From the Garden

Gardens full of biodiversity attract all manner of wildlife — a little highlight reel of the gorgeous insects I’ve spotted in my Athens, GA garden over the past few days.

I presented this research at the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference — and now it’s time to get the plots in the ground. My work explores whether carefully designed, low-growing native plant assemblages can be a practical, ecologically beneficial alternative to conventional lawn.

The sounds of the garden: cicadas settling into June, water spilling over rock into a modest pond full of tadpoles and frogs, and birdsong from Northern cardinals, fish crows, Mississippi kites, and a funny pair of pileated woodpeckers.

Stuff worth looking at.

Winter-break work: a tree study, concept views from the front-porch sittin’ spot, a small backyard wildlife pond, and plans for the patio and retaining-wall renovation.

Asters, skeletons, Christmas ferns, and colorful annuals, oh my! Fall is for planting.