- The Patient GardenerAuthor: Joe Sarnicola I am fairly new to the world of native plant gardening. In the spring of 2025, I used some leftover lumber to frame a six foot by 8 foot space in my back yard, which became my butterfly garden. Following the advice of a few knowledgeable friends, I visited a local nursery… Read more: The Patient Gardener
- The Importance of Native PlantsAuthor: Joe Sarnicola Walk into the garden section of any big box store and you will probably see a colorful assortment of flowers. Assuming this is an outdoor section, look a little closer. Are there any bees or butterflies visiting those flowers? If there aren’t there are several possible reasons: 1. These flowers are often… Read more: The Importance of Native Plants
- To Bees or Not to BeesAuthor: 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 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
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.