapidly declining. Within the next 20 years, 40% of the earth’s insect species may be extinct and within 100 years insects could disappear completely. (Blog intro: Declining Insects — Declining World, Feb. 20, 2019) As usual, once I start thinking about a topic, it pops up everywhere; declining …
Plant A Grove: American highbush-cranberry (Viburnum trilobum)
Spectacular as a stand alone shrub or massed as a backdrop to a border, the American highbush-cranberry gives four seasons of interest to the garden. This large deciduous shrub (8+ feet) prefers full sun, but will also thrive in partial shade as long as it is planted in evenly moist, …
Rethinking Lawns -- Part 3: But I Like Green!
As excited as I have been about the renovation of our front yard, I have to admit that I’m still a little leery of a yard without at least a few patches of green grass. When I shared my reservations with my husband, he assured me that eliminating turfgrass doesn’t mean eliminating the lawn; it …
Plant A Patch: Small Skullcap (Scutellaria parvula missouriensis)
At home in shallow dry, rocky soil, sandy soil or clay soil, this tiny plant (3 – 9″) deserves big recognition for its ability to thrive in adverse conditions that would stress other species. It prefers full sun but also grows and blooms well in partial shade. Small skullcap sports blue blossoms from …
“Frenemies “ -- Bugs, Your Garden and You : Part 2: Designing for Bugs
If anyone had told me, even ten years ago, that I would be designing my yard to accommodate bugs, I would have called them crazy. Back then any and all bugs were the ENEMY and needed to be immediately eradicated — with powerful insecticides so that death would be almost instantaneous. Today the shelf that …
Plant A Patch: Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
Offering pinkish-white late summer blooms and winter structural interest, this fragrant native perennial prefers full sun and fertile, medium moist soil. Mountain mint grows in a clump form, often reaching 3 feet in both width and height. It spreads more slowly than other mints and is excellent for naturalizing. When crushed, the dense, dark …
“Frenemies “ -- Bugs, Your Garden and You
When I started my gardening career, and I hate to admit how many decades ago that was, dealing with bugs in the garden was easy. See a bug? Kill it — preferably with a strong, extremely toxic chemical. Today my relationship with bugs in the garden is much more complicated. …
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