Flat Top Aster (Döellingera umbellatus) Flat-Top Aster (Döellingera umbellata) Taxonomy: Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) Genus: Döellingera Species: umbellata Common names: Flat-Top Aster, Parasol Aster. Few plants catch you off guard the way Flat-Top Aster does—especially when you find it blooming in the least expected places, like the edges of damp country roads or low-lying ditches. […]
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Plants That Repel Mosquitoes. There’s something very magical about summer evenings in the garden—until the mosquitoes show up. Luckily, nature provides elegant, fragrant solutions that keep our outdoor spaces enjoyable without resorting to chemicals. 1. Aromatic Herbs: Basil & Lemongrass. Aromatic herbs are a gardener’s best friend when it comes to natural pest control. Basil
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Best DIY Potting Soil Mix for Healthy Plants. Plants grow best in a clean, balanced strata—something that holds moisture, drains well, and offers enough nutrition for roots to explore freely. The perfect DIY potting soil blend is easy to make at home and creates the ideal environment for strong, healthy growth. The Ideal Blend: Best
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Low Maintenance Backyard Landscaping Ideas (Using Only Native Plants). If you want a backyard that’s beautiful, ecologically sound, and actually low maintenance, the secret isn’t plastic edging, dyed mulch, or constant irrigation. The secret is native plants, healthy soil, and design choices that work with nature instead of against it. When you follow the land’s
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Fiddlehead Fern: A Spring Delight in the Northeast Garden. If you spend time in Northeastern forests in early spring, you’ve probably seen them: tight green coils poking up through leaf litter, spiraling toward the sunlight. These whimsical shapes are called fiddleheads, the young growth stage of certain native ferns. They’re a seasonal signal that winter
Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium): A Wildflower of Immense Range and Culture. Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), also known as Willow Herb, is one of those remarkable native plants that seems to follow humanity and disturbance, and then heal what’s been broken. From the charred soils of post-wildfire forests to roadside gravels and glacial valleys, Fireweed is basically a
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Bluets (Houstonia caerulea): Tiny Spring Jewels in the Wild Garden. Looking for Spring through the Plants. One of the first true signs of spring in the Northeast is the quiet arrival of Bluets (Houstonia caerulea). Also called Quaker Ladies or Innocence, these tiny wildflowers are easy to miss at first. But once your eyes tune
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Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve): Beautiful, Tough, and Apparently Delicious to Bunnies. Smooth Blue Aster—formerly known as Aster laevis—is one of the loveliest late-season native wildflowers in the Northeast. With soft blue petals and a clean, upright form, it brings gentle color into the fall garden just when most blooms are fading. Bees, butterflies, and
Invasive Plants in New York: What Homeowners Need to Know (and What to Plant Instead). Landscapes in New York should be thriving, biodiverse, and full of life—but many are quietly being overrun by invasive plants. These aggressive species spread rapidly, outcompeting native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. The result is a dramatic loss of habitat for
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Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii): The Tallest Grass of the American Prairie. If you spend any time studying native meadows or tallgrass prairies, one plant demands your attention: Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Soon towering six to nine feet in ideal conditions and waving like a bronze-red ocean in late summer, this warm-season perennial grass is the
Low-Maintenance Hillside Landscaping with Native Plants (and Natural Erosion Control That Lasts). A steep slope or hillside can be one of the trickiest areas of a landscape—but it can also become one of the most beautiful. Instead of fighting erosion with constant mulching, mowing, or retaining wall repairs, a low-maintenance hillside can thrive naturally when
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Wildflowers, Butterflies + Beauty landscaping. At Jessecology Eco-Landscaping, we believe beauty is more than just surface deep. Beauty is a living, breathing collaboration between people, plants, and wildlife. Our signature blend of Wildflowers, Butterflies + Beauty is not simply landscaping—it’s habitat restoration, beautification and culture curation. A Vertically Integrated Wildflower Farm & Landscaping Firm Unlike
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Bird Gardens: Creating Safe Habitat for Our Songbird Neighbors. Bird gardens for the eco-win. If you want more birds in your yard, the recipe is simpler than most people think. Basically, it starts with habitat structure. Birds don’t feel safe in wide-open lawns or landscapes that are mostly lawn or mulch and annuals. They feel
Gardening 101: How to begin gardening with native plants. We know—gardening with native plants is exciting, but it makes some people nervous for some reason. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your new garden and thinking, “Wait… is everything okay out there?”—you’re not alone. Let’s walk through some of the most common concerns we
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How to get rid of ticks on your property. How to Get Rid of Ticks on Your Property. There’s nothing quite like time spent outdoors—exhilarating, grounding, and good for the soul. But in the Northeast, many of us share one persistent worry: how to reduce tick exposure—preferably to zero. After nearly two decades of organic
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Sycamore Tree (Platanus occidentalis) The American Sycamore Tree (Platanus occidentalis) is one of North America’s most distinctive native trees—known for its mottled bark, immense size, and rich cultural history. Sycamore Tree: Botanical Review. The American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) is among the largest deciduous trees native to North America. Its patchy, camouflage-like bark peels to reveal
The Sycamore London Plane Tree History. Tree Literacy. Beginning to build some tree literacy is a thrill every novice naturalist should presently experience. Certainly, spotting an American Sycamore in the wild is a great first step. But guess again — if you’re in an urban area of the U.S., there’s a good chance what you’re
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Plant Wildflower Seeds in Fall. Planting Wildflower Seeds in Fall. Plant wildflower seeds in fall to imitate natural rhythms and cooperate with the earth itself. Fall is nature’s perfect planting season—especially for wildflowers. While many gardeners hang up their boots and shovels as the days shorten, the natural world is just beginning a quiet, powerful
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Aster: an Introduction to the Genus. When most spring + summer garden flowers have faded, native Asters take center stage—bursting into bloom in late summer and early fall just when pollinators need them most. These specifically cheerful, star-like blossoms paint fields and gardens in shades of violet, lavender, blue, pink and white. Finally, Asters in
Fast Growing Native Trees for New York Landscapes. “What are the fast growing trees?” When homeowners dream of shade, a future canopy layer, and wildlife support in their yard, the question often comes up: “What trees grow fast?” Luckily, there are many native species that balance quick growth with ecological integrity—offering habitat, cooling shade, and
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