I am sitting in my office on this snowy February day, provisions on board, seeing no need to slide around the roads. The snow is clean and quiet and I think about what a day like this 250 years ago was like before the time we made drastic modifications to our landscapes. I think a… Read more »
Category: sustainable landscaping
Don’t Cut Down Your Perennials
Leave up your perennials for the winter. Insects will overwinter in any that have hollow stems. The dense undercover provides places for things to hide. And leave up seed heads that are a source of food for birds.
Integrating Rain Gardens Into Larger Landscaping Features
Most rain gardens are standalone features. Consider integrating them into the landscape as part of even larger beds. These three pictures from my house have two rain gardens integrated into a shrub border, upland perennial bed, and pond. Can you even spot the rain gardens?
Talks and Classes, Week of May 17
Rain Gardens, May 18, 7 pm, Ann Arbor Rec & Ed The Beauty of Native Plants: Their Function in Supporting Wildlife in Urban and Suburban Landscapes, May 19, 7:30 pm, Huron Valley Chapter, Sierra Club, Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The Beauty of Native Plants: Their Function in Supporting Wildlife in Urban and Suburban Landscapes, May 20,… Read more »
The Beauty Behind Snags
Trees die all the time as a result of disease, lightning, fire, animal damage, too much shade, drought, root competition, as well as old age. Dead standing trees, called snags, are highly productive sources of habitat in natural areas and designed landscapes. In our desire to keep things neat and tidy, we usually cut these… Read more »
Links to Interviews
Over the past couple years I have been interviewed on a variety of outlets. Here are links to these interviews starting with the most recent. Michigan Homes: How to Create A Socially Responsible Garden Check out my interview, How to Create A Socially Responsible Garde on Michigan Homes, one of the top sites for Michigan Realty,… Read more »
