Picking the right trees for carbon sequestration is a good step to take in creating a Landscape that does more than look pretty. In this post, we will begin a 3 Part Series showing an ecological mixed landscape bed design by selecting trees to sequester CO2 and support wildlife at a high level. … [Read more...]
Landscaping for your grandchildren
Your idea of landscaping for your grandchildren probably includes having a play and lawn area for running around and sports, as well as the usual goals of having a beautiful and low maintenance landscape. Those goals are no longer enough....not if you care about what your grandchildren will be inheriting. We are borrowing the land from future generations, even that yard you think is yours and yours alone, so you are indeed landscaping for your grandchildren whether you think about it or … [Read more...]
Pollinator Garden Plan with Plant Descriptions
Today lets look at a pollinator garden plan I put together. This is decent sized garden approximately 12' wide by 8' deep in the form of an oval. It is for an area with medium to drier soil moisture that gets over 6 hours of sun. We will be using Prairie plants that are especially attractive to pollinators for our planting palette. … [Read more...]
Backyard with a Prairie and a Pond Part 2
Last post, I started a backyard landscape design with a Prairie and a Pond. Today, we finish it by adding shrubs, perennials and accessories. … [Read more...]
Ecological Landscape Design with a Prairie and a Pond Part 1
Today, we start a backyard Ecological Landscape Design with a theme, a prairie and pond. This should be fun, as we are going to put together a design with a strong form and a lot of plants. This design would provide a ton of ecological value compared to the existing lawn that is currently at this site. Not only will the backyard have a small prairie, but we will retain a large portion of lawn as this family has kids and wants a large play area. … [Read more...]
A (mostly) Native Perennial Plug Planting Twelve Months Later
Last year, I posted about a new perennial plug planting I did in June of 2016. In that post, Planting Plugs is a Cheap and Easy Way to Plant a Landscape, I showed how a 300 sq ft perennial bed could be prepared and planted using less work and money. … [Read more...]
Planting Plugs is a Cheap and Easy Way to Plant a Landscape
Why is planting plugs instead of larger plants in a landscape often a better idea? Let's start planting the landscape design for my backyard and I'll show you. Since I am a gardener and not a landscaper, we will be installing this design over time. Why have all the fun at once when it can be spread over the years. If I was a landscaper, I would want you to buy the largest (most expensive) plant possible, certainly not plugs! … [Read more...]
12 Perennials for Attracting Butterflies in the Midwest
Nothing brings life to a garden like well, life. You know the birds and the bees and the like. Let's get some of that life in your yard by planting some of the very best perennials for attracting Butterflies in the Midwest. … [Read more...]
Using plant associates to find native plant ideas
This year, I added the native plant Canadian ginger as a ground cover to my yard. Today, I would like to show you one way you could find other native plants that would naturally go with it. To do this, I am going to go to a trusted resource on native plants in my area, The fourth edition of Plants of the Chicago Region. I picked up this encyclopedia of native plants for my area this Spring at a Natural landscaping seminar I attended. This is on the shelf of every ecologist, as well as … [Read more...]
Plants for your Nature Inspired Garden: How to Find
Today, I will show you how to identify plants for your nature inspired garden. Last post, I showed you how to use Land Cover Viewer to find out the name of the types of natural areas near you. We will take that information and use it to find plants for your landscape. … [Read more...]