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All About Jumping Worms
As gardeners, we often hear about invasive plants. But another invasive has made its way to Rhode Island - jumping worms.
I grew up thinking that worms were a gardener’s best friend, aerating and enriching the soil. I was shocked when I first learned that worms are actually not native to North America. Before the Ice Age, worms were endemic on the continent, but were wiped out by the glaciers and cold climate.
Rhode Island Garden Symposium
Join Native Edible Designs’ owner, Cassidy Need, on Saturday March 2 at the Rhode Island Garden Symposium! Cassidy will be speaking on a panel “Perspectives on Environmentally Friendly Gardening,” and will be joined by other experts in the field.
Collecting Seeds
When the garden is asleep, I like to look through the seed drawer.
At Native Edible Designs, we collect seeds throughout the growing season, and store them in envelopes carefully labeled with the plant name, location and date it was harvested. Each envelope contains seeds from one of my favorite native plants - goldenrod, monarda, agastache, boneset, various asters, ironweed, yarrow, and more..
The Bones of the Garden
When we think about fall cleanups, cutting down dead stalks and raking leaves often come to mind.
However, as our clients become increasingly aware of the perils of habitat loss and the importance of native plants and insects, putting the garden to sleep has also become a more ecologically-centered practice.
Plant of the Month: Coneflower
This native flower comes in many colors including red, yellow, pink, and white. We suggest leaving their stalks standing in the winter, since their seed heads provide a wonderful food source for birds. Coneflower was used medicinally by Native American as a treatment for coughs, colds, insect and snake bites, burns, and more.
Gardeners In Winter
For gardeners, the winter is a time to let our bodies recuperate and rest.
I often feel like some hibernating creature as I cozy up with my cats and a warm cup of camomile tea. There is something special about being in touch with the seasons - emerging tentatively like the pale green point of a daffodil in the spring, with eagerness and fresh eyes.
Welcome
My name is Katie Cuthbert, and I am the Crew Leader and Education Coordinator at Native Edible Designs. Like many gardeners before me, I am drawn to the art of garden writing. Since at least the 11th century in Japan and the 16th century in England, gardeners have sought to document the experience of being in relation to plants through manuals, essays, articles, poems and novels.
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