Good day, gardeners! I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and well. Here's some knowledge and inspiration I wanted to share with you.
I was so excited that Fine Gardening asked me to write about the science of growth strategies. This informative article detailed how plants evolved into three categories based on their interactions with stress and disturbance—competitors, stress-tolerators, and ruderals. And, I wrote how gardeners can use this knowledge to their advantage. Enjoy the read!
Most arbor efforts focus on tree planting, but this article in The Guardian argued maybe we should be focusing more on tree establishment.
James Golden mused on how he edits his garden and shared some photos of its winter structure.
Recently on travels home to Tennessee, I admired Ilex decidua (possumhaw) along the fence rows. These underused natives shine with their red berries at this time of the year. And, if you're looking to mix it up, try a yellow-fruited form like ‘Finch’s Golden’.
As always, thanks for welcoming me into your inbox each week to share what I’m learning about plants.
Cheers, and keep growing!
Dr. Jared