OCLC’s Post

Happy #PollinatorWeek! 🦋🐝🦇🐞🕷🕊 Did you know that there are over 40,000 pollinators in North America alone? In addition to the usual suspects--bees, butterflies, and moths--beetles, wasps, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, anoles, as well as some birds and small mammals (like possums!) are also pollinators. And these quiet heroes of our gardens, fields, and farms need our help. If you’d like to create a pollinator haven in yard, here’s what I’ve found helpful: >> Check in with your local arboretum for informed, local advice. Arboretum staff are incredibly knowledgeable and can help identify which plants are beneficial, which are invasive, and help you test your soil if needed. 👩🌾 >> Do a little research. What kind of soil do you have? What’s the average rainfall? What’s your plant hardiness zone? What areas of your yard get full sun vs. shade? 🌞 >> If you're planting, Audubon has an amazing database of native plants, searchable by zip code. Your local plant growers and arboretum can help you source native plants or seeds. 🌼 >> Think about providing plants at different heights, flowers of different colors, and at least one a source of water, like a birdbath. 💧 >> By design, broad spectrum insecticides devastate pollinators. Just like you wouldn’t invite your friends over for dinner and feed them poison, don’t use insecticides, ever. ☠ >> Be patient. It can take a few years to establish your native garden. The first year in particular will have some delightful surprises! We have dozens of butterflies, a variety of bees, new bugs, bunny rabbits, and a lot of birds! 🐇 >> If you're mowing your lawn, mow it high.🧤(there is no lawn mower emoji, or even a gardening emoji, which seems like an oversight) >> Enjoy seeing what visits! 🦋🐝🦇🐞🕷🕊

🌿🌸 Are you ready to elevate your gardening game this season? Our co-founders Bryan Clayton and Gene Caballero share their expert insights in this must-read article by Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal! From starting small to choosing the right plants and mastering watering schedules, these tips are sure to help you cultivate a flourishing garden. Whether you're a newbie or looking to revive your green space, there's something for everyone in these expert recommendations. Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gNKm_a9q 🌱✨ #GardeningTips #GreenThumb #ExpertAdvice

Community Action! “Pollinator gardens are designed with native plants to provide nectar and pollen to pollinators,” said Coon. “Planting different plants that flower in spring, early summer or fall provides a food source for pollinators for the whole season.” The group planted #milkweed in the garden because it is an important pollinator plant that is also the only food source for #Monarch caterpillars, one of the most recognizable and well-studied butterflies in the United States, which has seen its population decline in recent years. “Pollinators, like monarchs, play a vital role in the natural ecosystem and our food system,” said Coon. “Without #pollinators, the world around us would not be the same. Not only are they beautiful, but they also provide a valuable food source for #birds, other #insects, and small animals.” We need more of this! Julie Brunson is a great example for getting kids in the #garden and learning about #food and #wildlife. Do you have a #PollinatorGarden at your #school or in you #community? #milkweedmaverick #monarchflyway #biodiversity #biodiversityloss #education #schoolgardens #education #communityaction #monarchmadness #wildlife https://lnkd.in/g-kqTFi8

Thank you to Thursby Gardening group for inviting me to talk on Regenerative Gardening. Here's some of those present with our cuppa's, where all the interesting dicussion takes place on no-dig, continuous ground cover, accepting 'mess', releasing 'control', and ground elder. Grassroots conversations. And one lady who'd been introduced to the rhizosphere in the 1960's at Newton Rigg College from a lecturer from 'off'. In these talks I distill scientific knowledge combined with practical, hands-on knowledge, to give an approach to #regenerativegardening in 6 easy to follow principles that looks after all life in a systemic approach to our garden spaces, beginning with soil health, and ending in blooms and birds. You are a guardian of your land, however big or small, and you can make a difference. PM me if you'd like to book a talk. #regenerative #soilmicrobiome

6 years ago I wrote about how my family and I created a monarch butterfly pollinator garden. It's among several mini-projects I am very proud of, and it's a good moment to take stock of both some of the good and bad I've noticed in our yard and neighborhood since that time. As we've jumped further down the native plant rabbit hole since then, we've learned a lot, still have more questions, and find that at times doing the right thing bucks against many social norms (both visible and invisible) and can also take a painful toll on our bank account. Occasionally we've been taking out larger plants and shrubs, and it has caused alarm among some our neighbors when it looks like a "nicer" plant. It's also at times proved to be some of the hardest yard work that exists when we dig out the roots of non-native species. It can be a pain, take several days, and sometimes the native plants we have put in their place have struggled for any number of reasons. I now believe that the best time to start rewilding was yesterday. Otherwise it's today, or as soon as possible. Insects, birds, and ecosystems at large more broadly require our help. I've also come to realize (especially in an urban setting), how we keep losing more and more trees and aren't keeping up the pace of replacing them. The remaining oaks and other native trees in our neighborhood are what are largely still propping up the food web. I've started to wonder if the bats we saw in our backyard a couple years ago eating insects at dusk have been extirpated. I realize that I didn't see them last summer and haven't seen them this year. While it is dire, I know that most people don't realize that. We still do have a lot of cute rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, birds, and more adaptable animals around which might give people a view that nature is here and doing ok. But here's what's good: I AM optimistic though about our monarch garden and the spread of milkweed in our neighborhood both organically and through intentional planting. It shows over the past 6 years that there is hope! We get a lot of interest and questions about it, especially now that we posted a sign you can easily see from the sidewalk. The visibility matters. https://lnkd.in/eMfvyrBN #wildlifeconservation #pollinators #monarchs #insects #pollinatormonth #nativeplants

