native - ONCE UPON A CONEFLOWER

Making A Modern Meadow Garden

Helenium, daylilies, alliums, and coneflowers mingle

What is a “modern meadow garden”?

According to several sources I consulted, the term came into use to describe a relatively recent trend in gardening and to differentiate it from genuinely wild spaces. A meadow garden is deliberately created as a “naturalistic” planting, usually consisting of indigenous plants that mimic a wild meadow. A modern meadow garden incorporates a much wider selection of cultivars than would ordinarily coexist in nature, greatly expanding the concept.

I would describe the characteristics of a such a garden as informal and open, often grassy, with an unforced blowsy quality we identify with unmown fields, glades and prairies. The overall impression is one of soft movement and harmony framed by the larger landscape.

Traditional meadows filled with natives have been around for a while, but they never really caught on in a big way. With the world now yearning to connect more with nature, this modern interpretation has brought the meadow squarely into the public eye, popping up in parks and gardens and private properties all over the world.

Plant A Winter Buffet for Birds

As we retreat from the chill of outdoors to the comfort of the couch, it’s time to start thinking about next year’s garden. How’s your winter bird life? Could it be better? If you’d like to attract a greater variety of birds than you’re getting now, consider adding plants next year which will naturally supplement their diet with nutritious seeds and berries. And, find out what not to plant.

Praying Mantids: Friend or Foe?

A Chinese mantid in the “praying” stance on hydrangea

We’ve all seen a praying mantis, or mantid, at one time or another. It’s usually in late summer or early fall when the mature adults are most noticeably on the hunt. Whether perched on the side of your house or scrambling across a plant, these intrepid 3- to 5-inch long insects never fail to elicit a pause when we come across one.