reBlogged to natives

Posted by Country Gardener Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-09-02, 05:46:52

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At the Maryland Native Plant Society meeting last night there was an open forum discussion of native gardening versus regular home gardening. I kept quiet as ridiculous statements were made such as "home gardeners only do it for themselves, while native gardeners do so for the betterment of the world" and "native gardening is morally better to do than other forms." Yes, that's right folks. By planting roses, apple trees, and garlic, you are going to burn in the fires of Hades. Shame, shame on you for wanting to feed your family, commune with nature, beautify the world, experiment, get some exercise, socialize with others, stop your hills from eroding, or one of the hundreds of other reasons we all garden outside of the natives-only palette. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by WashingtonGardener Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-07-31, 06:08:13

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Solomon?s Seal plants are North American natives -- I see them all the time out in the New England woods. Marie Iannotti notes that Solomon?s Seal plants pair well with...

reBlogged to natives on May 23, 2008, 12:22AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-05-24, 06:57:34

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The foliage of some of the evergreen gingers can get a little ratty looking with our winters here in Iowa, especially if there is poor snow cover. However Asarum minor (a native of the SE United states) snaps its fingers at winter, and always looks great. It looks even better when its large, spotted flowers appear in spring. With many of the gingers you about have to dig around at the base of the plant to find the flowers. Asarum minor is kind of unique in that you can actually see the flowers when you're just walking by on the path. If I were to have only one ginger, this would be it. I should mention that its growth rate is also just about perfect: some gingers like the deciduous ones are quite rampant, and very difficult to weed out; some of the Asian evergreen gingers just sit there and never seem to grow. Asarum minor's growth is like the third bear... just right.

reBlogged to natives

Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-05-13, 06:47:58

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Once these stunning plants were only found in wild prairie gardens, native plant gardens or other specialized themed gardens. Now many are part of mixed borders!

reBlogged to natives on May 7, 2008, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-05-08, 05:09:36

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Over the weekend I noticed the ditch near the road had turned blue. I don't know how I missed these last year because the entire roadside is covered with them.

A few minutes with the wildflower books told me that they're Salvia lyrata, maybe a bit weedy (but native!) and hummingbirds will sip from them. And while I was sitting on the deck looking this up, a hummingbird came by to investigate some arugula that had started to flower but soon left in search of something better. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-05-06, 06:55:22

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Over the weekend I noticed the ditch near the road had turned blue. I don't know how I missed these last year because the entire roadside is covered with them.

A few minutes with the wildflower books told me that they're Salvia lyrata, maybe a bit weedy (but native!) and hummingbirds will sip from them. And while I was sitting on the deck looking this up, a hummingbird came by to investigate some arugula that had started to flower but soon left in search of something better. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-05-06, 06:55:22

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reBlogged to invasives natives

Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to invasives, natives on 2008-05-01, 06:07:08

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by gardenmoma Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-30, 06:22:43

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-29, 06:42:20

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Gardening with native plants from the west and southwest.

reBlogged to natives on Apr 1, 2008, 2:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-18, 18:03:15

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Gardening with native plants of the west and southwest.

reBlogged to natives on Apr 1, 2008, 2:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-18, 18:03:07

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As much as I get on my soapbox about killing invasive plants and going native, there's been actually very little progress in practicing what I preach. I planted a native fern and shrub last fall, and I'm pleased the fern is coming back and the shrub is still alive. . . .

reBlogged to natives invasives

Posted by Nelumbo Reblogged by Old Roses to invasives, natives on 2008-04-08, 17:55:37

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reBlogged to natives on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-04, 06:38:18

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Among the earliest of the spring flowers is the erythronium. For some time now, I have had the “pagoda” and the dens-canis, but last fall I planted a species erythronium that is native to our region: the revolutum, a white variety. I have a beautiful image of it in my wildflower calendar, but I’m too lazy to scan it, so this is from Brent and Becky’s. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-04-01, 18:14:57

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Amy Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-03-12, 00:13:20

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I am very proud of my friend Cheryl for finding this website for sustainably buying native orchid seedlings. This is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me excited about gardening—new challenges. Neither of us would even try if we had to pay $50 and up for these but we’re willing to roll the dice (as a Rant commenter put it) for some reasonably-priced seedlings. If they do naturalize, that might be too good to be true. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by EAL Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-03-07, 06:14:04

