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Barbara Bour
Sep 25, 20241 min read
Fall Leaves? Reduce Pollution, Noise and Cost Behind. Don't Bother with All of that Blowing
Sourwood in South Orange, NJ Did you know that he hydrocarbon emissions from a half-hour of yard work with the two-stroke leaf blower are...
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Barbara Bour
Aug 9, 20241 min read
Cheap Hacks: Native Seed Mixes
I bought a North East native perennial mix from American Meadows. Seeds were planted in May in an area where we removed Forsythia. We...
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Barbara Bour
Jun 7, 20241 min read
Design Hacks: Looking for Small Interesting Native Shrubs -- Check Out Virginia Sweetspire
Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) looks best when it gets a bit of shade, although it will grow well almost anywhere.
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Barbara Bour
Jun 6, 20241 min read
Design Hacks: Natives for Dry Shade - Indian Pink
Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica) very well in dry shade and works well with other dry shade plants such as native sedges, wild ginger...
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Barbara Bour
Jun 1, 20241 min read
Habitat Hack: This is Actually OK
Bit of nibbling is a good thing. This native redbud has fed some caterpillar, who in turn may have been fed to a baby bird. "If your...
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Barbara Bour
May 9, 20241 min read
Habitat Hacks: Bucket of Doom Mosquito Control. Save Money, Pollinators and Fireflies
Did you know that the main ingredient in residential Mosquito Sprays are insecticides known as pyrethrins. Pyrethrins are derived from...
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Barbara Bour
May 9, 20241 min read
Design Hacks: Flame Azalea
Looking for an alternative to the same old stuff; Boxwood, Arborvitae, Skip Laurels. May I recommend Flame Azaleas (Rhododendron...
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Barbara Bour
Apr 30, 20241 min read
Habitat Hack: I Little Weed in Your Lawn is a Good Thing
I am envious of my neighbor's healthy lawn because there is so much American Violet in it. I an envious of another nearby lawn because it...
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Barbara Bour
Apr 21, 20241 min read
Design Hacks: Redbud and Dogwood at Peak Bloom
I love native spring bloom trees. There are many good choices. Eastern Redbud, Florida Dogwood, Serviceberry, Crab Apple are excellent...
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Barbara Bour
Apr 21, 20241 min read
Design Hack: For Visual Interest, Mix it Up
Epimedium and Japanese Forest Grass
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Barbara Bour
Apr 21, 20241 min read
Design Hacks: For Visual Interest, Mix it Up
Brunnera and Ostrich Ferns work well together
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Barbara Bour
Apr 21, 20241 min read
Maintenance Hacks: Mulch Harms Trees
Someone spent time and money mulching a city tree with a raised bed. This will harm the tree over time. Trees do not need mulching and if...
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Barbara Bour
Feb 29, 20241 min read
Habitat Hacks: Save Money, Time, and Beneficial Insects. Don't Bother with the Blowing
The start of warm weather brings the roar and pollution of gas fired leaf blowers. Did you know that blowing is not only a waste of...
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Barbara Bour
Jan 27, 20241 min read
Design Hack: Plant Trees
Have you noticed that there are less trees in your neighborhood? Have you noticed how much hotter it is without trees? A recent analysis...
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Barbara Bour
Sep 20, 20231 min read
Habitat Hacks: Want Fireflies? Leave the Leaves
Fireflies are having a moment in the media. Which has been great for these enchanting bugs. However much of the coverage has been about...
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Barbara Bour
Jul 19, 20231 min read
Plant Hacks: Native Shrubs -- Bottlebrush Buckeye
Native shrubs tend to be forgotten in the native plant conversations. Bottlebrush Buckeye and other large native shrubs provide...
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Barbara Bour
Jul 6, 20231 min read
Design Hacks: Mix of Different Types of Plants Creates Interest
These beds are intentionally crowded with native perennials mixed with a few large shrubs that provide structure
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Barbara Bour
May 15, 20231 min read
Design Hacks: Reduce Weeding and Mulching--Crowd Your Plants
Did you know that you can eliminate all of the spring mulching and reduce weeding by crowding you plants. If you plant plenty of them and...
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Barbara Bour
Apr 1, 20233 min read
Organic Lawn Care for Busy People: Lawn To Do List Spring
Lawn chemicals, synthetic fertilizer and blowing are causing environmental problems, impacting our health, and interfering with soil...
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Barbara Bour
Feb 24, 20231 min read
Winter Hacks: Winter is Excellent Time for Tree Maintenance
Our trees are the hardest workers in our yards. They cool, they soak up storm water and they bring joy. To keep them as long as possible...
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