Read ground-breaking research on cultivating suburban biodiversity

Nature's Best Hope (2019) by Douglas Tallamy.  A wonderful book at any time but especially so in light of the coronavirus pandemic.  Doug Tallamy, Univ. of Del. professor and naturalist, shows clearly and simply what each of us can do to support our native native pollinators and birds in our own back yards and parks.  Let's get started! 

Click "download" to see the beautiful cover of this book.

Bulletin #7153, Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine (PDF)

This bulletin was developed by Constance S. Stubbs, research assistant professor, and Nancy Coverstone, Extension educator, the University of Maine.

Much-admired author Doug Tallamy shows how everyone with access to a patch of earth can make a significant contribution toward sustaining biodiversity and why it matters so much.

Tools for developing pollinator-friendly landscapes using native plant species. ... curated lists of native, pollinator-friendly container plants and seeds will help you make the right decisions.

"While flowering plants provide pollinators with foods, insects also require suitable shelter for nesting and overwintering."  Meticulous fall clean-ups leave the garden neat as a pin and remove the critical winter protection our native pollinators need.  https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/18-014.pdf

Protecting our native pollinators through the power of citizen science.

A manicured lawn might look nice, but messy is better for birds and bugs.

The Audubon Society says:  leave this year's dead flower stalks with their seeds pods.  Winter birds need them.  Let some leaves remain on your garden beds and mulch (mow over) those on your lawn.  Leaf litter is free fertilizer and provides essential cover for tiny insects and invertebrates that wild birds eat.  Build a brush pile to provide cover from pedators and weather. Skip the chemicals.  They cause harm throughout the food web.  Download the article to learn more.

Constructed landscapes can provide excellent habitat for many butterflies and other beneficial insects. For butterflies, a complete habitat includes both nectar sources for the adults and larval host plants for the next generation. There are many good sources of information about which plants to use. 

A multi-town volunteer group supporting native pollinator habitat,  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MysticCharlesPollinators

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/mysticcharlespollinators/

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Meets monthly:  2nd Tuesday, 7:30 - 9 pm online

by Annie S. White

A landscape rich with a diversity of flowering plants is both beautiful and helps support the thousands of species of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects we have in the U.S. However, planning your pollinator-friendly landscape does not end with your plant list. The layout of your gardens, layout of your plants, and your maintenance practices all affect pollinators. Here is a set of considerations for choosing the best types of plants for pollinators, plus how to use them to create the best pollinator sanctuary possible.

 [3 videos] Last updated on Jul 24, 2020

... to explore issues surrounding the development of urban agriculture in Cambridge [and] to propose a comprehensive urban agriculture ordinance that will take into account a broad range of urban agricultural activities.

who teaches Compost 101, blogs about compost and other gardening topics, and has been an EcoFest contributor.  The related Facebook page is called Allium Fields. He also knows a lot about energy efficiency.  

Conference, webinars, events and free monthly newletter help you develop landscapes that consider the ecology of a site and create gardens that enhance the surrounding environment for the benefit of humans and all other life in the ecosystem. Newsletter archives contain over 15 years of valuable information. - See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/#sthash.Qn2tXzJl.dpuf

Experienced writer and teacher Sue Reed is a registered landscape architect. Her work focuses specifically on environmentally sound, energy efficient and sustainable landscape design. She has helped hundreds of homeowners create comfortable, livable and beautiful landscapes that save energy.  

Native Plant Trust has teamed up with the Woodwell Climate Research Center and a group of scientists across the country to report on groundbreaking research into how American homeowners shape the structure and ecology of yard ecosystems. 

Motto:  Every garden matters -- every landscape counts.

Annual free talk series, Evenings With Experts free talk series, good on-line resources, annual native plant sale. 

Landscape For Life shows you how to work with nature in your garden, no matter where you live, whether you garden on a city or suburban lot, a 20–acre farm, or the common area of your condominium.

Interesting look at the percentage of land area by state covered by turf grass, the volume of water and chemicals used to care for lawns (home, municipal and golf courses), social pressure to keep lawns looking their best, and some alternatives.