Category Archives: Native Plants

Ants in Your Plants? The Magic of Myrmecochory.

Let us again consider the Bloodroot, one of spring’s most lovely and ephemeral visitors.  Having emerged in March, the little herd in our yard is just now finishing with its crop of seeds, and here they are.  Almost, but not … Continue reading

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Bloodroot Update (At Last)

I finally added the Bloodroot article to our Native Plants section here.  These days our annual crop of Sanguinaria has long ago dropped its blossoms and has settled into respectable child-rearing mode.  Looks like a good crop of seeds this … Continue reading

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An Eerie, Early Spring (but at least the Bloodroot’s up!)

Stuff is popping out all over, almost too fast to keep up with.  So far we have over twenty Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) blossoms either open or coming up in our yard.  I am now inspired to add this handsome citizen … Continue reading

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The Upper Left-Hand Brick

NOTE:  This posting has an error.   The apple-like oak leaf gall is caused by a midge, not a wasp.  The leaf gall of the wasp is an elongated gall along the veins of the leaf.  I will update the … Continue reading

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February Flora!

February 23, and we have non-native crocuses blooming and native wild leeks peeking up in our backyard.  Talk about your winter wonderland… Note: the leeks link has a couple recipes.  It’s Nadia’s article in the newsletter of the Hawthorn Chapter … Continue reading

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We’re on a Sumac Roll, Aromatically Speaking

There is a new post in our native plants pages on Rhus aromatica, sometimes called Aromatic Sumac.  Defend your chickens and tan some leather.  Or just grow a nice plant or two.  It’s here: https://nadiasyard.com/our-native-plants/sumac-aromatic-rhus-aromatica/. Also, Nadia is working on … Continue reading

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Flapjacks and Sumacs

We had pancakes for breakfast this morning, watching out our dining room window as a small hawk—kestrel, I think—tried to catch its own breakfast in our backyard.  And on our pancakes was what?  Pure maple syrup from Vermont?  Nope.  That … Continue reading

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Leafscapes

Sometimes you have to look close  

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You can’t keep a good Goddess down

Despite yesterday’s snow and the 15-degree reading on our outside thermometer this morning, our Sky Blue Aster still held onto a few bedraggled blossoms. I mean, you really have to admire the persistence of this late-season bloomer!  It’s over for … Continue reading

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Halloween Party!

We’ve had a couple light freezes already, but that didn’t stop the Halloween festivities in our yard, as some sturdy late bloomers attracted a few trick-or-treaters.  This is just a sample of what we saw. Soon to come is a … Continue reading

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