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Habitat Hacks: Doug Tallamy - If You Plant Natives, Native Insects will Show Up
This caterpillar showed up on Virginia Creeper Vine last summer. It may be Virginia Creeper Sphinx (Darapsa myron). Doug Tallamy's books...
Barbara Bour
Jan 9, 20231 min read
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Camassia quamash, an Underutilized Bulb.
Camassia is an under utilized bulb that is native to North West and Southern Canada
Barbara Bour
May 12, 20221 min read
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Leave it....
Save yourself needless Fall busy work. It is perfectly OK to leave seed pods, hydrangea blooms and grasses for the winter. They provide...
Barbara Bour
Dec 15, 20211 min read
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Design & Habitat Hacks: Adding Native Plants to Your Yard is Easier than You Think
Adding native plants, shrubs and trees to your yard is easier than you think and important to supporting habitat and addressing climate...
Barbara Bour
Jul 26, 20212 min read
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Design and Habitat Hacks: Trees are and Important Part of Suburban Landscape Design
Trees are often neglected in garden & landscape design. They provide comfort as our yards are getting too hot to be enjoyed in full sun....
Barbara Bour
May 5, 20211 min read
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Design Hacks: Garden Design for a Small Home
Mix of Shrubs of various sizes and Perennials. Limited by tidy lawn as negative space.
Barbara Bour
Mar 14, 20211 min read
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Design Hacks: Garden for a Small Home
Design for small front yards. Been working on this property, making small adjustments every year by replacing over scaled shrubs with...
Barbara Bour
Mar 14, 20211 min read
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Plant Hacks: My Favorite Native Weeds, White Snakeroot
White Snakeroot is an aggressive spreader, part shady. Blooms in September. White Snakeroot is known as the plant that poisoned Abraham...
Barbara Bour
Sep 23, 20201 min read
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Plant Hacks: My Favorite Native Weeds, Wood Aster
Wood Aster, Eurybia divaricata), appears sporadically in part to full shade areas. Blooms in September.
Barbara Bour
Sep 23, 20201 min read
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Plant Hacks: My Favorite Native Weeds, Devil's Beggars Ticks
Devil's Beggars Ticks. Appears sporadically in sunny areas. Blooms July-Sept.
Barbara Bour
Sep 23, 20201 min read
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Plant Hacks: My Favorite Native Weeds, Mist Flower
Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum). Blooms in late Aug. Spreads aggressively in sunny to part shade.
Barbara Bour
Sep 23, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: The Power of Large & Vertical in Plant Design
Add visual interest and habitat support with variety of sizes and shapes with trees and large shrubs.
Barbara Bour
Aug 11, 20201 min read
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Plant Hacks: My Favorite Native Weeds - Cup Flower (Silphium perfoliatum)
Planted seeds several years ago. Cup flower has found its way to several places in my property where I let it go.
Barbara Bour
Aug 11, 20201 min read
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The Future of Dry Basements is Green
A recent tropical storm dumped over three inches of rain in a single day. I watched much of it flood impervious streets, storm drains and...
Barbara Bour
Jul 11, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: Support Habitat and Reduce Work by Planting in Layers & Densely
Planting layers of plants and planting densely reduces maintenance and better supports habitat. Here area is anchored by large shrubs...
Barbara Bour
Jul 9, 20201 min read
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Plant Hacks: Native Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Supports Pollinators and Beneficial Insects
Butterfly weed feeds pollinators and beneficial insects including Monarchs. Butterfly weed enjoys full sun.
Barbara Bour
Jul 9, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: Common Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), Large Native Shrub
I love large shrubs. This Ninebark adds structure and full season interest to the garden and provide great bird habitat.
Barbara Bour
Jun 9, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: Vintage Native Shrubs Worth Saving - Mountain Laurel
Native Mountain Laurels (Kalmia latifolia) like this were planted when many of our homes where built. Unfortunately many have been...
Barbara Bour
Jun 9, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: Vintage Natives are Worth Saving - Rosebay Rhododendron
Native Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) were planted when many of our homes where built. Unfortunately many have been removed and...
Barbara Bour
Jun 8, 20201 min read
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Design Hacks: Aiming for Perpetual Bloom - Late May
Bearded Iris (Iris croatica) and Catmint (Nepeta) False Indigo (Baptisia australis), native
Barbara Bour
May 28, 20201 min read
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