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Want a pollinator garden? It's not too late to start one!

This little plant, the Purple Poppy Mallow, serves as a hot plant for the Purple Poppy Mallow and other butterflies.. It caught my eye at a local nursery, and I hope to see the characteristic purple blooms next year.                I’ve been so blessed this week because three Black Swallowtails have emerged in my butterfly habitat, and I’ve also found a number of huge swallowtail caterpillars on…

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Fall gardening season is upon us! Plan and plant now!

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Groundcovers-The Good, the Bad, and the Very Aggressive

Instead of invasive grasses and vines, why not take a softer approach. What is more lovely than a carpet of wild violets in the spring? Some of you  may have seen my recent rant on social media about the aggressive ornamental grasses, including lillyturf, or creeping liriope, that are being sold as groundcovers. I know that nurseries market these grasses as a drought tolerant, low maintenance…

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Do you have aphids in your milkweed? Leave them alone!

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Want More Butterflies? Plant These Host Plants

I went away for the Fourth of July weekend, and I was thrilled when my petsitter texted me with a picture of this Monarch Butterfly that had just emerged from a chrysalis inside my butterfly habitat. Groups such as the Xerces Society discourage raising butterflies in indoor habitats and, instead, advoacte for restoring their wild habitat. That’s a noble aim, but in the meantime, I’d like to give…

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Are weeds taking over your garden, and your life? I can help!

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It doesn't take a lot of space or time to plant a butterfly garden, and if you plant it, they will come!

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If you have a cat, avoid the temptation to buy an Easter Lily. If you don't have a cat, don't discard your Easter Lily, plant it!

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Plant a Wildflower Garden, But Take Time to Enjoy those Volunteers!

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Anyone can be a gardener, even if you live in an apartment! Container gardening allows you to garden in small spaces!

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Transform Your Lawn: Eco-Friendly Alternatives

Are you bored with the sculpted golf course look? Are you tired of sacrificing so much leisure time to lawncare and giving your hard-earned money to big box stores to pay for the chemicals necessary to maintain this lawn?                There’s a lot of attention right now to lawn alternatives, including meadow lawns that incorporate native plants to attract pollinators and provide a wildlife…

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Bothered by Squirrels, Rats, or Mice? Put Away Those Traps and Reach for the Hot Peppers!

Are rodents a problem? Put away the traps and poisons, and reach for the hot peppers!

If summer brings mosquitoes and flies, cold weather can bring its share of pests, too.  Mice and rats can invade our gardens and, sometimes, even our houses garden. Squirrels, while cute, can become a nuisance to some if they eat bird food or garden seeds. The good news is that, just as there are eco-friendly ways of controlling insects, there is also humane, eco-friendly rodent control. This…

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In February, A Gardener's Thoughts Lightly Turn to Thoughts of Spring

As I write this, it’s cold and rainy outside, but my thoughts, like those of all gardeners, have already turned to spring. For gardeners, February is the time for spring garden planning, particularly if you’re into organic spring vegetable gardening.  Late winter and early spring bring cold winds and rapidly fluctuating temperatures, but this time of the year, when we’re on the cusp between…

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Nurturing Your Garden in Cold Weather: Essential Steps

   If you haven’t vigorously pruned and raked this fall, you might notice that green shoots and tufts of grass are popping out underneath the snow in your flower garden. You may be nervous that this young growth won’t survive the cold. Relax! That’s exactly why a growing number of homeowners are putting away their leaf blowers! Those leaves, and the dead growth on the unpruned bushes and forbs,…

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Bored? Check Out This Post on Fun Things to Do in Virginia Beach

Discover the Best Unique Things to Do in Virginia Beach

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This Native Will Add Color to Your Winter Landscape

On a recent walk through a wooded area, I was intrigued by the color in the winter landscape. There were the varied shades of green from the pines and cedars, and of course, there was the occasional pop of bright red or orange from holly berries. The magnolia trees, however, particularly caught my eye. Their deep, vibrant green leaves contrast with the darker or more silvery greens of the…

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What's Next?-It's All About You

I’ve been writing this blog for a few years now, and I’ve written about various topics, from cooking to pets to gardening. When I first began, I intended this as a blog to promote local produce farmers here in Virginia Beach and to encourage residents to eat and shop locally. With the continued growth of social media, I don’t think there’s as much need for that as there was when I began. Most…