January 2026 - Backyard Habitats

A native garden full of purple coneflower, pink joe-pye, white vervain and yellow cutleaf coneflower.

Beginner Native Garden Staples for Partial Sun / Partial Shade

January 26, 2026 / Native Plant Gardening

This guide is designed for beginners in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan, but applies broadly to similar regions. Many residential landscapes fall somewhere between full sun and full shade. These transitional spaces — woodland edges, east-facing yards, and areas with filtered afternoon light — can feel confusing for beginners. Fortunately, many native plants evolved specifically […]

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An orange and brown, Pearl crescent butterfly collecting nectar from an Asclepias tuberosa native milkweed.

Beginner Native Garden Staples for Full Sun

January 19, 2026 / Native Plant Gardening

This guide is designed for beginners in Northwest Ohio & Southeast Michigan, but applies broadly to similar regions. If you’re just starting out with native plants, native plants for full sun are often the easiest and most rewarding place to begin. Many North American native species evolved in open prairies, savannas, and meadow systems where

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Close-up of pearly everlasting flowers showing white, papery bracts and yellow centers.

Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) A Native for Dry Full Sun Gardens

January 12, 2026 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea) is a resilient native perennial valued for its silvery foliage and long-lasting white blooms. This adaptable wildflower brings soft texture and visual calm to meadows, prairies, and naturalized gardens while providing important late-season resources for pollinators and wildlife. What Is Pearly Everlasting? Pearly everlasting is a widespread North American native found

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Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) A Native for Shade or Full Sun

January 5, 2026 / Native Plant Gardening, Plant Profiles

Few native plants combine delicate beauty and ecological importance as gracefully as wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Blooming in spring with nodding red-and-yellow flowers, this early-season native provides critical nectar for pollinators emerging from winter while adding airy movement to woodland edges, rock gardens, and shaded landscapes. What Is Wild Columbine? Wild columbine is a short-lived

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