We are Thankful for All of You!

Holidays are a great time for reflection. Here are some things we are thinking about. There are thousands more New England Native plants in the ground in our local area than there were just seven months ago. We sold out of plants like milkweed and goldenrod more times than we can count. Think about that - milkweed and goldenrod - plants that not too long ago were thought of as weeds are now best sellers. We met the most interesting, eclectic and energizing group of people we could imagine, right in our own side yard. We learned many, many more things about growing and getting plants - things that will come in handy as we continue to, well - grow! So thank you for coming along on this journey. Thank you to all of you who are working so hard in your yards and communities to change the way we all garden for the greater good. We know that sometimes, especially when surrounded by a sea of lifeless, chemically laden, leaf blown lawns it can seem like an uphill battle. But, in the words of Margaret Mead "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world, in fact it is the only thing that ever has."

Give the Gift of Nature Based Gardening

Throughout the 2022 holiday season purchase $50.00 worth of gift certificates and pay just $45.00. All gift certificates include a helpful and decorative handout on gardening with native plants to help spread the message far and wide!

Bundle gift certificates with a great book to help inspire others to embrace nature based gardening. We are now offering our very favorite books for purchase, read all about them at the link below. If you'd like we will even gift wrap to make the holiday season as easy as possible for you! Arrange pick up at the Roadside Stand. Gift certificates can also be mailed. Visit our 2022 gift guide web page for all the details and send us a message to order.

Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter

In November we enter the dark half of the year with hours of nighttime stretching longer than day. It is also a quieter time in our gardens; but life is still there, even if less obvious. If you joined other area residents this summer in creating a garden habitat for pollinators you may be wondering where those special creatures are now. Many of them are right where they were all summer, there in your garden, just tucked away for a long winter’s nap. That’s why the growing cry of #LeavetheLeaves is so much more than just a hash tag; it is an essential part of gardening with nature instead of against it. Flowering plants provide essential nectar and thoughtfully selected native plants serve as host plants and food supplies for birds and other wildlife, but overwintering habitat is ultimately just as important for pollinator success. According to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Research, winter habitat used by pollinators includes leaf litter, brush piles, dead branches, hollow plant stems, bare dirt and areas under rocks. Swallowtail butterflies, Luna moths and fireflies are all hunkered down in leaf litter right now; those leaves are habitat not debris to be put at the curb... Continue reading at the link below to explore more about Leaving the Leaves, Saving the Stems and Planting for Winter Interest.

Recommended Upcoming Event

On December 6, 2022 from 7-8:30 pm The Mass Pollinator Network, Lexington Living Landscapes & the Cary Memorial Library co-present:

 “Landscaping for Pollinators and Birds at Home” with Dr. Desiree Narango (Dr. Desiree Narango is a conservation scientist at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies in White River Junction, VT. Her research program focuses on understanding how global change impacts bird and insect populations and identifying biodiversity conservation solutions in human-dominated habitats.)

Desiree Narango will speak about her research studying how residential landscapes and gardening practices influence wildlife habitats. The talk will focus on Dr. Narango’s recent work comparing how native and nonnative plant species vary in supporting species interactions. She will talk about the relationships between plants and insects, why insects matter to birds, and small steps you can take to improve and restore habitat for wildlife ‘at home’.