Every Green Plant

11/09/2021

Looks like classical ballet!

Art by Chris Kenny

09/09/2021

Following the migration!

IT'S BIRD MIGRATION SEASON
23 years of bird migration data from National Weather Service Doppler radars across the country serve as the basis of a Colorado State University and Cornell Lab of Ornithology model of BIRD MIGRATION. The modeling looks at predicted nighttime (i.e. "nocturnal") migratory patterns within 3 hours of local sunset and estimates 533-million birds may be on the move this evening (Sept 8)--and that the Greater Chicago area is to sit within a region of active bird migration.
Read more on the so-called "Birdcast" projections here: https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/migration-forecast-maps/

04/29/2021

Timely info on mulching!

By Larry Hodgson Mulching is one of the basic elements of “laidback gardening”. Mulch consists of a layer of usually organic matter about 3 to 4 inches (7–10 cm) thick covering the soil of a garden…

04/06/2021

Evil garlic mustard. Removing it will payoff in future years. Believe me our property was full of it years ago and now we have very little. Of course we have other challenging weeds!

Now is the Best Time to combat Garlic Mustard!
What is it? Why is it bad?
It’s easy to spot, but if you’re not sure - just crush one of the leaves in your hand and you’ll smell the distinct garlic aroma. It was originally introduced in the 1800’s as a food plant, tho some will argue the seeds simply came on settler’s boots. Where it is native : Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa, it is kept in check by 76 different kinds of insects, but here it has NO enemies! And worse - as it spreads rampantly, it exudes a chemical in its roots that prevent our native plants and saplings from growing near it. This causes suffocating damage to our forest floors and below them.
How can we help?
The best method is Manual Removal. It takes time, patience and hard labor! But the rewards are satisfying.
Pull the plants by hand - best after a rain, when the soil is moist - and get all of the long tap root. Flowers will appear in April/May (and they’re kind of pretty, don’t be fooled!). Seeds June/July. Get them BEFORE they go to seed - timing is key! This plant is viciously invasive. Mature seeds are viable in the soil for at least 5 years.
Either BURN or BAG the plants - DO NOT COMPOST!

04/02/2021

And Spring is a good time to plant!

These large, long-lived trees support more life-forms than any other trees in North America. And they’re magnificent.

03/07/2021

💙💙💙

02/12/2021

Good advice as usual

Carefully pruned houseplants actually grow better. Photo: Gardening at 58 North A guest blog by Jordan at Backyard Boss Jordan is a husband, father, writer, and long-time nature lover. When he…

02/10/2021

Great resource

Join Austin Eischeid from Austin Eischeid Garden Design and Jens Jensen from Jensen Ecology and they share how they developed compositions with local ecotype...