GreenStrides is about making strides toward greener living in the home and office. Our blog highlights the latest green building news, information, and techniques.
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Need some shade from the hot summer sun? The best solution is usually as simple as planting a tree in your yard, and now you can get one for FREE! This fall, TreePhilly, in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo, will give away 1500 trees to Philadelphia residents! They’ll provide the tree, […] The post Free Trees for Philly!! appeared first on...
Need some shade from the hot summer sun? The best solution is usually as simple as planting a tree in your yard, and now you can get one for FREE! This fall, TreePhilly, in partnership with the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo, will give away 1500 trees to Philadelphia residents!
They’ll provide the tree, some mulch and also instructions regarding planting and taking care of your new tree. The deadline to register is September 30, 2014. For more information, click here.
If you prefer to add a free street tree instead, or to get free street trees for your entire block, they have a great program for that too! Read more about this generous program here.
Trees are amazing living things and provide numerous benefits, as they:
For even more benefits of trees, read my previous post here.
photo courtesy of Pinterest via Sebastian Rachele & Kurt Gruber
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A report recently released by the Pesticide Research Institute and Friends of the Earth warns that, “More than half of ostensibly bee-friendly plants sampled at 18 Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart garden centers in the U.S. and Canada contained high levels of neonicotinoids (a pesticide), which are considered highly toxic to bees, butterflies and other […] The post Hidden Toxins in Plants from Big-Box Retailers appeared first on...
A report recently released by the Pesticide Research Institute and Friends of the Earth warns that, “More than half of ostensibly bee-friendly plants sampled at 18 Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart garden centers in the U.S. and Canada contained high levels of neonicotinoids (a pesticide), which are considered highly toxic to bees, butterflies and other insect pollinators.”
Read the entire article here, and take a moment to sign a quick petition here to help save our essential pollinators. Learn more from my previous post titled, “A World Without Flowers?” and see why declining populations of pollinators puts much of our own food supply in jeopardy.
So, what can you do (besides signing petitions)? Ask your local garden center if their plants have been treated with these dangerous pesticides and shop at native plant nurseries whenever possible.
photo above courtesy of Bachman’s Floral Gift and Garden, a Minnesota-based retailer committed to eliminating neonicotinoid pesticides in the plants they sell.
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Creating a sense of place, or identity, in any landscape design includes utilizing elements that fit in with the context of the site, which may be historical, cultural, environmental or geographical. In addition, architectural features that help create or enhance the special character of a place can be functional, whimsical and/or simply beautiful. To keep […] The post 6 Architectural Elements that Add Character and Structure to the Garden appeared first on...
Creating a sense of place, or identity, in any landscape design includes utilizing elements that fit in with the context of the site, which may be historical, cultural, environmental or geographical. In addition, architectural features that help create or enhance the special character of a place can be functional, whimsical and/or simply beautiful.
To keep it green, it’s best to incorporate local, reclaimed or recycled materials.
Arbors: Creating a gateway into a space can be achieved with the use of an arbor, whether it be constructed of lumber, metal or living plants, the latter two pictured here. Native climbing plants and vines can be used to soften the lines of, and provide shade beneath, a more traditional wood arbor.
Fences: Whether you need to add privacy or just architectural interest, a fence can define a space to create separate garden rooms. This fence adheres to the traditional, formal feel of the property.
Read my previous post here for eco-friendly fence options made from composite materials.
Sculpture: What garden would be complete without a focal point, such as a sculpture at the end of a pathway or in a special part of the garden? Adding a piece of art can create a certain ambiance too, such as whimsy or formality, to the garden. Read my previous post here to get inspiration by visiting a sculpture park near you.
Buildings: The side of a building can help define an outdoor space. The sides of this historic barn aid in defining three separate garden rooms. The old barn provides a cohesive backdrop to each garden room, yet enables each space to have its own unique character.
Plants: Some plants are more architectural than others and can be used to create a living wall or naturalistic focal point, as well as define the edges of a garden. This allée of espaliered native trees draws the eye toward a sculptural element at the end of the path.
