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 lots of images in this newsletter. If you can’t see them, please enable images in your email.

Simon Payn
Grounded
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Email: hello@groundedgardens.ca​
Web: groundedgardens.ca​

End of summer notes

When the Ex starts, it’s the beginning of the end of summer.

Here in the Highlands, the vibe is changing. School is in the air. We’re shifting from the frenzy of summer to the mellow light of September. I’m OK with that.

This shift in seasons reminds me of some housekeeping items. So here they are:

First, I have a couple of slots for small fall projects. Fall is a great time to plant. The only downside is nursery inventory might be limited. But if you’re ready to get going, reply to this email.

Second, most of what I’m working on is bigger projects for spring 2026. With these projects I have time to consider your design deeply and can even get nurseries to custom-grow plants for me. So if you’re thinking of doing a project next year, reply to this email. It’s better to see your site now while it’s still summery than wait until April.

Third, if you’re mulling the idea of having someone do landscape maintenance for you next year, check out Grounded’s new service: landscape maintenance with an ecological twist.

In the meantime, enjoy this final week of August!

Simon

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If you want a Grounded garden… I’m currently booking garden and shoreline installs for fall 2025 and 2026. I still have some space for small fall installations and for spring 2026 projects. We start by having a quick call to see if it makes sense for me to come look at your site. ​ Learn more To see some of my recent work, please see this page.

Why texture is key to a shaded garden A look inside a new project where texture and form create interest and beauty in a shaded site. Read more.​

What’s stopping us using native plants? And how we here at Grounded are trying to make it easier. Read more.​

New here? Start with these articles

Cardinals rule!

Here’s a picture a client sent me. The Cardinal Flowers are blooming in the shoreline garden we installed earlier this year!

Check out new native plant database

Search and browse scores of native plants that will grow in Haliburton County.

A river runs through it (too often)

This is one of our more unusual projects. We were called in to help solve an erosion problem on a riverbank. We planted scores of deep rooted grasses and perennials at this sandy site earlier this year.

There’s nothing like using natural solutions to problems.

Today’s recommended reading

Friends not enemies: Why we should ban the word ‘pests’ when it comes to our gardens. Read more.

Stop blaming Goldenrod! If I had a dollar for every person who told me (incorrectly) that Goldenrods cause allergies, I’d be able to keep Rufus in treats all year. Bottom line: they don’t (they get confused with ragweed)… and they’re great. Read more.

From parking lot to icon: Beth Chatto pioneered ‘right plant, right place,’ – a phrase I live by. Here’s the story of her gravel garden that started it all. Read more.

Seeding ideas: The pros and cons of the latest trend: #ChaosGardening. Read more.

Paid to plant natives: How a program of grants created 762,000 sq ft of native plant gardens, brought more wildlife… and helped communities. Read more.​

Plant Milkweed instead: Why we’re not helping Monarchs when we try to raise them at home. Read more.

Gotcha!

It’s hard to be mad when the person who is eating your garden in Haliburton looks this cute.

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Today’s VIP (Very Important Plant)

I’ve put together some information “cards” about native plants. These are plants I use in my designs.

Today let’s look at Early Meadowrue

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Onion says yes

I visited a client’s garden the other day (it’s one we installed in late spring). I’ve been once per month and each time I visit, a different plant is star of the show.

This time it was Nodding Onion.

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Thank you for reading!

Simon

Email: hello@groundedgardens.ca​
Web: groundedgardens.ca​
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