Quick tips, project snapshots, and seasonal notes
@harperbotanical
A low-lying meadow in my neighborhood, filled with moisture-loving plants like Bushy Bluestem, Swamp Asters, Cardinal Flowers, and Bonesets. Can we all just agree that fall is the best time of year?
So much texture. So much life. A beautiful snapshot of the changing of the seasons.
A native bee with very full pollen sacks gathered from a field of Goldenrod (Solidago spp.). There are over 30 species in Georgia alone. They support the larva of the Wavy-lined Emerald Moth, specialized native bees, and provide much-needed late-season nectar.
Fun fact: Goldenrod does NOT cause allergies. That's ragweed. Goldenrod is insect-pollinated, not wind-pollinated!
One of the key things to remember for a native garden to maintain a tidy and purposeful appearance is to plant in large groups of odd numbers and to use repetition throughout the entire area. For a greater "wow" factor, plant in swaths of seven or more.
My front yard design on a 1/2 acre in a strict HOA community. The yard was typical of many suburban neighborhoods — a blank canvas of turf grass with a few ornamental shrubs at the foundation.
Now it's an eco-friendly, pollinator-supporting landscape that still keeps the neighbors happy.
A native landscape through the seasons. Good ecological design means your yard has something beautiful to offer in every season — spring blooms, summer fullness, fall color, and winter structure.
Eupatorium capillifolium (Dogfennel) in full bloom. So big and fluffy, you'll want to give it a hug.
Smells like dill when the leaves are crushed, but very poisonous if used as an herb. Historically used as an insecticide, antifungal, and insect bite remedy.
My primary objective is to connect people with nature in ways that empower them and inform their stewardship of the land — be they homeowners with an acre of yard space or urban dwellers with a nook for a few pots.
A rain garden sequesters excess water in low-lying areas during and after heavy rains. What was once a perennially boggy problem area becomes a beautiful, functional feature of your landscape.
Native plants with deep root systems do the heavy lifting — filtering runoff and providing habitat at the same time.
My wild garden in colored pencil. A work of love and pure Crayola goodness. Zen garden, raised veggie beds, native plantings, fruit trees, and ALL the play equipment — on a half acre with steep grades and a strict HOA.
When one sees a bare patch of earth, one has a duty to plant something there.
Symphyotrichum puniceum (Swamp Asters) backed by Helenium autumnale (Common Sneezeweed) in a low-lying, consistently moist power line right-of-way in Kennesaw, GA.
Fall asters can look like a hot mess for most of the season, then cover themselves head to toe with snowy, showy blooms. Worth the wait!
Bring some more life to your home with a personally curated collection of houseplants suited to your home's specific style and needs. We provide an initial consultation, followed by sourcing and styling your green collection.
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) with our ubiquitous fall-blooming white asters. The vivid red spikes of cardinal flower are one of the few truly red native wildflowers — and a hummingbird magnet.
Antennaria plantaginifolia (Pussytoes) is a beautiful native groundcover for tough, dry sunny spots. It spreads by stolons to form a silver-green mat that deer won't touch. Perfect for those HOA-friendly areas where turf grass struggles.
The evolution of my little piece of earth — surrounded by so many open, sterile suburban lawns and perfectly pruned hedges — makes my heart sing louder than my teenage daughter's music and my boys' inability to quietly shut a door.