Photo by Susan O'Donnell
A common mistake seen in gardens is compartmentalization. Kitchen gardens are often hidden away, thought of as an area separate from recreation and play. A better idea is to make a holistic design. Read more here.
Photo by Susan O'Donnell When things have not gone according to plan in your garden, remember you are not alone; no one stops learning in a garden. Even the most experienced gardener will have failures and feel despairing at times. This is unavoidable in the plant world. Look for the learning opportunity in it or simply move on. There is no rush to get everything right. Read more here: --https://www.treehugger.com/tips-for-demoralized-gardeners-7483046?hid=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e&did=8939077-20230424&utm_source=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=treehugger-daily_newsletter&utm_content=042423&lctg=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e Photo by Susan O'Donnell It’s important not to become too categorical in our thinking about “pests” or to view these creatures as enemies. It is actually a practical decision to allow for some, in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem in our gardens. Read more here --https://www.treehugger.com/why-want-pests-organic-garden-7096295?hid=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e&did=8091216-20230125&utm_source=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=treehugger-daily_newsletter&utm_content=012523&lctg=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e Photo by Sean O'Donnell Pressing flowers and plants dates back to ancient times as a form of collecting and preserving species. In the 16th century, Japanese artists began incorporating them into artwork. It can be a lovely tradition to do with children, one that keeps them looking closely at nature. Choose from four easy techniques: using a book, a wooden press, ironing, or microwaving. Read more here: --https://www.firstdayofhome.com/how-to-press-flowers/ --https://www.wrhs.org/blog/pressed-flowers-history-and-tutorial/ Photo by Susan O'Donnell Hours spent in and around “blue spaces”(coasts, rivers, lakes, etc.) —not just green spaces—have a profound effect on children’s well-being that continues into adulthood, according to a 2022 study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology. These findings matter more than ever in the digital era. In addition, ongoing exposure to nature—and the inevitable attachment that will form—is crucial for raising future defenders of the natural world. Read more here: --https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494422001219?via%3Dihub Photo by Susan O'Donnell, Talapus Lake, WA The biggest toilet paper brands are destroying Canada’s boreal forest according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, but many new brands that use recycled paper and bamboo have entered the marketplace. It’s important to note that all of these sustainable brands make up only a fraction of the market and are nowhere near as widely available as the big brands. Still, consumers can make a difference by choosing more sustainable alternatives, both because it saves trees, but also because it sends a signal to large corporations that there is money to be made selling eco-friendly toilet paper. Read more here: --https://www.fastcompany.com/90677480/toilet-paper-really-is-terrible-for-the-planet-heres-what-you-can-do-about-it Photo by Susan O'Donnell Make your garden more wildlife friendly this fall by simply not cutting back herbaceous perennials11/3/2022
Herbaceous perennials provide an important winter wildlife habitat for a range of species. Another benefit to leaving them in place until the spring is the slow breakdown of nutrients they will give your soil. Read more here. Photo by Susan O'Donnell --https://www.treehugger.com/why-not-cut-back-herbaceous-perennials-fall-6752336?hid=5cca5cc09cf857f7c3ce2406e7447b3b9236437e&did=864153-20221028&utm_campaign=treehugger-daily_newsletter&utm_source=treehugger&utm_medium=email&utm_content=102822&cid=864153&mid=100587181910 Each year, 1.9 billion pounds of pumpkin is grown in the United States. Most of these pumpkins end up in landfills. Composting your jack-o-lanterns keeps them out of the waste stream and adds nutrients in your soil. While most of a jack-o-lantern is used for decoration, the seeds are very tasty when roasted. Another option, recommended by The National Wildlife Federation is to leave the raw seeds and pieces of your jack-o-lantern out in your yard to feed the wildlife after the holiday is over. If you are dreading the annual chore of the fall clean-up of your yard, here is some good news: it’s better if you don’t! A variety of insects including native bees lay their eggs in the stems of old perennials plants. Their eggs or larvae spend the winter in this safe shelter and emerge when the weather is consistently warm in the spring. Non-migratory birds visit the old seed heads as they forage throughout the winter. Therefore, you can put off this chore and leave the remnants of your plants to shelter and support wildlife throughout the winter. When you do cut back the dead stems, cut them high: the new growth will cover the old and leaves some parts of the old stems in place. Place the cut stems in a corner of your yard where any remaining insects can still emerge; the stems will eventually break down and provide mulch for your yard. Photo by Susan O'Donnell Leaving fallen leaves as mulch benefits your plants as well as insects that need a place to overwinter. Great spangled fritillary and wooly bear caterpillars hide in the leaf litter to evade predators and to find shelter from winter weather. Luna moths and swallowtail butterflies overwinter in cocoons and as chrysalises that are colored such that they blend in with the leaves. Chopping leaves before using them as mulch increases the speed at which they break down, which is great for mulching the lawn. Shredding leaves puts these insects in danger of being shredded themselves before they have a chance to finish their life cycle as adult moths and butterflies. Insects that depend on leaf litter for shelter also require a longer lasting cover. Leaving a thin mat of whole leaves under trees allows them to break down slower and continue to provide that shelter, ensuring a new generation of pollinators and food for nestling birds in the next season. |
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