Pollinator Garden Kits. Unquestionably, nonprofits in NYS are doing a lot of volunteer work on behalf of the environment right now. Obviously, it’s an exciting time to work in the green industry. We were delighted to be approached by the Niskayuna based Environmental Clearinghouse this summer for a successful collaborative effort. Jessecology’s Pollinator Garden Kits […]
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Monarch Butterfly Garden Creating the Perfect Monarch Butterfly Garden: Beyond Milkweed Monarch butterflies are one of the most beloved pollinators in our gardens. Of course, they are famous for their epic migration and striking orange and black color schema. To support these beautiful creatures, many people plant Milkweed (Asclepias sp.), which is the essential larval
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Red Maple Tree. Understanding the Differences Between Native and Introduced Red Maples: A Guide for Habitat Restoration The Red Maple tree (Acer rubrum) is indeed a native species in the United States, known for its vibrant red foliage in the fall and adaptability to a variety of soils and climates. These trees are an integral
Urban Gardening: Transforming City Spaces with Native Plants Urban gardening is more than just a trend—it’s a movement that’s transforming concrete jungles into vibrant green spaces. For city dwellers with limited access to nature, creating an urban garden offers a unique opportunity to connect with the environment, promote biodiversity, and improve well-being. What’s so special
Butterfly Nurseries. Butterfly Nurseries: Healing the Ecosystem One Garden at a Time Imagine transforming your yard into a sanctuary where butterflies thrive, and the environment begins to heal itself. With a “butterfly nursery” in your garden, you can do just that. This concept goes beyond simply planting a few flowers—it’s about creating a habitat that
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Tick Prevention for Yard. Tick Prevention for Yard: 8 Steps. There is nothing quite like time spent enjoying the outdoors. Exhilarating. But many of us in the northeast have one nagging fear about time in nature and that is, “how do we reduce our tick exposure? Preferably to zero?” After almost 2 decades of organic
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Natural Tick Repellent. Making your own natural tick repellent to use during gardening is extremely easy. It’s inexpensive too. You have the choice of different essential oil brands, some of them are more or less pricey. If your plan for using your blend mostly involves spraying your clothing and shoes before gardening, do you really
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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
Plants That Attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds If you hope to attract floating creatures to your garden, you’ll want to select native species for all plants, shrubs, trees and grasses you add. All things considered; simple attraction isn’t enough. Certainly, offering support for butterflies and hummingbirds entire lifecycles needs to be considered. Although there are millions
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Do Deer Eat Roses? Yes, let’s cut to the chase: deer eat roses. Because of course they do. But that’s the good news- now you don’t have to plant roses. All of a sudden, you’re freed up to do something much cooler in your garden space! Basically, there are much more interesting perennials than Roses. Additionally, most
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Landscaping for Privacy Basically, if you’re lucky, you’ll have awesome neighbors. People who live right near you that you can share space and joy with are a blessing from God. Neighborhood barbecues and tea shared on the porch with people you actually like are amazing gifts. It’s not always that way. Additionally, even folks who
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Permaculture Design: When Weeds Talk. Continued from the invasive plant series. Part I. II. III. 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 soil quality instead. This is
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Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies Blooms for the Buzz: Native Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies In the world of eco-landscaping, few things bring more joy than seeing hummingbirds and butterflies fluttering around your garden. These pollinators not only add a dynamic, vibrant element to your space but also play a crucial role in
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Pine Tree Gardens A recent rainy Monday found us on a break near a Pine Forest in the Albany Pinebush Nature Preserve. This nature preserve is a 2-minute walk from the garden we were working in; a 10-minute drive from downtown Albany and 20 minutes from Saratoga. This particular wildlife habitat is a sister site
Rewild Lawns. The push to rewild lawns is happening spontaneously as the wild spirit of humans awakens. Rewilding is a wonderful and relaxed form of land management that anyone with plant literacy and land can practice. Essentially it boils down to removing any invasive plants and letting the natural seed bank express itself. Rewilding is
In the northeastern US, having a butterfly garden is one of the finest life experiences possible. We need more open spaces where sun-loving butterflies can make their living. Forests cover much of the northeast. Butterflies prefer open meadows and gardens where they can sunbathe. Some people like to research how to build their own butterfly
Lemon Grass Tea. Lemon Grass Tea is popular for various reasons. Medical research does not indicate that using this tea results in any benefits. Nevertheless, people seem to love it. But should they? Of course, Thai food is amazing. Undeniably, the zing in Thai food from zesty Lemongrass is a highlight to the cuisine. Undoubtedly
Monarch Butterfly Plants Certainly, Monarch butterfly plants are Milkweed (Asclepias) species if referring to the butterfly host plant. The adult, female butterflies can only lay eggs on Milkweed plants. Monarch larvae (caterpillars) require Asclepias species foliage to survive. Over millennia the butterfly species has adapted to tolerate the specific toxic stew of the Milkweed plant’s
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Benefits of Native Plants: Why use native plants? Top 5 Benefits of Native Plants. Biodiversity: Planting native species helps to support and enhance local biodiversity. Natives provide food and habitat for a variety of insects, birds, and other wildlife species that are adapted to your region. By creating a diverse and balanced ecosystem in your
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Wildflower Seed Sowing Instructions. To be sure: you’ve asked and now we’re responding. Here are the wildflower seed sowing instructions you need to grow native plants at home! To begin with, you will want a 5-gallon bucket and some organic compost or topsoil for best results. Put your compost or soil in the bucket. Pour
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