Author name: Jesse Peters

New York Ironweed: Natural gardens in Saratoga, NY with native plants like NY Ironweed.

NY Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracenis) New York Ironweed: A Bold Choice for Native Gardens New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is a must-have for anyone restoring habitat and adding stunning beauty to their landscape. This tall, sturdy plant can reach up to 7 feet. Its vivid purple blooms create a bold pop of color in late summer when […]

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Do plants have feelings? Yes, about plant things.

Do plants have feelings? The mystery intrigues gardeners, ecologists, and anyone who spends time in nature. Ancient Christian legends teach that nature did not experience the fall of man. Thus, the earth’s flora and fauna still exist in a pristine state of paradise. While plants don’t have souls like humans, they exhibit fascinating responses to

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The history of garden gnomes includes a lot of cuties.

The history of garden gnomes is whimsical and intriguing. Generally, folklore, craftsmanship, and popular culture are all spotlighted. Origins in European Folklore Garden gnomes trace their roots to European folklore, especially in Germany and Scandinavia. In these traditions, gnome-like creatures were guardians of the earth. People believed these beings brought good luck, protected buried treasure,

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Helenium is one of the prettiest fall flowering low maintenance plants that are native to New York State.

As autumn approaches, fall flowering plants that are native to New York State burst into vibrant color. These native species provide essential late-season nectar for pollinators and enhance the beauty of gardens, parks, and natural spaces. Consider adding these fall flowering plants that are native to New York State to your garden. New England Aster

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Silver Maple tree canopies are enormous.

Silver Maple Trees in New York: A Beautiful Tree with a Complex Legacy Silver Maples (Acer saccharinum) are undeniably stunning trees. Their silvery bark, massive trunks, and glossy leaves shimmer in the sunlight. Contrary to some misconceptions, Silver Maples are indeed native to New York State and much of the eastern United States. They thrive

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Forest gardening is for the birds.

Forest Gardening Forest gardening is a revolutionary approach to sustainable landscaping that mimics the natural structure of a forest. By carefully layering plants, from towering trees to ground-hugging herbs, a forest garden creates a self-sustaining ecosystem. Not only does this method provide food, but it also nurtures wildlife, conserves water and enhances soil health. A

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ECOS pollinator garden kit: Wildflowers for shade.

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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Our Monarch Butterfly Garden Kit is available for purchase now!

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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The majestic Red Maple tree is super native.

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

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Urban gardening is a delightful oasis in a jungle of concrete.

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

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A Elfin butterfly on Rattlesnake Master native plant in the butterfly nurseries.

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 includes welcoming birds.

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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Organic bug spray, DIY.

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 trees are beautiful and eco-beneficial.

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

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Plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds are native species.

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 is a question a lot of Rose lovers are asking.

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 should include bushy wildflowers.

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 considers mineral problems in soils.

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 are often brightly colored.

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 gardening is not for sissies.

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

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