The best soil is that found in forests. That is because the leaves act as a natural mulch, rich in organic matter which put nutrients back into the soil. The leaves are not raked out of forests and everything decomposes in time. Shredded leaves also make the best mulch for home landscapes. When leaves are shredded, they stay in place and look great, even in my more formal gardens. The natural browns of leaf mulch are much more aesthetically pleasing…
I was lucky to find these at Glick’s (Oley, PA) clearance sale last summer. Phlox divaricata is in full bloom right now and should last into May. I just took this picture a few minutes ago of my plants on this gray morning. The purple flowers seem to glow in the mornings and evenings. Do you have a part shade area that needs a ground cover? This native plant is a great choice! Here is a website list of the…
When Redbuds bloom Spring is here! You can’t help noticing this tree growing along the edge of woods and in yards. (Especially along the Penn’s Woods Trail!). At this time of the year, the flowers are a stunning pink. Cercis Canadensis is an adaptable tree to add to your own yard. I have the cultivar ‘Forest Pansy’, which I photographed yesterday, and have not had any problems. The leaves turn purple which is also very attractive. Easy to grow…
Stop volcano mulching!! Spring is approaching when you see landscaping companies spreading mulch around the beds of corporate parks and shopping centers. Unfortunately many of these landscaping companies are not educated in horticulture. The practice of mounding mulch up high around the base of the tree trunk can lead to the death of your tree. I snapped this photo of a freshly over mulched tree victim while leaving a corporate area the other day. Do you ever see trees in…
Look closely and you will see… This interesting resident was spotted under our birdbath this past October. I am always fascinated when finding a Praying Mantis blending in with the background, most often around flowers. The native species in Pennsylvania is the Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina), which is a pale green or brownish and 2-3 inches long. As I am not an expert about insects, here is information about Praying Mantis from Animal Diversity Web. Paula Ziegler is a local…