Introduction: A Different Way to See Gardening We’ve all been taught, in one way or another, that gardening is about control — planting what we want, where we want it, and managing everything in between. But over the years, I’ve started to see it differently. What if gardening isn’t about controlling nature at all?What if […]
Bringing Nature Back: Restoring Balance Through Gardening in Northwest Ohio Read Post »
Welcome, Walk Sacred Attendees! If you received a Backyard Habitats Native Seed Mix, welcome! These seeds were collected from plants grown right here in my own backyard habitat. Your packet contains a mixture of native wildflowers selected to provide food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife while adding beautiful native plants to your garden.
Native Seed Mix: Planting & Growing Guide Read Post »
Some plants become part of a garden because you carefully decide exactly where they belong. Others seem more interested in making that decision themselves. Plains coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria) has become one of those plants for me. Its small yellow flowers, usually marked with deep reddish-brown near the center, don’t dominate the garden. Instead, they seem
Plains Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria): A Native Annual That Finds Its Own Place Read Post »
When we first start gardening, we tend to think about plants individually. We might choose a coneflower because we like the flower, plant milkweed because we want to help monarchs, or find a grass we like and try to figure out where we can fit it. There is nothing wrong with any of that. It
Plant Communities | How Plants Grow Together in Nature Read Post »
Pokeweed is probably not the first plant that comes to mind when someone thinks about creating a native garden. In fact, for a long time, I didn’t think much about it at all. American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is one of those plants that seems to simply appear. Birds eat the berries, deposit the seeds somewhere
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana): The Native “Weed” I Learned to Appreciate Read Post »
Field Notes is an ongoing Backyard Habitats series exploring the natural areas of Northwest Ohio through observation. I visit preserves, parks, and other natural spaces throughout the region and slow down long enough to pay attention—to the plants and wildlife, the soil and water, the transitions between habitats, and the relationships that connect them. Field
Northwest Ohio Field Notes | Exploring Local Landscapes Read Post »
Field observations recorded July 14, 2026. Habitats Explored: Oak Savanna · Dry Sand Prairie/Openings · Oak Woodland Following the Sand Through an Oak Savanna After leaving Salamander Flats, I wasn’t quite ready to head home. The preserve had left me thinking about hidden water and how subtle changes in elevation could shape an entire ecosystem.
Exploring the Oak Savanna at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve Read Post »
Field observations recorded July 14, 2026. Habitats Explored: Wet Prairie • Dry Sand Prairie • Oak Woodland • Oak Savanna Learning to Read a Landscape When I first pulled into Salamander Flats, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The name immediately made me picture water—perhaps a marsh, a vernal pool, or at least a
Exploring Salamander Flats at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve Read Post »
If I could recommend one perennial for attracting pollinators in a Northwest Ohio garden, Virginia mountain mint would be near the top of the list. Despite its name, it isn’t a mountain plant in the way many people imagine. It naturally grows throughout much of eastern North America in prairies, open woodlands, meadows, woodland edges,
Habitats Featured: Backyard Habitat • Brush Pile • Silver Maple • Woodland Edge • House Wrens A Tiny Bird’s First Day Sometimes the smallest moments reveal the biggest lessons. I was watering one corner of my garden when I heard wrens calling nearby. It immediately caught my attention, so I looked up. One of the
The House Wrens That Chose My Backyard Read Post »
As my garden moves into midsummer, certain plants naturally begin to stand out. This year, one of those plants has been Culver’s root. I planted it last year, knowing it would likely spend its first season establishing roots before putting on much of a show. This summer, that patience has been rewarded. Growing in full
