LIKE THE GARDEN ITSELF, THE FORUM KEEPS GROWING. Thanks to many of you for joining in! Among my favorite threads of conversation this week: a discussion of favorite tomato varieties (won’t you share yours?), started by member Megansgreen, and another (posted by Sailorgirl) on the p’s and q’s of botanical Latin (a subject I always adore). So come speak up, won’t you? Many more subjects to be had, or start one of your own.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
(Stream it below, read the illustrated transcript or subscribe free.)
I just have to say that the forum worked out so well for me in getting an answer to that question (on punctuating botanical names). I was helping someone edit a story they were submitting to the Home and Garden section of the newspaper and trying to figure that out was driving me nuts.
I love the forum and I really hope it takes off. It’s a great resource and I find it to be a very friendly place.
Erin aka Sailorgirl
@Erin: You made me smile. Thanks for the feedback. My hope is that as the season progresses, the Forum just grows and grows… :)