Some really good ideas here... Replacing #TallGrasses with #Sedges, getting rid of #Periwinkle (though maybe not all of it, since it is an early flowering plant), replacing #Pachysandra with #SweetWoodruff, etc., etc.

17 #TickAttracting Plants You Should Avoid In Your Yard (And What To Grow Instead)

By Hattie Grigsby
July 15, 2025

"A stunning yard shouldn’t double as a tick playground—but surprisingly, some popular landscape plants invite them in. Dense groundcovers like pachysandra or #ivy create cool, shaded spots where ticks love to hide, making your outdoor space riskier than it looks.

"Swapping those out for smarter choices can make a big difference. Consider tick-resistant alternatives like #lavender, #rosemary, or ornamental grasses—plants that still offer beauty without creating cozy tick hangouts. Plus, many of these double as #PollinatorFriendly and #DroughtTolerant options."

https://positivebloom.com/tick-attracting-plants-you-should-avoid-in-your-yard-and-what-to-grow-instead/

#SolarPunkSunday #TickRepellents #SpendTimeInNature #BeSafeOutdoors #TickSafety #Gardening

#NewZealand (#Aotearoa) - #NativePlants - an introduction to #SeedCollection, #propagation and on-farm nurseries

Excerpt: "Collecting seeds

A common method of sourcing seeds is called #EcoSourcing. Eco-sourcing seeds refers to collecting seeds from native plants that are already established in your area. This allows you to grow plants that have adapted to, and are suited to, your local #climatic conditions, and therefore your plants are more likely to survive.

Some considerations for eco-sourcing, as identified by the Department of Conservation, include:

- planting species that you know to be native to the local area
- collecting seed from as close to your restoration area as possible
- collecting seed from a similar ecosystem/environment to that to which you are restoring
- trying to collect your seeds from plants that are natively occurring rather than those that have been planted

While eco-sourcing is a great habit to get into, there is also nothing wrong with introducing new species into your restoration areas. Some considerations for this would include:

- is this species likely to be able to survive in this environment?
- is this species and its characteristics suitable? Is this the right plant for this particular planting site?

When it comes to collecting seeds from plants, late-Summer to Autumn is most commonly the time when seeds are ready for collection due to drying off/berries ripening etc. However, the timing of seeds being ready to collect is species dependent.

The Department of Conservation has created calendars and guides for seed collection for some common native #tree species, as well as #grasses, #sedges and #flaxes, which can be accessed by the links below."

Learn more:
https://www.thewholestory.co.nz/library/native-plants-an-introduction-to-seed-collection-propagation-and-on-farm-nurseries/

#SolarPunkSunday #NativePlantsNewZealand #Gardening #GardeningInNewZealand #SouthernHemisphereGardening

How Do You Design A #WildlifeCorridor For #Maine Garden Design?

Excerpt:

"Plant Palette: #NativeSpecies and Layering for Maine

Choose plants that are native to your Maine ecoregion and that provide multiple functions: forage, cover, nesting structure, and seasonal continuity.

- Canopy and large trees (plant for future shade and mast): white pine (Pinus strobus), red #maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), red oak (Quercus rubra), balsam fir.
- Small trees and large shrubs (structure and fruit): serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.), crabapple (Malus spp. native selections), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana).
- Shrubs for berries and cover: highbush #blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), #winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata), highbush #cranberry (Viburnum trilobum), black #chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa), #elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), #bayberry (Morella pensylvanica).
- Herbaceous layer and pollinator plants: common #milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), joe-pye weed (Eutrochium spp.), #asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), #goldenrod (Solidago spp.), mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.), columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).
- Groundcover and forest floor: bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), sedges (Carex spp.), native ferns where appropriate.
- Wetland edge species for riparian corridors: blueflag iris (Iris versicolor), buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), #sedges, and #NativeRushes.

Plant choice should reflect site moisture, sunlight, and soil pH. Avoid ornamental cultivars with little #wildlife value and never plant species known to be invasive in Maine such as Japanese #barberry or #bittersweet."

Learn more:
https://cultivatingflora.com/how-do-you-design-a-wildlife-corridor-for-maine-garden-design/

#SolarPunkSunday #WildlifeCorridor #NativeSpecies #GardeningForPolinators #Rewilding

Serendipity. Last month’s decorative pumpkin is going to be next spring’s illustration for the #botanical term “glaucous.”

The talk is about #sedges and this will help explain Carex glaucodea, common name Blue Sedge. Which is much more on point for me than gourds.

Sedges in the news! An article in the Guardian made a reference to Horchata, but not the Central American drink made from barley. Apparently Spanish Horchata is made from tiger nuts — but what are those? Turns out they are the tuberous roots of a flatsedge, Cyperus esculentens.

As someone interested in #sedges, I’m delighted to find one that has been used for food for ages. And it’s widely distributed around the world, so you may have it in your area. #nativeplanya

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyperus_esculentus

So, I've been attempting to do this. I have a few patches established and try to increase them every year...

Turning a #SepticField into a #wildflower #meadow

by Anna, January 18, 2023

"When I mentioned not wanting to turn our septic field into the traditional mowed lawn, Travis Sparks wrote in to share his impressive mini-meadow, started in 2017 atop his #Maine septic field.

First step turning a septic field into a wildflower meadow

" 'I mowed the area down as low as I could in late spring 2017,' he wrote, 'spread a thin layer of compost over the whole area, broadcast a variety of both perennial [be careful about root depth if using perennials -- or annuals for that matter] and annual seed mixes over it, and lightly raked everything. I mowed it a couple more times that year (higher cut) to try to knock the competition back while things germinated, and then left it be.'

" 'I just had sparse grasses and wildflowers to start (nothing woody) before doing any of this, so the competition wasn’t too strong early on. It was reasonably successful the following year.'

"Travis wasn’t entirely thrilled with wildflower establishment, though, so he repeated the process in late spring 2019 including 'another very light top-dressing of compost since the leach field soil is mostly just sandy fill.' The results that year were even more inspiring...

"[2021 update] Travis wrote that after the establishment phase, he hasn’t done anything to keep the meadow on track (although I suspect he’ll have to mow now and then to keep woody plants out).

"I’m so impressed by his success, which turns his septic field into habitat for pollinators and lots of other wildlife. Have you turned a blah septic field into an integral part of your homestead? If so, I’d love to hear about it!"

https://wetknee.com/turning-a-septic-field-into-a-wildflower-meadow/

#SolarPunkSunday #Gardening #NativeGrasses #WildflowerMeadows #Sedges #Rewilding #NativeGrasses #GardeningForPollinators

9 #NativeGrasses That Will Revitalize Your Sad, Water-Wasting Lawn

Turn your yard into a living fireworks show while saving money, time, and #nature.

by Helen Bradshaw

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/9-native-grasses-that-will-revitalize-your-sad-water-wasting-lawn?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us

#SolarPunkSunday #GardeningForBirds #Rewilding #Grasslands #WaterIsLife #Gardening #LessLawns #Sedges