The Grue Jay. Reports from Texas birding communities have sparked excitement and debate. Observers recently documented what appears to be a rare Blue Jay × Green Jay hybrid, called the Grue Jay. Certainly, this is an unexpected combination of two visually distinct corvids. While hybridization occurs in birds, such pairings remain uncommon, especially between species […]
Soft Landings: A Better Way to Care for Trees and Build Habitat The practice of designing “soft landings” is transforming how ecologically minded gardeners care for the spaces beneath their trees. Instead of relying on mulch or stagnant lawngrass, soft landings involve planting gentle, shade-tolerant native perennials under the canopy. These plants create a living
Climate-resilient corporate landscaping. Climate resilient corporate landscaping is a lot more than an exterior upgrade or capital gains. (Although those tangible gains are very welcome in most campuses.) After that, a strategic investment in the health of your property, your people, and the entire region can be realized. When a corporate campus chooses native plants,
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Blue Lobelia Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) stands out as one of the most luminous blue-flowering native perennials for late summer gardens. Vertical spikes of saturated color emerge just when many landscapes begin to lose intensity. Rather than appearing flashy or artificial, the blooms feel cool, grounded, and naturally harmonious. Consequently, this species brings both drama
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Bioswales are one of the most elegant solutions in modern ecological landscaping. At their core, bioswales are shallow, vegetated channels that slow, capture, filter, and infiltrate stormwater runoff. Instead of rushing water into pipes, they guide it through living soil and plant systems. As a result, landscapes handle heavy rain more gently while reducing erosion,
Regenerative Landscaping Regenerative LandscapingHumans have a regenerative gear. We just need to use it. Most modern interactions with the land are quietly degrading. People mow, spray, strip, compact, bulldoze, and remove organic matter. Good intentions don’t annul the harm and fragmentation that results. Over time, the soil becomes depleted, water runs off instead of soaking
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Bigleaf Aster: A Resilient Native for Shade, Soil, and Subtle Beauty. Bigleaf Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) is one of the quiet workhorses of the native plant world. Often overlooked in favor of flashier fall bloomers, this species earns its place through durability, ecological value, and its role as one of the earliest-blooming asters of the season.
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Japanese Knotweed Remediation Japanese Knotweed Remediation: Listening to the Soil Beneath the Problem Japanese Knotweed is altogether often labeled an enemy. It spreads quickly, dominates disturbed land, and challenges even experienced land stewards. Yet this plant is not appearing by accident. Its presence is a signal. Japanese Knotweed thrives where soil chemistry is deeply imbalanced
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Corporate pollinator garden projects. Corporate Pollinator Garden Projects: Renewing the Local Ecosystem while Saving Money on Maintenance Costs. In general, corporate habitat garden projects are one of the most effective ways for a business to create visible, lasting good. When a company chooses to replace turfgrass with organic native wildflowers, the results ripple outward. A
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Slow Growth Big Beauty. Native landscaping asks us to relearn time. In a culture trained for instant results, obviously, native gardens move at a deeper, older pace. Rather than rushing to impress in year one, they chill, adapt, and invest belowground first. As a result, the quiet truth behind slow growth begins with patience, not
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Native plants for New York State gardens. Native Plants for New York State Gardens. If you’re planning a garden in New York State, native plants are the best choice you can make. These plants evolved in our local ecosystems, meaning they’re naturally adapted to the climate, soil, and wildlife of the region. Native plants are
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Landscape Transformation Process Landscape Transformation Process: Every great garden begins with a little faith. The before stage can look bare, messy, or even disappointing at first. Bare soil. Open space. A lot of possibility. This is the starting line of transformation, and it’s where every beautiful landscape begins. Landscape Transformation Process: The “During” Phase
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Phytoremediation: Letting Plants Finish the Work. Phytoremediation is generally the quiet middle ground between doing nothing and doing violence to the land. It is the practice of allowing native plants to stabilize, buffer, extract, and transform damaged soils over time, not by force, but by function. This isn’t a trendy concept. Instead, it’s what native
Permaculture Design: When Weeds Talk. Continued from the invasive plant series. Part I. II. III. Permaculture Design re: plant interpretation. Plants spontaneously show up on land and colonize a micro-region sometimes. Usually this is viewed as a headache at best. And yet, using permaculture principles, a weed colony can be interpreted as a communication about
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Best Organic Hot Cocoa (What to Look For + Our Top Pick) This post contains an affiliate link. You can support this small business with your purchase of organic hot chocolate. If you are searching for the best organic hot cocoa, skip the flashy packaging and start with the ingredient list. Truly good cocoa is
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Time Builds Beauty Time Builds Beauty. Landscapes are not created all at once. They unfold. In native gardens especially, the most meaningful changes happen gradually, shaped by seasons, soil, and time. While modern landscaping often promises instant results, ecology tells a quieter truth. Time builds beauty. In the Beginning. In the first year after planting,
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Low Maintenance Modern Front Yard Landscaping Low maintenance modern front yard landscaping has become a pioneering trend in recent years. People have learned that landscaping doesn’t need to be high maintenance and involve chemicals at all. The earth wants to express beauty. Steering it is possible if you hire professionals who have land literacy. The
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Oak trees Oak Trees are the backbone of many North American ecosystems. Quietly, steadily, they do more ecological work than almost any other Tree we can plant. When people think of Oaks, they often picture strength, longevity, or shade. Ecologically, those qualities are only the beginning. Oak Trees + Butterflies. Oak Trees support more wildlife
Keystone Species In ecology, a keystone species is one that holds an ecosystem together in ways that far exceed its abundance. Although many species contribute to beauty and function, keystone species quietly shape structure, stability, and resilience. When they thrive, ecosystems self-regulate. When they disappear, imbalance follows. Keystone species often work through relationships rather than
Sugar Maple Tree Sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum) are iconic North American trees known for their stunning fall foliage and sap used to produce maple syrup. Here are some key details about sugar maple trees: Sugar Maple Characteristics Size and Growth: Sugar maples can grow to heights of 60-75 feet, with some reaching up to