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In 1878, Sherman Stowell sold to Elizabeth Brockett 30 acres of land which he had earlier purchased from George Jennings. I now live and garden with my family on some of that land, which Jennings or...

reBlogged to natives on Mar 4, 2008, 2:51PM

Posted by Kathy Purdy Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-03-05, 05:38:55

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Most of you know that I like native plants and use them in my garden, although not exclusively. For many years I have also belonged to a society that promotes native plants. I got a letter the other day from someone in the society. It seems it is undergoing a bit of an [...]

reBlogged to natives on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-01-16, 18:25:58

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2008-01-10, 18:17:35

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The Uses Of Wild Plants is a unique new book on the uses of the wild plants of North America. Covering the uses and cultivation of more than 1200. . .

reBlogged to natives on Dec 11, 2007, 7:11AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-12-13, 00:23:41

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Elizabeth Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-12-04, 00:24:55

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-12-04, 00:24:48

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As we in the US are getting ready to commemorate the Pilgrims' harvest (which they might not have had without help from the natives), another helpful native is brightening up the woods with its late flowers.

I started looking for the flowers of our native Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) beside a walking trail in our neighborhood in late October. The buds were showing color then, but none were open. When I went back last week, it was in full bloom. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by Entangled Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-11-22, 00:57:28

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reBlogged to natives on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-11-04, 00:26:39

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Stumped on a native plant identification question? If you have digital photos, you can ask the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center staff for help in naming your plant.

reBlogged to natives tools on Oct 23, 2007, 4:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives, tools on 2007-10-25, 00:24:21

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Just got back from a three-day symposium on native plants and prairies in Georgetown, Texas, jointly sponsored by the Native Plant Society of Texas and the Native Prairie Association of Texas. Over 400 people attended the event which was chock-full of great speakers and great ideas, about which I will have more to say later. . .

reBlogged to natives on Oct 22, 2007, 10:37AM

Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-10-24, 00:30:44

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I was so impressed by photos of the strawberry bush, Euonymus americanus on several blogs, Tangled Branches Cultivated October 6, 2007 post, Rurality October 2, 2007 post and Ledge and Gardens October 10, 2007 post, I looked for an online nursery to purchase the plant and found the Shooting Star Nursery which specializes in native plants. . . .

reBlogged to nursery natives shrubs

Posted by Ki Reblogged by Old Roses to natives, nursery, shrubs on 2007-10-24, 00:16:09

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reBlogged to natives on Dec 31, 1969, 6:59PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-10-18, 06:41:33

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Here's a good deal you might consider this fall or next spring. A new plant program called "American Beauties" is being produced by one of the. . .

reBlogged to natives on Sep 24, 2007, 9:45AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-09-25, 18:44:18

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The Museum of Science in Ft Worth is going to be remodeled, and the native plant garden along the east side of the building is going to be torn out. Beginning today, the plants are available to anyone who wants to try to rescue them.

We were there just last week to see the Star Wars exhibit with our grand-daughter and I snapped a few pictures of the garden. The garden is long and very narrow, sandwiched between a street and a parking lot, with a zig-zagging path through the middle of it. There are supposedly five different regions of Texas represented but there is not much noticeable differences.

reBlogged to natives on Sep 12, 2007, 1:01PM

Posted by Bill Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-09-14, 18:40:24

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-08-31, 06:42:18

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Today, from Treehugger.com. The city of Toronto ripped out a woman’s native plant garden, in the parking strip. No warning. And she is the former prez of the North American Native Plant Society.

This kind of thing makes me nuts. The Larry Craig thing just has me cackling. No, I didn’t vote for the goofball. But I am now going to hang my laundry in the front yard. There are no CCNR’s (codes/restrictions/covenants for a neighborhood). My ‘hood predates that. And I am gonna get me some chickens, too. And start growing squarsh and melons in my front plot.

reBlogged to natives on Aug 29, 2007, 8:44PM

Posted by Mary Ann Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-08-31, 06:30:50

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My best advice, is to plant what is native to your area. Even though I knew this, I "had" to plant a lilac for sentimental reasons, and although I . . .

reBlogged to natives on Aug 18, 2007, 10:29AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-08-20, 00:27:53

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Q: I was looking at ground covers and saw the label "Stepables. " I'd like to use some of these, like blue star creeper, to replace grass...

reBlogged to natives on Jun 6, 2007, 5:00AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-06-07, 19:11:22

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reBlogged to natives

Posted by Xris Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-23, 06:30:09

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This is Part 2 of my tour through the Art Goes Wild exhibit at Garden in the Woods, designed by W. Gary Smith. (Part 1 is here.)

