The Grounded Blog
Newsletters
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.
Natural Garden News from Grounded – June 8
Inside this edition of Natural Garden News: Welcome to our new friends from the home show! Will the deer eat these plants? If you want a Grounded garden… ; Do you really need that many plants? My most important advice to the owners of new gardens Today’s recommended reading; Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant); This week in the garden; 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…
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.
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.
Growing a Green Renaissance
Conforming to Green: How Lawn Culture Impacts Our Inner Well-being
In the suburbs of Ontario and even on some Haliburton County cottage properties, the lawn reigns supreme. This emerald expanse, a hallmark of residential aesthetics, has long been cherished as a symbol of beauty and order. But beneath its lush facade, lawn culture harbors a less discussed aspect: its psychological and spiritual impacts on individuals and communities.
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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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