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While taking a little time to stop and smell the roses this spring, you may notice the intricate handiwork of birds building their nests. It’s amazing what these instinctive architects can create with found materials. While an ideal environment provides them with the right building materials, we can also lend a helping hand by providing […] The post Nesting Materials For The Birds appeared first on...
While taking a little time to stop and smell the roses this spring, you may notice the intricate handiwork of birds building their nests. It’s amazing what these instinctive architects can create with found materials. While an ideal environment provides them with the right building materials, we can also lend a helping hand by providing them with additional, and sometimes surprising, materials. The National Wildlife Federation put together an informative list of things we can add to supplement what birds find in nature.
You can also learn how to get your backyard certified as an official wildlife habitat by providing a few things, including food, water and cover for these crafty creatures.
To see some remarkable birds and other animals building their incredible homes, check out this PBS episode of The Animal House.
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They’re whimsical and imaginative, artful and sculptural…topiary gardens take many shapes and sizes. The precisely sheared shrubs and trees seem to come to life. Recently though, topiary gardening has morphed into something even more magical: Mosaiculture. These public works of horticultural art, often several stories high, encompass wire frames that act as colossal planters filled […] The post Topiary Gardens Take a Giant Leap appeared first on...
They’re whimsical and imaginative, artful and sculptural…topiary gardens take many shapes and sizes. The precisely sheared shrubs and trees seem to come to life. Recently though, topiary gardening has morphed into something even more magical: Mosaiculture. These public works of horticultural art, often several stories high, encompass wire frames that act as colossal planters filled with potting mix, thousands of colorful plants, and sometimes even irrigation systems…these are the divas of the plant world.
Some of my favorites include:
Sculptor Jeff Koons‘ 40-foot tall “Puppy” is composed of stainless steel, tons of soil, geotextile fabric, an internal irrigation system, and tens of thousands live flowering plants. This pup is a world traveler too, with the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, Spain now serving as its permanent home. See more of the artist’s work here.
Some of the tough plants used in Mosaiculture include perennials: Carex, sedum, creeping thyme, oregano, dichondra, santolina, echeveria, iresine and alternanthera. Colorful annuals include: zinnia, impatiens, bidens, daisies and scaevola. Learn more about Mosaiculture from the Montreal, Canada nonprofit organization that conjured up this amazing concept.
A mix of living topiary art and contemporary design:
Urban Garden Room by Margie Ruddick, Dorothy Ruddick and WRT: Four larger-than-life, award-winning horticultural sculptures create a serene ambiance in the 60-foot high atrium at the LEED platinum Bank of America tower at One Bryant Park, NYC. Carefully constructed forms covered with ferns, mosses and vines provide a vital connection to nature in this urban environment. (photo by Cait Oppermann)
Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden, Bishopville, South Carolina: Now in its 4th decade, this garden is comprised of 400+ shrubs skillfully sculpted by a self-taught man named Pearl. Using many compost pile castaways from local nurseries, Pearl’s garden is “one man’s firm belief in the results of positive thinking, hard work, and perseverance, and his dedication to spreading a message of love, peace and goodwill.”
Some of the shrubs and trees used in traditional topiary gardens include: yews, boxwood, privet, holly and juniper.
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Trees have so many benefits, from providing shade to intercepting rain water, but some have additional appeal–they put on a lovely flowering show for us each spring. Native trees have especially great value in our landscapes, as they provide food and habitat for song birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Native plants are also well adapted […] The post Best Blooming Native Trees appeared first on...
Trees have so many benefits, from providing shade to intercepting rain water, but some have additional appeal–they put on a lovely flowering show for us each spring. Native trees have especially great value in our landscapes, as they provide food and habitat for song birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Native plants are also well adapted to your particular region and thrive with little water and care. Read more about the importance of using native plants in my previous post here.
Some of my favorite flowering native trees include:
Just a note on where to purchase these trees…Reputable nurseries and online resources are your best bet, not the big box retailers. Also, check out your local native plant society in spring and fall.
Sources: Native Plants of the Northeast by Donald J. Leopold, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanic Garden, and forestryimages.org
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