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 —…
Ecolodges are, as Forbes Magazine says, “having a moment”. As I excitedly read about this new travel trend, I wondered if our Nature refuge at Spirit Tree Farms could qualify as an ecolodge. To be honest, I think the answer is, sadly, no. But maybe that’s a non-sequitor, macht’s nichts, question. Even with our environmental…
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…
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…
