When trying to promote native plants, including wildflowers, native trees, shrubs, and more, one of the first steps is to get rid of non-native, invasive plants. Why? The privets, nandinia, amur honeysuckle, Cherokee rose, and other invasive plants often lead to mono-cultures, lack of bio-diversity, AND they crowd out — and even actively prevent —…
Lessons learned from Nature by sitting in a pawpaw patch and partnering with God, Jesus Christ, and Nature to become Earth’s partners.
Spending weekends and summers at Lake #Winneconne, WI at my Grandma’s cottage was idyllic. We would often go on walks out in nature. It was during one of those sauntering evenings of nature observation that she taught me to “always take a moment to look back where you’ve been; enjoy the view!” The other day,…
What is late blooming thoroughwart? What are the medicinal properties of late blooming thoroughwart? And how can you preserve it to use in infusions to assist with fevers and colds? Late blooming thoroughwart (aka late boneset) is a flowering plant in the aster family which is native to North America. It was known as a…
Our “spirit tree” at Spirit Tree Farms, a pre-Civil War oak that we fondly refer to as “The Old Woman of the Woods,” has produced chicken of the woods mushroom at the end of July 2022 and 2023. This year’s harvest was especially prolific. We harvested the pieces with a knife and then brought it…
Folks who have native wildflower and native plant yards are often criticized by HOAs and neighbors who think yards should be meticulously-kept lawns, regularly cut and fertilized. A recent Facebook discussion in a Native Gardening group reminded me of what had happened to me in my neighborhood in Kingsgate, King County (suburb of Seattle) in…
Add an unusual perennial wildflower to your wildflower garden that brings beauty and serves pollinators and birds throughout the year! White crownbeard wildflowers are summertime pollinator magnets throughout the eastern USA, and Spirit Tree Farms has bare root plants available! Crownbeards’ Late Summer Blooms Crownbeards — aka Verbesina virginica, wingstem, frostweed, ice flower, or frost…
Incorporating native plants into your meals can have numerous benefits for your overall wellness. Native plants are those that have naturally evolved and adapted to local environmental conditions, making them well-suited to the specific soil, climate, and other factors in their native habitats. Here are a few ways that incorporating native plants into your diet…
The world is a complex web of interconnected ecosystems, and every species plays a vital role in maintaining the health and balance of the planet. One of the most important groups of organisms in this web is insects and pollinators. To support and protect these important species, we need to start with the foundation of…
