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
Northwest Ohio Field Notes | Exploring Local Landscapes Read Post »
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.
Bringing Nature Back: Restoring Balance Through Gardening in Northwest Ohio Read Post »
Oenothera biennis Not every native plant needs to be beautiful to earn its place in a habitat. Some plants attract our attention through colorful flowers, interesting textures, or the way they complement the surrounding landscape.
Common Evening Primrose: More Than Meets the Eye Read Post »
When I first began exploring native plants for my own backyard, purple lovegrass was one of the grasses that immediately caught my attention. There was something about its appearance that I found fascinating. A low-growing
Purple Lovegrass: A Cloud of Color in the Native Garden Read Post »
When I first started gardening, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about creating habitat. I was thinking about what I wanted my garden to provide. I wanted a healthy lawn where my kids could play and vegetables
What Is Habitat Gardening? Beyond Native Plants Read Post »
Field observations recorded July 22, 2026. Habitats Explored: Restored Prairie · Wet Woodland · Sandy Pine Forest · Deciduous Woodland · Ponds and Reservoir In Search of Blazing Stars I headed to the Beach Ridge
Beach Ridge: Adventure Along an Ancient Shoreline Read Post »
Lobelia siphilitica There are some native plants I grow primarily because of what they do. Goldenrods and asters support an incredible variety of insects. Swamp milkweed provides food for monarch caterpillars. Virginia mountain mint can
Great Blue Lobelia: Bringing Beauty and Structure to the Habitat Garden Read Post »
There are certain plants in my garden that seem to become gathering places. Earlier in the summer, Virginia mountain mint is one of them. When it is in full bloom, I can stand beside it
Late Boneset (Eupatorium serotinum): A Late-Season Pollinator Magnet 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
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
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
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
American Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana): The Native “Weed” I Learned to Appreciate Read Post »
