Learn Do Thrive

11/18/2022

Likely the last before and after shots of the year: Gladwyne Library Memorial Garden.
The addition of the free pine needles as mulch gave the beds this beautiful warm color. Leave the pine needles under the trees where they fall, or if you must clean up from driveway or walkways, use needles as an alternative to wood-based mulches.

The sedums under the eave seem to be doing well, even grown some already. Better than the w**ds and bare soil that covered that area before.

10/18/2022

Are you a novice gardener? Have difficulty keeping things alive, or what to prune, when to plant? Or why your garden looks less "put together" than you'd like? This class tomorrow, Tuesday Oct 18 night at 7 pm at Lower Merion High School is for you. It will cover many topics and give tips I wish all gardeners knew. Including how to chose quality nursery stock and why not to buy this one

https://courses.mainlineschoolnight.org/wconnect/ace/ShowSchedule.awp?&Search=INSTRUCTOR&Target=NDA5MDM2NDQxcGlq&Title=Courses+Taught+by+Orsolya+Lazar

10/12/2022

I a pretty happy with this bed at the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. Installed it last spring with the help of FOCHT volunteers and provided a management plant for the group to use as a reference. We used "assertive" natives to compete with the existing aggressive/invasive perennials and with all the unknown in the seedbank. The goals were to make the railing accessible (removed switchgrass from the edges), provide four-season interest, and inspire others to shift towards more sustainable and wildlife friendly land management. Pictures from end of May and October.

10/01/2022

Redone the foundation planting a few years ago. It was time now to replace the overgrown hedge along the street front and create a bed that complements this beautiful home.

Pictures from before and after.

09/28/2022

Beautiful fall colors with a mix of natives and exotics, some planted, some volunteers: Colchicum, aromatic aster, white wokd aster, Golden Fleece goldenrod, and white snakeroot. Pollinators live this fall buffet.

06/25/2022

06/24/2022

06/22/2022

Not all plants that support pollinators are glamorous. Most people would call this native honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis) a w**d and pull it. It looks somewhat similar to the invasive goutw**d, but has even smaller flowers and is much better behaved.

It is the host plant for black swallowtail butterflies. Maybe plant less dill and parsley, and just let the honewort be if you see it popping up in your garden.

06/20/2022

No better way to start this beautiful day than getting a call from a thankful client saying I saved a life.

It was a plant's life. But still... it is worth saving. 💚

06/02/2022

Garden checkup (similar to well child visit or annual physical) of two gardens installed last year. A back yard where grass was eloliminated and turned into a native garden. The other is the bed at the Trail End's cafe with more challenges, invasives, but looking good. And next year will be even better!

05/19/2022

A well-informed customer is a happy one. They can avoid paying for unnecessary or bad quality work. These are just a few examples of questionable practices.