The Art of Ecology
Building visual connections between people and nature.
Tag: wildflowers
Herbalism: a Reason to Forage!
Herbalism is the practice of using plants as a tool to maintain overall physical and mental wellness. How do Herbalism & Foraging Go Together? The best plants to maintain our health with are wild ones! These plants have had to work hard to produce chemicals to deter insects, prevent over-browsing, and stay strong against fungi …
Foraged Floral Arrangements
Spring has sprung and it’s definitely a great time to be getting outside, exploring nature, and re-establishing our connection with the ecosystems around us after a long winter! One great way to do this is to explore the plant life around you, and bring home some foraged floral arrangements. Benefits of Fresh Flowers Inside Having …
Leave The Weeds – Love the Pollinators!
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 …
Foraging For Wild Edibles & Etiquette
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, …
Tell the Time With Garden Blooms!
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 …
Pollination – Amazing Plant & Animal Relationships
Last month, I had a wonderful opportunity to learn more about pollinators, like the honeybee, at the nationally recognized botanical garden – Longwood Gardens! This professional development opportunity allowed me to not only learn about these amazing plant & animal relationships, but to witness first hand active pollination in the outdoor gardens and photograph some …
Living Coral – Pantone Color of the Year and Nature
Living Coral – the Color of the Year! We can expect to see more of this color in our lives and on our news feeds. Pantone has selected this color because “Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment. In reaction to the onslaught of …
Work With Nature – Not Against It!
There was a quote written on the whiteboard of one of the places I worked at saying “Gardening is man wrestling with nature.” This seems rather counter-intuitive though, to me. If we are gardening, aren’t we trying to add more nature to the nature that’s already in place? Shouldn’t we work with it not against …
Butterflies: How to Add Extra Color to Your Garden
Gardening season is upon us! I for one absolutely love having as much color surrounding me as possible, so naturally, I plant a variety of vividly colored flowering plants, but why stop there? Why not garden for vividly colored wildlife as well? Butterflies, even the caterpillars, are vital parts of the ecosystem and making your …
It’s finally Gardening season – Make it pollinator friendly!
If you’re into gardening or just being out in nature, chances are, you enjoy flowers! Their vibrant colors, textured foliage and sweet fragrances are pleasing. In fact, it’s not just flowers that you like by many other plants including fruits and vegetables! Without pollinators like birds, bats, bees, butterflies, moths and other insects, these beautiful, …
