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November 2023 News from the Cactus Patch | |
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How many shades of brown are you seeing in your gardens? Until you begin gardening with native plants - and leaving the plants standing over the winter you never really realize how many shades of brown and gray exist and how fabulous they really are. The photo featured here belongs to Larry Weaner and is shared with his express permission. Explore his work for some amazing inspiration.
Like all of our newsletters, this one is long and chocked full of information. We are well aware that in the modern era of soundbites, newsletters should be short and sweet - we are told by experts that readers have no attention spans. We choose to entirely ignore this advice, and instead each month send you an abundance of resources that you can peruse at your leisure until next month when the next lengthy edition arrives. Our reader analytics and real-world feedback indicate this is working out just fine. There are many, many links embedded in this edition. They are all tested and safe. We do not earn a nickel (or even a penny) by you clicking on any of them. They are there because we believe they contain really useful information and hope that it might be helpful to you to have it all bundled into one place. We do not use AI to write any of our content. It is done the old fashioned way, just like we did on typewriters before computers even existed in our homes.
Viewing tip - your email may clip the message off part way and so you may need to click "view in browser" or "show entire message" or some variation on that depending on the service you use. Just be sure you are viewing the whole thing, we wouldn't want you to miss any of the best parts. Enjoy!
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Happy Thanksgiving from Our House to Yours | |
An excerpt from "In November" - by Cynthia Rylant
In November, the trees are standing all sticks and bones. Without their leaves, how lovely they are, spreading their arms like dancers. They know it is time to be still.
In November, the earth is growing quiet. It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures. The bed is white and silent, and much life can hide beneath its blankets.
In November, some birds move away and some birds stay. The air is full of good-byes and well-wishes. The birds who are leaving look very serious. No silly spring chirping now. They have long journeys and must watch where they are going. The staying birds are serious, too, for cold times lie ahead. Hard times. All berries will be treasures.
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A Gift For You With Our Thanks!
You've barely put those gardening tools away (or if you are like us you haven't) and it's time to turn your attention to the whirlwind that is the holiday shopping extravaganza. Take a little bit of pressure off and give the gift of great gardening to someone you love - or someone who needs a little bit of eco-friendly garden inspiration. This coming weekend where Black Friday meets Small Business Saturday with a Cyber Monday trifecta you will earn $10.00 in Cactus Cash for every $100.00 of gift certificates you purchase. And purchasing certificates couldn't be any easier. Just send us a message and we can either drop them in the mail to you or you can swing right by to pick them up. Take advantage of this promo, it is only good from Friday, November 24th through Monday, November 27th. And hey, Prickly Ed's frequent flier shoppers - you know who you are - don't be shy, print this out and hand it right to your loved ones who may need an extra clue or two about what you are hoping to find in your stocking this season.
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Getting Your Garden Ready for Winter
Emerging research is clearly showing that winter habitat is equally, perhaps even more important for pollinator and songbird survival. This habitat is found in the form of fallen leaves, standing stems, brush piles and tree snags and logs. But, to be blunt, there is an unhealthy culture of tidying up the outdoors that permeates our suburbs and whisks most of this vital habitat away. We encourage you to break free from that. The following are some great places to start exploring this topic and to get some really practical tips on how to balance leaving habitat for creatures in peril while also making your space suburb approved. We have included several different resources since each has some nuances that may be helpful to you as you plan for your own space and educate others on the importance of wintertime habitat.
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Messy or Magical? Must See Programming!
Everyone has at least one hour they can devote to watching a great video with a mug of pumpkin spice coffee, chai tea or mulled wine in the coming weeks. This video is a recording that was co-sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts and the Tower Hill Botanical Society. It featured iconic, award winning garden designer Edwina von Gal. Here is the program description: Landscapes built along conventional standards of beauty, such as the pristine American lawn, are typically ecological dead zones, and often maintained with chemicals that are harmful to humans as well as wildlife. Given catastrophic declines in biodiversity, it is imperative that we make room for nature in our neighborhoods. But habitat-rich native landscapes are still commonly read as “messy,” a barrier to the widespread cultural embrace of this movement. Edwina von Gal discusses how we can change the perception of what a “good” garden is, where healthy habitat is not disparaged as untidy but appreciated for its richness, complexity, and life-giving magic. Click HERE or on the photo above to watch the program.
