The Grounded Blog
Newsletters
Natural Garden News from Grounded – November 9
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Right plant, right place If you want a Grounded garden… How I take inspiration from nature’s patterns Some British naturalistic gardens (autumn eye candy) Haliburton deer: Lessons and hope from Lucas House New here? Start with these articles Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) This week in The Highlands From the socials I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email….
Natural Garden News from Grounded – October 12
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Planting a new world If you want a Grounded garden… Haliburton deer: Lessons and hope from Lucas House A natural shoreline garden New here? Start with these articles Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) This week at Lucas House From the socials I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email. Simon PaynGroundedEmail: hello@groundedgardens.caWeb: groundedgardens.caFollow…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – September 28
Where gardening and ecology meet; Life on the edge: an enhanced forest clearing; Good mess, bad mess? Gardening with disturbance
Natural Garden News from Grounded – September 14
The benefits of planting in fall ; Discover the versatile world of sedges; Goldenrod: the myths and the facts
Natural Garden News from Grounded – August 31
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Why naturalistic landscapes are like paintings If you want a Grounded garden… Discover the landscape design of Piet Oudolf How to landscape like nature does New here? Start with these articles Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) The latest from Lucas House (lots of pictures!) From the socials There are lots of super images in this newsletter – please allow your email software to see them! I hope you enjoy the newsletter!…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – August 17
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News What makes a garden If you want a Grounded garden… Native plants for challenging sites The virtuous cycle of joy New here? Start with these articles Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) The latest from Lucas House, From the socials
Natural Garden News from Grounded – August 3
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Plant it and they will come If you want a Grounded garden… Myths about native plants and natural gardens My shoreline helped me through Covid Native plants and natural gardens 101 Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) July at Lucas House (lots of pictures!) From the socials There are lots of super images in this newsletter – please allow your email software to see them! I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – July 20
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Slow down, see more, lose your mind If you want a Grounded garden… All about shoreline naturalization New book helps us find local native plants Are natural gardens always messy? Today’s recommended reading Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) This week down in Fenelon Falls What a difference a month makes! From the socials I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email. Simon PaynGroundedEmail:…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – July 6
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: Snow White and the billion lives; How I choose the right plants for a landscape; Your cottage landscaping is done. Now what?; A look inside my favourite book
Natural Garden News from Grounded – June 22
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: What the Highlands and plants have in common; If you want a Grounded garden…; A look at two gardens we installed this spring; How to weed native plant gardens; Today’s recommended reading; Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant); This week in the Highlands; From the socials.
Making Gardens
Some Great Naturalistic Gardens in the UK
On a recent trip to England, I took the opportunity to visit some gardens by heroes of mine. I thought you’d like to see them too – and see what I learned from them.
Using Natural Patterns in Landscape Designs
Natural patterns make a great starting point for landscape designs. Here’s why.
Haliburton Deer: Lessons and Hope From the Garden at Lucas House
Haliburton deer and gardens: it seems like they’ll never get along. But maybe there’s a way embrace our hungry friends.
A Natural Shoreline Garden
Plants can do many things. Here’s a recent shoreline project that played several roles.
Good Mess, Bad Mess: Using Disturbance in Your Landscape
Whenever we do something in our landscape, we cause disturbance. But is disturbance good or bad? The answer depends on what we want to achieve. What is disturbance? From an ecological perspective, disturbance is any event that disrupts an ecosystem. Think of a forest fire, a flood, or a storm toppling trees. Each of these…
Life on the Edge: An Enhanced Forest Clearing
Sometimes it’s not so much about starting afresh, it’s about enhancing what you already have. This is how we’re working to make something that’s already great… even better – for humans and for nature.
Discover the landscape design of Piet Oudolf
Piet Oudolf is a pioneer in naturalistic landscaping. And he’s a big inspiration for us here at Grounded. Here is a book that celebrates him.
How to Landscape Like Nature Does
How does naturalistic landscaping differ from traditional landscaping? The answer: more plants, in layers, and in a community.
Native plants for challenging sites
I often get asked to advise on native plants that are suitable for the more challenging sites. Here are some ideas.
Native Plants and Natural Gardens 101
New here? Here are the most important articles on this website about native plant gardens and shorelines.
Growing a Green Renaissance
Finding Joy in Nature and in Native Plants
Why finding the joy in nature is the key to developing interest in native plants. A local gardener is calling for more joy in our Highlands landscapes. Simon Payn, who owns Haliburton-based ecological landscaping company Grounded, says it’s time to ramp up the pleasure we get from our gardens and shorelines. “For so long, the…
My Haliburton Cottage Shoreline Helped Me Through Covid
Haliburton cottage shorelines do more than keep the lake healthy. The nature they attract keeps us feeling good too.
