These are our biggest enemies at our house in Western Massachusetts. I wrote this up to share with my family: The reason we care about these in particular is that they do the most damage to the native plants that feed the birds, primarily because insects will eat native species […]
Natives
How to identify Trilliums versus Jack-in-the-Pulpit
The easiest thing to remember is: hey, don’t worry, because this will never come up. Trilliums are well dormant before Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) becomes interesting, and most people don’t go around dividing trilliums (you totally can though* – do it when you can find them, when they are in flower. […]
New York Ferns v. Hay-scented ferns (Fern identification Part 3)
I don’t know why I struggled with these two for so many years. Magical and soothing as they are, I think a lot of us mainly see ferns as different from flowers or trees–best viewed as an indistinct group. Oaks and maples and pine trees and birches are so distinct […]
Meet the locals: New England Ferns (Fern Identification Part 2)
Continuing to dive into the topic of fern and fern identification, since we are surrounded by them here. Knowing them better would help me know how best to use them, what circumstances they like or don’t like. Often that’s just observation – you see a fern growing near wild geraniums […]
Fern identification Part 1
Time for a sloppy dive into What’s That Fern? First, some terms that might be helpful: Frond: full structure from the ground up. Stipe: the “stem” or “stalk” on the frond that stretches from the ground to the “leaves” or pinnae (below). Petiole is sometimes used, as it is in […]
Gaywings
When we were looking at this house and walking through the 4.4 acres of “eclectic” conditions (wetland, dry infertile areas, clay soil, sandy soil, full sun in some areas, surrounded by woodland, bunch of boulders pushed around by glacial force and the whims of the builders) we walked along […]
Simple guide to tree root structures and types
….no reason, I just thought it was interesting. Above, Japanese Stewartia in fall, a heart root system I believe. The guide in question. And another post on root systems.
The uphill battle of aster identification
Asters are no longer asters, they are in the genus Symphotrichtum, unless they are Eurybia, and there are dozens of species. They are all harassed-looking daisy-types with 1/4″ or 1 1/2″ flowers, heart shaped leaves or lance-like leaves, in varying shades of murky blues and purples and whites and pinks. […]
2024 Fall Foliage highlights
A few favorites. I may add more to the post later in the season, when January and the desire to do literally anything with gardening becomes unmanageable. These are a mix of natives and non-natives. (I’m writing up some thoughts on the native/non-native plant discourse; I’ll update with a link […]