Grounded Resources
Making Gardens
Helpful books, articles and other resources
A sample of excellent books and articles about native plant garden design.
Plugs: The Goldilocks solution to plant sizes
In the world of gardening, particularly when it comes to cultivating native plant gardens, the choice between starting with seeds, plugs, or larger plants can significantly impact the garden’s development and sustainability. Among these options, plugs often emerge as the ‘Goldilocks solution’ – not too big, not too small, but just right for creating dense, thriving native plant landscapes.
Your New Landscape: What to Expect in the Years to Come
Unlike traditional landscaping, natural gardening isn’t a one-time thing. Instead, it’s about dancing with nature, watching the garden mature year by year. Here’s what you can expect from a landscape installed by Grounded.
A Garden for All Seasons: Designing with Native Plants
A garden that evolves and adapts through the seasons not only offers an ever-changing tapestry of beauty but also provides a sustainable habitat for local wildlife.
Embracing Nature’s Edge: The Importance of Naturalizing Shorelines in Haliburton County
In the landscape of Haliburton County, where lakes and water bodies form a picturesque backdrop, the naturalization of shorelines stands out as a pivotal practice for cottagers. Natural shorelines, adorned with native vegetation and undisturbed habitats, are not just visually appealing but also vital for maintaining the ecological integrity of these aquatic ecosystems.
Garden Ecotones: Where Forest and Garden Meet in Haliburton
In the world of gardening, especially in forested regions like Haliburton County, the idea of creating garden ecotones offers a unique opportunity to blend the cultivated with the wild, enriching both the environment and our experience of it.
A Different Kind of Beauty: Discovering Gardens in the Off-Season
As autumn’s vibrant palette fades and winter’s chill sets in, traditional gardeners often see this as a cue to ‘put the garden to bed.’ This usually involves tidying up, cutting back dead foliage, and preparing for a dormant season. However, native plant gardens challenge this conventional approach, revealing a different kind of beauty in the fall and winter months – one that is not only visually appealing but also ecologically significant.
Inspired by Nature, Crafted by Hands: The Essence of Native Gardens
Native plant gardens stand as testaments to the beauty and complexity of nature. These gardens offer a unique fusion of natural splendor and human artistry. Unlike their wild counterparts, native gardens are carefully crafted spaces, reflecting the delicate interplay between natural ecosystems and human intervention.
Exploring the Groundcover Layer: Native Grasses and Sedges in Haliburton Gardens
The secret to vibrant and ecologically balanced gardens often lies hidden in plain sight: within the groundcover layer. These unassuming plants play a pivotal role in the structure and sustainability of native plant gardens, providing an ecological foundation that supports biodiversity.
Native Plants and Garden Herbivores: A Delicate Dance
Gardeners often find themselves engaged in a delicate dance with local wildlife, particularly deer and rabbits. These garden visitors, while charming, can pose significant challenges to cultivation efforts.
Growing a Green Renaissance
The less you control, the better it feels
Why our landscapes make weekends stressful and how a different kind of care fixes that.
Nature is good. Let’s have more of it
If you live in the Highlands, it’s likely you love nature. So let’s have more of it… and here’s what happens when we do.
Biggest Haliburton Natural Garden Questions Answered
I was interviewed by Canoe FM for a new show that will be launched in January 2026. Here are my answers.
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…
Bringing Back Biodiversity
How much of a pond is beaver?
When does a tree end and the forest begin? How much of a pond is beaver? What percentage of me is me? Big questions… and important for landscaping ecologically.
Why cottage landscapes are all about edges
What if the defining feature of a Highlands landscape is the edge? We sit here in the Land Between, that biodiverse strip at the very south of the Canadian Shield. It’s one big edge where rock meets lowlands. Zoom in on our homes and cottages, and you see more edges. There’s the edge between the…
What the 30-metre shoreline buffer really means
The 30-metre shoreline buffer recommendation makes most cottage owners throw up their hands. Here’s where that number comes from – and what it actually means for your property.
On hydro, roads, beavers… and you
Not all disturbance is bad. Here’s what we can learn from hydro, roads… and beavers.
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.
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