Green Collar Jobs

The Winter 2009 American Forests magazine featured an article about 'Green Collar Jobs', a term that has become increasingly common in recent years. Defined as 'blue-collar work force opportunities created by firms and organizations whose mission is to improve environmental quality' by Raquel Pinderhughes, 'Green Collar Jobs' seem to address environmental concerns as well as boosting our economy.
More information available at American Forests

Winter's not done with us yet...

“In the midst of winter,
I finally learned there was in me
an invincible summer."

~Albert Camus


Call for availability, we are coming out of hibernation, propagating and counting native plants for the spring.

Acorns Fall into Winter

white oaks
have hopes
many fell
look well
make a tree?
we'll see
depends on
how
the winter flows
and weevil goes

Fall Color at Glacier Oaks

Colors are coming and insects are humming. Fall is for planting! Call for availability in our container line of native trees and shrubs.

The intensity of fall leaf color depends a lot on weather in early fall. Optimum color results when soil moisture is good, days are clear and nights are cool. So far so good!

Signs of Summer #2 - Lightning Strikes White Pine Afterall

White Pine (Pinus strobus) is one of the great 5 needle natives for the midwest. One of the more ornamental pines in maturity, it is thought to be somewhat resistant to lightning. Mother Nature is always making exceptions to our rules...

Signs of Summer #1

For a fast-growing, shade tolerant, heat resistant, all season colorful native shrub, Diervilla lonicera (Dwarf Bushhoneysuckle) is one of the best. For a woodland border plant, it is extremely site tolerant and works well in many urban locations.

If honeybees are any indicator, Diervilla is high on the scale of fine nectar as well.

It's a Spring thing!

The sequence of leafing-out this spring is the same, but the time frame much condensed. A walk a day will keep the doctor away --and you won't miss the flowers and fragrances of spring.

On your walks, take note of plants along the way. This time of year lots of little treasures will be popping up under thickets of weeds. Native plants provide food for insects and birds passing through or native to the area. Although non-native ornamental plants have their place, and attract winged wildlife, they may not be able to sustain all of the life cycles that a native plant does. A plant that attracts butterflies with its nectar, may not have leaves to support the butterfly larvae. Taking note of the biodiversity around us will help us take care of our native species as well as our ornamental gardens.