Ecological Gardening

Ecological gardening, also known as eco-friendly or sustainable gardening, refers to the practice of cultivating plants in a way that supports biodiversity and promotes the health of the environment.

Here, I feature photos and stories of the insects, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife that make their home in my garden (or at least stop by for a visit). For me, it’s important to share my space with these creatures rather than act as though I have dominion over them. After all, they were here before my neighborhood was built. All life in the garden is part of a balanced food web and ecosystem. 

Ecological Gardening

Blue vervain was the surprise star of my summer garden. I grew this native perennial from seed for common buckeye butterflies, but discovered it supports an entire...

Most people think of bees and butterflies first when they picture backyard wildlife, but garden spiders are just as much a part of the ecological story. They’re...

If you ever want to see some really fascinating creatures in your garden, grow native milkweed! When I first planted milkweed in my garden, I knew it...

About ten years ago, my husband and I wandered into a large tent at the Tulsa State Fair. Inside, a local butterfly club had filled it with...

It’s the season to see box turtles here in eastern Oklahoma. This morning the day started with my husband spotting one near his little front yard garden....

Native plants like passion flower vine are not always easy to source locally, so if you can master starting them from seed, you have more opportunities to...

Is there any creature in the garden more mesmerizing and magical than caterpillars? These fascinating insects come in many different sizes and colors and display incredible camouflage,...

I was so happy to see that yarrow, one of my favorite plants, is being recognized as the Herb of the Year for 2024 by the International...

Skippers are a unique group of butterflies belonging to the family Hesperiidae within the order of moths and butterflies.   They have several traits that set them apart...

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