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Photo of Edwina von Gal's Long Island yard by Allan Pollock-Morris. Used with express permission. In gardening the focus is so often on flowers. But with artful blending of tones and textures spaces come to life even with nary a flower in sight! | |
Other Voices
This month we are excited to launch a new feature - "Other Voices" where we highlight your stories of building back habitat at home. One of our goals here at Prickly Ed's is to help connect people working to seed change in their yards and communities. We believe an important part of this is hearing others' stories. This will be the first of many. To kick things off we are delighted to share a piece written by Barrington resident Robert Swarts. One of the techniques Rob is using for planning is satellite images that provide a different perspective when considering placement of trees and shrubs and expansion of garden beds.
These are all his own words, we are just the vehicle for sharing!
At my last home, I had decided to allow a landscaper to plant many decorative perennials in a large garden space. I was excited, having talked to him about my desire for meadowscaping. I realized after the project was completed that I was also naïve. I wasted years telling myself that the plants would grow and fill out, creating the vision I desired. After four years, though, my garden was bare, empty, and sterile.
When we decided to move to Barrington and selected a property against the Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve, I knew I had another chance. The house was perfect. The gardens were beautiful, adorned with mature-growth shrubs that flowered fantastically. Only, that first summer was as hot and dry as any I’d experienced before. We lost six shrubs to drought and a few more to powdery mildew. The surviving shrubs became brambly and uncooperative. I knew that in redesigning my now defunct garden, I had to tackle it head-on.
I went to task, identifying each plant using several plant identification apps. I was astonished to see nineteen Asian varieties, four European varieties, and a handful of others from every continent but North America. Worst yet, they were all highly invasive, unsuited to our climate, and only a stone’s throw from a delicate nature reserve. Mostly, though, my yard felt sterile. There were few birds, few insects, and few mammal visitors. I then decided I must change course and quickly found my way into Barrington’s Native Plant culture thanks to the activism of a select few people I now count as friends.
First, I set a goal: 100+ unique varieties of native trees, shrubs, and plants. Why one hundred? I was inspired by a visit to the Wild Gardens of Acadia, which featured over 400 native plant species. It was an astounding place to visit and one I recommend to anyone interested in taking this native plant journey. Second, I immediately connected to Cindy Larson Moura and went to Prickly Ed’s Cactus Patch. Seeing the variety of quality trees, plants, and shrubs, I realized they would be the most helpful resource to reach my goal. Third, I planned out my project over five years.
After finishing year one, I can proudly say I’ve removed dozens of invasives and replaced them with a few choice native trees, shrubs, and plants. One year in, I reached 25% of my goal and am registered on the Pollinator Pathway project. My yard now features more native plants than it does invasive ornamentals. Most importantly, I have noticed how quickly wildlife has returned to my property. My son squeals every time he spots a new creature visiting our yard. I’m happy to know that my efforts have paid off by fostering an appreciation for nature in him.
In writing this, I was asked to share what I want my neighbors to know. That’s simple: Not everything you plant is going to work. Some may be devoured by animals very quickly. Some may not survive transplant. Some may not be exactly what you’re looking for. Also, not every plant is going to look pretty. This is what happens when you plant for function over aesthetics. My last bit of advice, which took me a while to get behind, is to let nature take over. Nature is not a micromanager. Let fallen leaves lie, literally. You’ll be astonished at how quickly your yard will transform and how teeming with life it will become just by getting out of nature’s way.
-Robert Swarts
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Robert got rid of a bit of grass along the driveway and replaced it with whimsy meets drought resistance with the addition of Ratthesnake Master, Little Bluestem and Giant Hyssop. | |
A newly planted gray birch will grow up alongside Robert's son. Birch is a keystone species in our area offering big benefits and the Gray Birch is a species that fares especially well in our climate and soils. | |
Nearly every house has foundation beds. And many of those beds are ready for an update! In this area adjacent to the patio Robert has begun introducing native plants into existing beds. | |
In writing about his yard, Robert mentioned the Johannis Wildlife Preserve. Johannis is a 40 acre refuge that sits along the Palmer River. It is owned and managed by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. The property is normally closed to the public but frequent sponsored walks allow visitors to experience its wonders firsthand. Local residents can help amplify the benefits of this preserve by managing their own yards in environmentally minded ways. | |  |
Robert also mentioned being one a growing number people who have joined the Northeast Pollinator Pathway. This initiative, launched in Connecticut, seeks to bring awareness to the issue of habitat fragmentation. Conservation spaces are fabulous - but - in places like the Northeast where land is heavily developed & more than 90% is privately owned, creating viable places for pollinators, songbirds and other beneficial wildlife to thrive means using our very own yards to help weave back connections and de-fragment the environment. Explore more at the links provided below. | | |
Native Plants are for the Birds | |
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Smithsonian Study Links Declines in Suburban Backyard Birds to Presence of Nonnative Plants
“Landowners are using nonnative plants in their yards because they’re pretty and exotic, they’re easy to maintain, and they tend to have fewer pests on them,” said Desirée Narango, a graduate student researcher at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. “But it turns out that a lot of those insects they see as pests are actually critical food resources for our breeding birds. For landowners who want to make a difference, our study shows that a simple change they make in their yards can be profoundly helpful for bird conservation.”