Choosing the right trees 🌳 for your backyard oasis can be overwhelming. With so many options, how do you know which trees will provide you with the privacy you crave? Look no further than A.J.'s Evergreen Nursery, LLC. With a variety of trees from privacy 🙅♀️ trees to false cypress 🌲 trees, we have what you need to upgrade your landscape. We are located on 10 Old Town Farm Rd in Westminster, but don't worry if you're not nearby; We offer shipping to all states with a few exceptions 🚚 - and it's always free! Interested in planting some globe 🌐 or dwarf arborvitae? Or maybe you're in the market for shade trees like paper birch or river birch 🏞️; A.J.'s Evergreen Nursery, LLC has got you covered. And did we mention we also have hosta perennials 🌺 and all the planting supplies you'll need? That's right, one-stop for all your planting needs; Only at A.J's. So why choose us? The answer is simple. We specialize in providing top-quality trees, and we ensure our customer's satisfaction with our extensive knowledge. Gardening Tip 🔧: When planting a tree, ensure the hole is twice as wide as the root ball and just as deep. This gives your tree the best chance for healthy growth. So give us a call at 978-489-2214 📞and let's turn your dream backyard into reality. #AJsEvergreenNurseryLLC #PrivacyTrees #DwarfArborvitae #HostaPerennials #ShadeTrees #PaperBirch #RiverBirch #BeautifulBackyards #Landscaping #PlantingTips #FreeShipping #QualityTrees 🌳🌲🌺🏡

🚨 NEW SERIES ALERT 🚨 You might not know that along with planting native plants, we also grow them! 😱 And when it comes to growing and nurturing plants, there is A LOT of information that comes in handy. We want to share some of that information here with you! SO We are launching a year-long series called Leafy Lessons that will introduce you to each one of the plants that we grow with the Arkansas Native Plant Nursery. 🌿 Starting next week, we will introduce you to what category each plant falls under, its height, how much sun it needs, and much much more. By the end of 2024, we will have a catalog of plants for you to reference and consult for your own garden projects or even just for fun! 😄 #LeafyLessons  #NativeRestoration

If you know me, you know that a life goal of mine is to grow my own food. Nourishing our soil, composting, eating locally from heirloom seeds- could there be anything more sustainable? So, when I had the chance to hop on a platform that could teach me all those skills and more, I was excited to learn and grow. Earthed is a platform that helps you do just that, with Indigenous wisdom and new skills that ensure that we're growing as sustainably as possible. I took a few of their courses myself and spoke with co-founder Christabel Reed to learn more about the platform. If you're interested in gardening, sustainability, or simply looking to join a community- read the interview and try out the courses through the link below. Happy Earth Day! https://lnkd.in/eP7-XFch

🌱 Community and Gardening: Together We Grow! 🌱 Community isn't just about being together, it's about growing together—both literally and figuratively! As a family caregiver, I've discovered the joy of combining gardening with community involvement. Here are some creative ways you can cultivate friendships and connect deeper with your community through gardening: 🌱Explore Local Nurseries: Dive into the world of plants with local experts who share your passion. 🌱Attend Gardening Events: From farmers' markets to plant swaps, these gatherings are goldmines for meeting like-minded individuals. 🌱Join a Community Garden: Whether you have a green thumb or are just starting, community gardens are great for learning and connecting. 🌱Start a Garden Club: Gather family caregivers and start your own gardening community. 🌱Share tips, support, and harvests! Gardening isn't just about plants; it's about planting the seeds for lasting relationships and a resilient community. 🌼💚 https://buff.ly/3Uh1WGO Let's make our world greener and our hearts fuller. Share your stories and tips below! 👇 #CommunityGardening #FamilyCaregivers #GrowTogether

Check out our new blog series, Ask Dr. J. In this column, our CEO John McFadden is answering all your gardening and tree questions. Dr. J's latest post focuses on the news that Bradford Pear Trees are an invasive species and what you need to know about them. Our mission is to plant native species to establish and sustain natural systems for healthier communities, thriving economies, and higher quality of life. https://lnkd.in/eYtx-htT