Author: Kristi Shepler

Happy New Year

Ring in 2024! Volunteer Not going to ask you to make any dreaded “New Year’s resolutions”. Instead, I invite you to consider how you may engage further with Wild Ones and our community. You already read our blog, so here are some suggestions on how to get the most from your membership in 2024: Opportunities […] Continue reading "Happy New Year"

Chris Burghart Garden

A Slowly and Constantly Evolving Landscape … When Chris moved to Juniper Place in 2012, with the exception of the mature maples, there were less than ten plants on the property. That year three rhododendrons and a handful of perennials were added and in 2014 more defined beds were formed. In 2016, the sandy circle […] Continue reading "Chris Burghart Garden"

Johanna Garrison Garden 

Wild Whimsy Since 2015, Johanna keeps finding ways to squeeze more native plants onto her fifth-acre plot without completely forsaking areas of lawn that grew in naturally (bunnies love the dandelions and clover). A few cultivars remain, but overall, Johanna’s garden is roughly 90% straight species, the majority sourced from Wild Things Rescue Nursery.  Delicious Addition An avid veggie gardener as well, she and her husband greatly benefit from foodscaping. Johanna has even documented sweat bees pollinating their tomato plants—a much rarer […] Continue reading "Johanna Garrison Garden "

Wild Cucumber

Echinocystis lobata is one of the many native vine plants here in New York. The vine gracefully grows up trees and over hedge rows with a mutual agreement so no harm is done to the supporting plant. As an annual, the vine itself only lives for one year so it won’t strangle a host plant. […] Continue reading "Wild Cucumber"

Jack in the Pulpit Highlight

Arisaema stewardsonii is typically thought of as a spring ephemeral since that is when it blooms. However, if one were to continue watching, a stunning seed head will form in the fall! While most homes are built on land that has been drained off, this swamp-loving plant will sometimes grace homeowners with more wet and shady […] Continue reading "Jack in the Pulpit Highlight"

Sustainable Living Center

The Sustainable Living Center is a section of the Schenectady County Cornel Cooperative Extension. They sure know how to pack in a lot of features into an area. Activities for kids, a seasonal food share program, and what brought us there a pollinator garden that is being converted to plants native to New York! Keep […] Continue reading "Sustainable Living Center"

Jewelweed Highlight

Jewelweed is another plant with “weed” in the common name and, while it may grow like a weed, there is so much more to this fantastic native plant! Spotted Jewelweed Impatiens capensis and Pale Jewelweed Impatiens pallida are the two species that live here in the Capital Region of New York. Make sure to add […] Continue reading "Jewelweed Highlight"