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North America has lost close to 3 billion birds since the 1970s. These are not just rare or endangered birds; our familiar backyard birds like Catbirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Chickadees are disappearing too. Most of them are migratory birds who rely on home gardens and neighborhood green space for food and shelter along their flightpath. Lack of habitat when birds are vulnerable – breeding, migration, and wintering – is the primary cause of this decline.
Pesticides contribute to habitat loss by reducing the abundance of insects for birds to eat. Insect numbers are further suppressed in landscapes that are full of exotic plants. These plants offer little to no food source for insects, because they evolved to eat native plants. Properties that combine exotic plants and pesticides have eliminated millions of acres of bird habitat. Birds are the messengers for a much larger problem: they are warning us about food web collapse and ecosystem-wide biodiversity decline.
We are part of the solution. Our landscapes can provide critical food and shelter needed to restore the bird population. Planting more native plants and eliminating pesticides will make more food for birds. Birds need at least 70 percent (two-thirds) native plants within foraging range to maintain healthy population levels. Aim to increase native plants in your landscape by planting two natives for every three, and encourage your neighbor to do the same; this simple action could be a life saver for birds, biodiversity, and ourselves.
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Ready to take a deeper dive into the subject of landscaping for birds and pollinators? Grab a cup of bird friendly coffee, sit back and watch a recording of Dr. Desiree Narango's illuminating presentation on this subject.
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Ok, you've built your bird-friendly oasis with a foundation of native plants. Next step, take flight from those lawn pesticides!
For starters, let's talk about what a pesticide is. Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides, acaricides, and any other “-cide” you can think of. If the intent of a product is to eliminate a pest or plant disease, it's a pesticide. This includes a wide range of products, ranging from the more bird-friendly organics to the most broad and ruthless synthetics. It is very important to note that those "step" programs commonly used on lawns incorporate an array of "cides" along with fertilizers. Before you spread - read the label carefully! Pesticide chemicals may impact birds by:
- poisoning birds when granules or coated berries and seeds are ingested;
- killing insects and other invertebrates crucial to birds and their young;
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eliminating plants necessary to bird survival;
- thinning eggshells and reducing chick weight;
- and suppressing immune systems and inhibiting movement.
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Worried that your plants won't be picture perfect without the "cides?
Cue the 10-step program. Take 10 steps back from that leaf or petal you are fretting over. What do you see? Now back up further and go grab a cocktail and chill out. Life is much too short to be helicopter parenting plants!
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Are Your Holiday Decorations Wildlife Safe?
Before decking the outdoor halls consider a few ways that you can help keep birds and other wild friends safe this holiday season. Fake greenery and berries may look picture perfect to humans but can be very confusing to a foraging bird. Even living wreaths, garlands and arrangements often include artificial berries and nuts or grains that have been dyed, preserved or otherwise treated with chemically toxic substances to improve color and durability. Glitter and fake snow are the icing on the cake. Birds attracted to what they perceive as a bounty may forage and ingest pieces, especially smaller, brightly colored berries before realizing their mistake, which can be lethal. As you create a healthy habit, your yard will be filled with interesting materials that are perfect for holiday decorating. Branches from red twig dogwood, seed heads from sumac, bursts of winterberry and inkberry holly and an array of evergreen boughs and dried flowers can all be put to great use.
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Be useful not ornamental - in life and in the garden! We love worker plants - plants that work for nature and plants that work for us. Elderberry is a classic example of a fabulous native plant that benefits nature while also harboring healing properties that cannot be denied. Our latest blog post digs deep on the American Elder and includes a recipe for Elderberry Syrup - enjoy in good health!
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Help Us Bring More Life to Our Region | |
We are on a mission to bring life back to area yards and gardens and you can help. Share this message with others using the links below. Invite friends to follow our Facebook Page. Use our newly updated website to share out helpful resources and information to friends and neighbors who are ready to grow habitat outside their own doors. With your support positive change is within reach. | |
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Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch
6 Barneyville Road,
Barrington, RI 02806-2715
(401) 248-4785
Please note, use the address above for mailing or for GPS but the Roadside Stand/Native Plant Emporium is located in Swansea, MA directly next door to the address listed above. Just look for the flurry of activity and the driveway to the big red barn.
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We are on a mission to bring life back to the area one yard at a time. You can read all about us on our website, including the story of where the name Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch came from. | | | | |
