Residential Prescribed Burns

Michigan native plants evolved with fire as a result of most of the state burning every 5-10 years in resettlement times. Fire returns nutrients to the soil, allows for more solar radiation to reach the ground which quickens spring green up, and can kill non native plants that did not evolved with fire. See this… Read more »

Planting in a Post Wild World

Just finished reading Thomas Rainer’s and Claudia West’s book, “Planting in a Post-Wild World”. Although it was written for designers and installers, there is plenty of useful information for the do-it-yourselfer. Highly recommended reading for the winter.

Leave the Leaves

Leave leaves in place to provide winter cover for myriad species of insects and small animals. Pictured here, leaves from various parts of my yard either fell here or were placed. Shown, beds of Wild Geranium and Columbine, Golden Alexanders and Blue Flag Iris, and Prairie Dropseed.