Gardening for the environment: ecological landscapes beautiful to us and nature
A look inside the book Garden Revolution, a beautiful inspiration for those of us who want to garden for the environment.
Native Plants Are Messy: Is That True?
Native plant gardens are messy. That’s the number one claim that people such as myself face. But are natural landscapes really an unruly tangle?
Nature’s Echo: Rediscovering Human Identity through Native Gardening
The deep, intrinsic connection with the natural world, once the bedrock of human existence, has been eroded by the pursuit of progress and convenience. This disconnection has not just scarred our planet; it has left an indelible mark on our very sense of self. Amidst this backdrop of alienation, native gardening emerges not just as a horticultural practice, but as a beacon of hope, a pathway to rediscover our true identity and reclaim our place in the natural world.
Rooted in Region: How Native Plant Gardens Foster a Sense of Place
Traditional gardens, with their often non-native and cosmopolitan plant selections, can sometimes blur regional distinctions, creating a homogenized landscape that lacks a true sense of locality. In contrast, native plant gardens offer a vibrant alternative, deeply rooted in the region’s natural heritage and ecological makeup.
Cultivating Love: The Garden’s Path to Global Compassion
In the tranquility of our gardens, amid the rustle of leaves and the hum of bees, a profound transformation unfolds. It’s a journey of the heart, where the simple act of nurturing plants becomes a pathway to cultivating a deeper love – not just for our gardens but for the entire world.
Sowing Seeds of Change: Garden Rebellion as a Model for Environmental Action
In the quiet corners of our backyards, a revolution is taking root. It’s called the garden rebellion — a movement where ordinary gardeners are transforming their manicured lawns into wild, native havens. But this movement is more than just about changing gardening practices; it’s a microcosm of the societal shifts needed to combat global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss.
Are You a Garden Rebel?
A new breed of gardener is emerging. These are the ‘garden rebels’ — individuals who are breaking away from the traditional, manicured lawns and perfectly pruned flower beds to embrace a more natural, sustainable approach to gardening.
Working with Nature, Not Against It: The Joy of Native Plant Gardening
Gardening, long viewed as a laborious battle against the whims of nature, is being reimagined. The traditional image of endless weeding, watering, and pest control is giving way to a more harmonious approach: native plant gardening. This method is a dance with nature, not a fight against it.
Bringing Back Biodiversity
Goldenrod: The Myths and the Facts
Goldenrods face two cases of mistaken identity. Let’s clear up the mess and celebrate a valuable species.
Sedges for Haliburton, Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes
Sedges don’t get much glory. They’re everywhere in Haliburton, Muskoka and Kawartha Lakes but we seldom notice them. If we do notice them, we often confuse them with grasses. It’s time to shine a light on the genus Carex. Sedge Basics What Sedges Are The Morphology of Sedges Their Habitat and Distribution Their Ecological Importance…
Kawartha Lakes native plants: New guide gives detailed lists
The Flora of Kawartha Lakes, which lists plants native to the region, is also relevant to Haliburton County’s flora.
Haliburton Shoreline Naturalization: Better for the Lake, Better for You
An in-depth look at shoreline naturalization for Haliburton County cottages: why it’s important and how to do it.
It’s OK to mow in May − the best way to help pollinators is by adding native plants
If you are interested in supporting pollinators, it is important to consider the ecological context of your yard – and #NoMowMay may not be an effective strategy.
From Pollinators to Whole Ecosystems: Expanding Our Gardening Focus
In recent years, the surge in popularity of pollinator gardens has been a heartening development for environmental enthusiasts and gardeners alike. These gardens, teeming with bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, have become symbols of ecological awareness and conservation. Yet, as we delve deeper into the realms of sustainable gardening, a broader perspective emerges, one that considers not only pollinators but the entire ecosystem.
Leave the dead plant stems!
With this scarily warm weather we’ve been having, it’s tempting to get out there and do a bit of tidying up in the garden. Please wait!
Connecting Nature: Building Wildlife Corridors with Urban Native Gardens
In the heart of urban landscapes, where concrete often overshadows greenery, wildlife corridors serve as critical lifelines. These green passages, created through thoughtful planting of native gardens, provide a refuge for urban wildlife, connecting isolated natural habitats.
Native Gardens: Your Personal Contribution to Fighting Biodiversity Loss
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, feelings of helplessness are common. Yet, there is a powerful tool within our reach to combat these global challenges: native plant gardening. This practice not only offers environmental benefits but also empowers individuals to make a tangible difference.
The Invasive Plant Problem: Origins, Impacts, and Solutions in Haliburton Gardens
In the picturesque landscape of Haliburton County, a silent challenge is lurking in gardens and landscapes: invasive plants. These uninvited guests, often brought in through ornamental gardening or accidental transport, pose a significant threat to the local ecosystem.
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