- Botanical NamesAuthor: Joe Sarnicola Let’s imagine you ask a local gardener what you would need to start a new native plant garden. They tell you to buy a pointed shovel, a pair of heavy-duty gloves, and two Asclepias syriaca. So you write down, “Shovel, gloves, and what?” Asclepias syriaca is the botanical name for common milkweed.… Read more: Botanical Names
- The Soil/Food WebAuthor: Joe Sarnicola Now that we have a better understanding of the differences between dirt and soil, we should probably examine what is happening in our soil a little more closely. When we look at our gardens, we probably see flowers, shrubs, trees, maybe a sandy spot for ground bees, but are we thinking about… Read more: The Soil/Food Web
- The Importance of Healthy SoilAuthor: Joe Sarnicola After working in your garden, have you soiled your hands, or have you only gotten them dirty? You may ask in reply, “Aren’t they both the same question?” Nope, and here’s why. Soil contains living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, all which support plant life. Dirt has none of these,… Read more: The Importance of Healthy Soil
- Bugs in the Garden? Oh, My!Author: Joe Sarnicola Judging by the array of pesticides in a typical big box store it would be easy to believe that every insect should be killed on site and every flower and shrub treated to prevent any new ones from coming around. Unfortunately, that is how many casual gardeners feel. Yet, one of the… Read more: Bugs in the Garden? Oh, My!
- Keystone PlantsAuthor: Joe Sarnicola When many of us hear the term “keystone” we may think of the wedge stone that locks the other stones of an arch in place, silent movie cops, Pennsylvania (Keystone State), or even a brand of beer. I doubt many people associate keystones with plants. But they should. Wild Ones promotes the… Read more: Keystone Plants
About the author:
Joe Sarnicola is a writer and native plant gardener based in Auburn, New York, and he is a member of the Habitat Gardening of Central New York Chapter Wild Ones.