Fall and winter are the best times to sow native seeds. In Maine, the yearly cycle for seed ripening and germination is different from common garden and vegetable seeds…

Autumn is when many of us typically think of putting our gardens to bed by removing leaves and cutting back perennials. However, to truly support living creatures year round, it’s much better to leave fallen leaves …

Beach plums thrive in dry and sandy or gravelly soil. In the wild they grow in the extremely well drained sandy soils of the coast, often right in the sand dunes …

Stiff aster has many common names, including “bristly aster,” for its spruce-like leaves that feel rough to the touch; “flax-leaved aster” for the leaves’ resemblance to flax; and “ankle aster” …

The dome-shaped pink blooms attract many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects who feast on its pollen and nectar …

Asters and goldenrods attract loads of late season pollinating insects. In the wintertime, they provide food and habitat for many birds and small animals that feast on the seeds and find shelter in the dried stalks. Research by entomologist Doug Tallamy …

You have successfully germinated some native seeds and have small pots or flats filled with baby plants. Now what do you do? I recommend …

One of the joys of propagating native plants is that you don’t need expensive or sophisticated facilities. Native seeds are ideally suited to germinate outdoors in beds or pots. For many native plants, germination outdoors is often better …