August in the woodland/wildlife garden
Some of my favourite August bloomers in the woodland/wildlife garden and the wildlife they attract.
Woodland Garden: Mid May brings lots of little surprises
Mid May is an exciting time in the woodland garden when spots of colour break the beauty of the spring greens.
Create swaths of colour to fire up your spring garden
Forget-me-nots and other spring ground covers for the woodland garden
Spotted beebalm: A native you need in your garden
Spotted bee balm is a fascinating native plant that will be a mainstay in our natural woodland garden.
How to create a natural log planter
Adding a path-side planter from a large branch or decaying tree trunk is a project everyone can accomplish by following the steps in this post.
Native plants on the woodland walk
I take a walk in the woods to explore the native wildflowers. Trilliums, Marsh Marigolds, Wild Geraniums, Mayapples, Forget-me-nots and a host of others that we can use in our own woodland gardens.
What about all those cultivars of Native Plants?
Should nativars be used in our gardens or is it better to stick with unmodified native plants?
Yellow lady slipper orchids in the garden
Growing hardy Yellow Ladyslippers can be difficult, but the rewards are well worth it.
Wild Ginger: Native ground cover for your shade garden
Wild Ginger is a native ground cover that just might make a great replacement for your hosta plants.
Why plant a Chinkapin Oak tree
The Chinkapin Oak is a fast-growing oak that might be perfect for your back or front yard.
Columnar Oak: Keystone plant perfect for today’s small yards
Columnar Oaks are the ideal compromise for today’s smaller front and backyards that might be overwhelmed by massive, native Red and White oaks.
Sumac: First signs of fall in the garden
Staghorn Sumac is an excellent addition to the garden both to add architectural interest and provide a food source for birds and animals.
How to grow and care for native Asters
Three native asters for the natural garden that provide late-season resources for pollinators and add a beautiful textural feel into the fall.
Plant Native Sunflowers for the bees, butterflies and the birds
Our native woodland sunflowers are not only beautiful but important plants for native bees, birds, butterflies and other insects.
Native Goldenrod: Fall’s golden gift to wildlife gardeners and photographers
Goldenrod blooming in our gardens and along roadsides is a sure sign that fall is not far off. These are important native plants for a host of bees and butterflies that depend on the plants for late summer, early fall food sources.
Our native Obedient plant (False Dragonhead) is important late-summer bloomer
Obedient plant is quick to find a home in the sandy soil in our garden. This native plant is a favourite for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in the late summer when it begins to bloom.
Blue Lobelia: A native plant perfect for late summer colour
Great Blue Lobelia is a native plant that is at home in both full sun or part shade in the woodland garden. Grow them with Black-Eyed-Susan and Bee Balm for a terrific tapestry in the garden.
Purple pearl-like berries make Beautyberry a showstopper in native gardens
The American Beautyberry is a fall standout in the woodland garden with it pearl-like magenta berries. The native plant attracts bees and butterflies with its late summer bloom of delicate pink and white flowers, followed by spectacular late summer fruit that persists through winter.
Monarda and Cardinal flowers: Native reds Hummingbirds can’t resist
Monarda and Cardinal flower are two native reds Hummingbirds can’t resist. Both have similar tube-like flowers that are perfect for hummingbirds and other pollinators.
Solomon’s seal is solid choice for the woodland or shade garden
Solomon’s seal’s arching branches reveal the dangling cream flowers that highlight the spring woodland garden.