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Natural Garden News from Grounded – May 25

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: That awkward age; Do native plant gardens have to be messy? Getting started with native plant gardening in Haliburton; Where to meet Rufus (and Simon, if you must); Today’s recommended reading; Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant); Notes from the garden at Lucas House; From the socials

Natural Garden News from Grounded – May 11

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: A message of joy and hope; New book about ecological landscaping in the Highlands; My list of books, articles and other helpful resources; Today’s recommended reading; Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant); Right now in Haliburton County; From the socials

Natural Garden News from Grounded – April 27, 2024

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: Wakey, wakey! Spring is springing!, Haliburton native plants explained, Useful gardens for those damp places, Recommended reading, Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant), Right now in Haliburton County, From the socials

Image of Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis) showing its wheat-like seed head.

Natural Garden News from Grounded – April 13, 2024

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: It starts with one plant, Exploring the groundcover layer: grasses and sedges, Finally…the book I’ve been waiting for, Recommended reading 30 native plants for Haliburton County, Right now in The Universe, From the socials.

Natural Garden News – March 30, 2024

Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: A visit to the Barbican; Ditch the mulch; plant densely; Going beyond pollinators; Recommended reading; Right now in Haliburton; From the socials

Milkweed and monarch butterly.

Natural Garden News – March 16, 2024

Leave those dead plant stems! Why I ordered plants as plugs. How native plant gardens foster a sense of place. Recommended reading. Right now in Haliburton. From the socials.

Making Gardens

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…

Forest naturalization in Haliburton County

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.

advertorial from The Highlander on How to landscape like nature does.

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.

Monarch butterfly on a Swamp Milkweed in a native plant garden.

Native Plants and Natural Gardens 101

New here? Here are the most important articles on this website about native plant gardens and shorelines.

A Pale Purple Coneflower.

Myths about Native Plants and Natural Gardens

At Grounded, we hear a lot of myths about natural gardens and the native plants they host. Here’s my personal takedown of this fake news.

Screenshot of advertorial about Haliburton Cottage Landscaping that appeared in The Highlander on June 27 2024.

Your cottage landscaping is done. Now what?

Here is an advertorial about using native plants in Haliburton cottage landscaping published in the June 27, 2024 issue of The Highlander.

Growing a Green Renaissance

Screenshot of advertorial in the Highlander, titled Here is where the joy starts.

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…

Article in The Highlander on Haliburton cottage shorelines

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.

The cover of Garden Revolution, by Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher.

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.

bebb's sedge

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…

Copy of the book, The Flora of Kawartha Lakes

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.

Misty shoreline in Haliburton County

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.

Milkweed and monarch butterly.

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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