Floating Gardens

In this display, floating islands of native wetland plants are arrayed like stepping stones among the lily pads. I'm really looking forward to seeing how these look later in the season when the plants are in bloom.

The islands are made of a porous recycled plastic and filled with soil. The plants' roots will grow through the plastic and down into the water, helping to clean the pond by absorbing excess nutrients. Gary was thrilled to see the wildlife enjoying the islands. In fact, a duck has already built a nest and laid her eggs on the third island, so we will be looking forward to having ducklings in the pond. . .

reBlogged to natives on May 21, 2007, 10:21PM

Posted by Leslie Turek Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-22, 18:43:34

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Art Goes Wild, a new exhibit at the Garden in the Woods, celebrates the 75th anniversary of the garden. Landscape Architect W. Gary Smith has designed a series of installations that use native plants in new and different ways. The exhibits will be in place until the garden closes at the end of October, and many of them will grow and change as the season progresses.

Last week, Gary was kind enough to conduct a tour for the volunteer guides to explain his thoughts about the exhibit and answer some of the questions we thought visitors might have. Here is Gary with marketing director Debra Strick and volunteer coordinator Bonnie Drexler.

reBlogged to natives on May 20, 2007, 9:24PM

Posted by Leslie Turek Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-21, 18:45:01

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Here Mom. I shot this Yellow Lady's Slipper just for you. I was at the Daniel Boone Native Gardens on Friday and when I saw these orchids in bloom I thought of you and the little glass slippers you collect. As I inched my way around the rare blooms I got my sneakers and britches soaked with the morning's dew. I felt like I was six years old again picking a bouquet of Bachelor's Buttons for you from the field off of Green Rd. Remember? Anyway. . . .

reBlogged to natives on May 13, 2007, 10:10AM

Posted by Marie Freeman Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-15, 06:23:47

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GREEN THUMB SUNDAY

Grevilleas rule,they grow so well and flower all year(at least mine do),this little fello is Sea Spray and I think it goes by the name of Chinese Lanten too.

A close up of the flowers,when if full flower they seem to hang like lantens too,small but very effective,hardy and just big enough to make an impact. . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by Sometimes Unwilling Guru Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-15, 06:21:07

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Lewisia cotyledon
It has been a very bloomful spring here at Cactus Blog.

reBlogged to natives flowers on May 9, 2007, 12:00PM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to flowers, natives on 2007-05-10, 17:26:28

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Have you been to Calflora? It's a database of California native plants and the nurseries around the state that carry them. It's a good resource for all those native plants you've been asking about. Don't be coy with me, I know you've been asking...

reBlogged to natives on May 9, 2007, 10:59AM

Posted by blog@cactusjungle.com (cactusblog) Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-10, 17:26:18

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NATIVE or ASIAN?
In the beginning there was Cornus florida, the lovely dogwood native to the eastern United States.  I was raised to revere this plant - Virginia's state tree and flower - so when I bought my home here in Maryland, I was delighted with the 12 dogwoods that came with it.

Until trouble came to paradise in the form of a nasty fungal disease called anthracnose that's killed half of them - so far.  My tack has been to buy only the disease-resistant and more drought-tolerant Korean dogwoods (Cornus kousa) or hybrids with the natives, and they're all thriving. . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by Susan Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-06, 15:58:06

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There are certain plants I'm just crazy about, but I can't quite explain why. Our native wildflower blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) is one of them; it is subtle to the point of being invisible in the deep woods where it likes to grow... it is uncommon, but not yet threatened, yet I doubt one person in a hundred can say they've seen it. It almost always grows on cool, north-facing wooded slopes, and its foliage is as cool as its surroundings; lovely blue-green, heavy and waxy foliage in layered mounds. The flowers as seen above are inconspicuous, but they are replaced by blue berries. . . .

reBlogged to natives

Posted by IBOY Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-05, 00:47:45

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Thanks to Australian textile artist India Flint for this account of her latest work: costuming the dancers in a new ballet using silks and home grown wools, scented and colored with local plants. Bravo, India!

Originally posted by Julie

reBlogged to natives on May 3, 2007, 12:28AM

Posted by Reblogged by Old Roses to natives on 2007-05-04, 00:44:08

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