Native Yards and Yarns

  • To Bees or Not to Bees
    Author: Joe Sarnicola One important aspect of a native plant garden is to create an environment where pollinators can find food, shelter, and a place to raise their offspring. Why is this so important? Let’s start with pollen, the dust-like material created by the male part of a flower which must be transferred to the… Read more: To Bees or Not to Bees
  • Botanical Names
    Author: 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 Web
    Author: 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 Soil
    Author: 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!

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.