We are definitely starting to feel that Autumn is fully upon us, and this season is ripe for foragers! Fortunately, there are so many things to search for out there and use in our cooking. When we forage for and create eco-recipes for our meals, snacks, and drinks directly from nature, we have such control …
Category: DIY Creations, Flowers, Gardening, Health, Plants, Seasons, sustainability, The Art of Ecology, Wild Edibles Tags: autumn, eco-friendly, Flowers, forage, foraging by season, Gardening, Health, nature, Plants, recipes, Seasons, sustainability, The Art of Ecology
September marks National Mushroom Month, and rightfully so! Many amazing, forage-able fungi start appearing around this time of year. Whether you’re looking for mushrooms to eat, to use for making botanical dye, or just because you plain old appreciate them and find them fascinating, September is a great time to start going around searching for …
Category: Illustrations Tags: bioluminesecnt, blue in nature, blue pinkgill, botanical illustration, conservation, decomposer, ecology, fall fungi challenge, fly agaric, fungi, Gardening, jack-o-lantern mushroom, magpie ink cap, morel, mushroom month, mushrooms, nature, parrot waxcap, scarlet elf cup, scientific illustration, Seasons, The Art of Ecology
For many of us, the start of the school year marks the start of fall seasonal allergies and… and… ACHOO!!!! (Excuse me…) our eyes, noses, and throats can suffer as we enjoy the great outdoors, but what is it that’s making us so sneezy? Unfortunately for this amazing plant, the blame usually is directed at …
Tags: allergies, autumn, Flowers, Gardening, goldenrod, Health, nature, Plants, pollinator garden, ragweed, Seasons, The Art of Ecology
Did you know that this week is Pollinator Week? This is a week (although it’s a Pollinator Month as well!) where Pollinator Protections are passed, local municipalities put out Pollinator Proclamations, and Pollinator-Themed activities and events happen. This is a fantastic time to learn more about local pollinators and about their importance, BUT…. pollinators need …
Category: Backyard Habitats, Special Conservation Designated Events Tags: Animals, backyard habitat, bees, beetles, biodiversity, butterflies, conservation, Flowers, Gardening, keep the weeds, lawn, Plants, pollinator garden, pollinator week, pollinators, The Art of Ecology, weeds, wildflowers
It may be a little chilly out still, but it’s finally the time of year to start planning out your garden! As the winter fades into spring, we can think about seed starting, and drawing up plans to ready your home/garden for new plants. How do we start the planning process though? Ultimately, think about …
Category: Backyard Habitats Tags: Flowers, garden, Gardening, gardening for wildlife, gardening idea, native plants, Plants, pollinator garden, Seasons, seed starting, spring, The Art of Ecology, wildlife habitat
Uuugghhhhhh…. Many of us are feeling it right now… A mild depression, the itching desire to go out and do something, and see something GREEN! If you’re a gardener, you may even be beyond excited to get your hands in the dirt again! We’ve got it bad…. Well, I do at any rate. I’ve got …
Tags: Botanical Garden, Gardening, greenhouse, Health, houseplant, Plants, propagation, Seasons, spring fever, The Art of Ecology, things to do, winter blues, winter plants
As the vibrant fall foliage fades and the trees are left bare, a certain type of tree stands out amongst the gangly, naked maples and oaks – Evergreens! The greens and blues of their needles provide a welcome burst of color in a now grey and brown world. Other than just providing a welcome splash …
Category: DIY Creations, Gardening, Health, Plants, Seasons, The Art of Ecology, Wild Edibles Tags: botanical cocktails, botany, conifer, evergreen, forage, foraging by season, foraging etiquette, Gardening, Health, medicinal plants, Plants, Seasons, The Art of Ecology, trails to tasting, wild edible, winter, winter landscape, winter plants
We all love the yummy veggies that come fresh from the garden in the summer (click here for more info on creating an edible garden), but did you know that you could be getting fresh, natural ingredients pretty much ALL YEAR LONG without having to garden?! Throughout each season, various wildflowers, berries, leaves, tree bark, …
Category: Flowers, Gardening, Plants, sustainability, The Art of Ecology, Wild Edibles Tags: berries, botanical cocktails, edible flowers, Flowers, forage, foraging by season, foraging etiquette, Gardening, holistic, medicinal plants, natural living, nature, organic, pine, Plants, sumac, sustainability, The Art of Ecology, universal edibility test, wild edible, wildflowers
Are you going stir-crazy and desparate to find something to do? Below is a list of some of my favorite DIY ideas to inspire you! These are all projects that in some way benefit the environment, either by creating valuable habitat for wildlife or by reducing your own Carbon Footprint! DIY Projects to Benefit Backyard …
Category: Backyard Habitats, DIY Creations Tags: art, backyard habitat, creation, diy, eco-friendly, education, Gardening, nature, projects, quarantine, recycle, social distancing, sustainability, The Art of Ecology, upcycle, wildlife habitat
In past posts, I’ve talked about how pollinators are attracted to certain flowers, and even how flowers have adapted their coloration or structure to better suit pollinators. Did you know that humans, way back in the 1700s, thought about using that sort of botanical and ecological knowledge to OUR advantage? In 1751, Carl Linnaeus (the …
Category: Flowers, Gardening, Plants, Seasons, The Art of Ecology Tags: diy, Flowers, Gardening, gardening idea, get outside, Plants, pollinator garden, Seasons, The Art of Ecology, wildflowers