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Flora and Fauna

April 22nd, 2005 at 02:47 pm

Earth Day today, and I'm feeling it as I celebrate my own little corner of Earth. I'm so thrilled with all the pretties coming up in my yard this spring. Little plantlings I've gradually put in here and there over time peeking up out of the ground -- it's like seeing old friends. And to watch them getting just a little bigger and stronger each year, and in some cases even spreading, all on their own accord, is a real joy. My yard is a perpetual work in progress, as it shall be for years to come. It's a large, town lot that was a neglected, patchy, overgrown mess when we first bought it 4.5 years ago. Ok, while many areas out there are still a mess and crying out for desperately needed attention (hello, 'creeping charlie'), other parts are shaping up nicely. It's all DIY of course, and we've really only had the time, energy, and money to work on small sections of it at a time. I've purchased and planted ornamentals, but as is typical of many transplants, often for the first few years they don't do much but look puny and delicate while they put their energy into root growth. I just had to plant, cross my fingers, and patiently wait. Doing it piecemeal this way is a slow process. Yet as I check out my little garden pretties this spring, I finally feel as though my incremental work over the years is beginning to show itself....

For the most part, I've tried to be responsible regarding the flora I've introduced into the yard. While not all of it is native (hostas, tulips, lilac, etc-- not native), I do, to the best of my knowledge, avoid invasive species (researching when necessary to be sure). And I've made a point of investing a bit of money every year toward native prairie and woodland plant species, of the kind that once commonly grew in our area but have been displaced due to development and sprawl and non-native gardening aesethics. Happily, there is an active local organization of prairie and native plant advocates that hosts an annual native plant sale (coming up next month), where I've purchased most of mine. These plants may not be not the cheapest around, still I feel they are a very worthwhile investment. Because they are native perennials, they are best acclimated to the area, requiring less attention than exotic species (watering, fertilizing, maintenance) to remain healthy. They are hardy, rarely needing replacement. Most provide sources of food for local wildlife, encouraging biodiversity while attracting beneficial bugs, birds, and butterflies and other pollinators. And, they're naturally beautiful. I put woodland plants in my shade areas, and prairie plants in the sunnier spots -- which expand just a little every year, cutting down on our mowing and watering. It's wonderful that natual and native landscaping is gradually gaining popularity among gardeners and homeowners. It makes economical, as well as environmental, sense.....

2 Responses to “Flora and Fauna”

  1. Anonymous Says:
    1114211475

    Sounds like those DIY gardening efforts of yours have really enhanced your property, harmonizing nicely with the surrounding natural habitat. Happy Earth Day to you!

  2. Anonymous Says:
    1114220590

    Thanks-- the same to you!

    And yes, inch by inch the landscaping is coming along -- so nice to finally see some 'fruits' of our labor....!

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