Grounded Resources
Making Gardens
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.
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.
Natural landscaping: how to choose the right plants
Creating natural landscapes isn’t just about native plants. It’s more like playing a 4D game of Tetris. Here’s how I choose the right plants.
Weeding native plant gardens: a dance with nature
I was out weeding the native plant garden at Lucas House this week, before it got too hot. Just an hour later, I felt 100 times better.
Two very different Haliburton native plant landscapes
Here are two Haliburton native plant landscapes Grounded has installed this past month. One is a dry prairie-style garden on a septic leach bed, the other is a shade garden on a steep slope.
Deer and native plants: Will your garden get eaten?
There is no such thing as a totally deer-resistant plant. But native plants have a better chance of being nibble-free than most.
My most important advice about your natural garden
When I install a new garden, I provide a handbook, explaining the plants in the garden and how to manage the garden in the future. Of all the advice in the handbook, this is the most important.
Native Plant Landscaping: Getting Started in Haliburton
We explore the benefits of native plant landscaping in Haliburton and how to get started at your home or cottage.
Ecological Landscaping in Haliburton County: New Guide Tells You What You Need to Know
This new guide from Haliburton County Master Gardeners provides an excellent overview of what ecological landscaping is – and how you can transform your landscape into something that’s beautiful to you and to the rest of nature.
Haliburton Native Plants Explained
An in-depth look at the benefits of native plants, how we decide what’s native to Haliburton County, and a list of plants considered native.
Growing a Green Renaissance
Trapped on society’s mowercoaster ride: why lawns are an invisible cage
If we don’t have a neatly trimmed lawn, we can feel like we don’t fit in. How can we break free of this invisible cage?
Shifting Baselines: The Legacy We Leave
We’ve forgotten how much nature we’ve lost. Now ‘lake legacy leaders’ are bringing it back and leaving something for our children.
How to Create a Landscape that Belongs Here
To make your home truly belong in its surroundings, the finishing touch comes from thoughtful planting choices, creating a natural connection to the local environment.
Transform your shoreline, transform your legacy
Natural shorelines increase property value, protect water quality, and create a meaningful legacy. The new standard in cottage ownership is working with nature.
In praise of more
The new method of landscaping is about having more nature. And that makes us happy.
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.
Bringing Back Biodiversity
Why Succession is Key to Naturalistic Landscape Design in Haliburton County
“Arrested succession” is the secret to creating beautiful and biodiverse landscapes. It’s one of the most important things in my toolkit.
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.
Newsletters
Natural Garden News from Grounded – September 20, 2025
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Leaf them bee If you want a Grounded garden… Sunny landscapes that attract pollinators Lawns: the invisible cage Natural landscaping for condos and homeowner associations New here? Start with these articles Project catch-up 1 Check out our new native plant database Ready to fly Today’s recommended reading Project catch-up 2 Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) Project catch-up 3 I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback,…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – September 6, 2025
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News Drying Miss Daisy If you want a Grounded garden… How shrubs create living landscapes Shifting baselines: the legacy we leave New here? Start with these articles Project catch-ups Check out our new native plant database Power plants Today’s recommended reading Brown is a colour, too Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) Je l’adore! I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email. There are lots of…
Natural Garden News from Grounded – August 23, 2025
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News End of summer notes If you want a Grounded garden… Why texture is key to a shaded garden What’s stopping us using native plants? New here? Start with these articles Cardinals rule Check out our new native plant database A river runs through it (too often) Today’s recommended reading Gotcha! Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant) Onion says yes I hope you enjoy the newsletter! If you have any questions or feedback, please reply to this email. There are…
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