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In our area, warm autumn days can quickly give way to frosty nights, with the first fall frost usually arriving from late September to mid-October. Preparing the garden for winter means removing potential problems, protecting tender plants, enriching the soil, and preserving beneficial habitat. A thoughtful fall routine can limit disease, protect roots from freeze-thaw cycles, and set the stage for a strong garden next year. Clean Up Selectively Remove spent vegetable plants,

Do you remember when every drive seemed to leave your windshield speckled with insects? Today, that happens far less - a visible sign of insect population decline. The main drivers are habitat loss, including too few native plants, and widespread pesticide use. Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, calls this “the windshield phenomenon.” North American bird populations are also falling. Ornithologists estimate that we have lost 2

Nature is one of the greatest teachers a child can have. When children spend time outdoors, they do more than play—they explore, imagine, and build a connection with the world around them. A love of nature helps children grow into healthier, happier, and more responsible individuals. In a time when screens often occupy too much of a child’s attention, encouraging time in nature is more important than ever. Spending time in nature supports a child’s physical, emotional, and in

The most common reason a healthy, well-established flowering shrub fails to bloom is pruning at the wrong time of year. In many cases, flower buds are removed before they have a chance to open. Knowing when and how to prune helps protect next season’s blooms. Lilac pruning (timing and how) When to prune: Prune lilacs right after they finish blooming, often in early June. Do not wait too long, because lilacs begin setting next year’s flower buds soon after flowering. Late-su

Hostas are well-suited for enhancing shaded areas of a landscape, offering a variety of sizes and foliage with shades ranging from green to blue and yellow. These hardy perennials require minimal maintenance and possess longevity, making them an efficient choice for long-term garden planning. Regular division of healthy hosta plants not only promotes plant health but also facilitates cost-effective garden expansion by yielding new specimens every few years. Hostas perform opt

If you’ve observed fewer birds, particularly songbirds, over the years, there’s an important connection you should know: healthy bird populations rely on healthy caterpillar populations. Surprisingly, gardening for caterpillars is essential if you care about birds. Many people love having birds in their gardens but may unintentionally make their yards unsuitable for them. According to entomologist Doug Tallamy, birds need a large supply of caterpillars to rear their young. Fo

Creating a butterfly garden supports both butterflies and moths by offering places for them to feed and breed. Your butterfly garden doesn’t need to be large, even a few square feet can make a difference. Butterflies must bask in the sun to regulate their body temperature as they are cold blooded. Provide flat stones throughout the garden where they can rest and absorb sun and heat. Many gardeners also provide a container of wet sand or a muddy puddle where butterflies may o

Gardening has become a little confusing lately. Natives, nativars, hybrids, cultivars – what’s the difference? It is hard to know what to choose and what is best for our gardens. Let’s clear up some of these terms and understand the role these plants play in the ecosystem. What are nativars? A nativar is simply a cultivar of a native species. The words “native” and “cultivar” were fused together to refer specifically to cultivars of native species. Nativars are cultivated v

“Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with the dream.” ~Josephine Nuese in The Country Garden As the snow falls, are you dreaming about Spring? Since you can’t (or don’t choose to) get outside in your garden now, you can still do some preparation work and research to fill the cold and dreary days of winter. January is a great time to start planning and learn more abo

Bring the Outdoors Inside this Christmas With the holidays coming up, why not try decorating naturally? Instead of only purchasing decorations, you can find inspiration and materials right in your own backyard or garden. Nature provides plenty of beautiful options, like foliage, berries, dried flowers, and seedpods that can make your decor both festive and original. You can always add a few store-bought touches if you'd like, but don't forget—there is beauty just outside your