“Our Favorite Things”
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

“Our Favorite Things”

We sell woodland plants, but also other plants that we adore. Come read a personal story about growing plants and an explanation of “Our Favorite Things”.

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The Importance of Organic Matter in the Soil
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

The Importance of Organic Matter in the Soil

Soil is an important consideration for a woodland garden. Many woodland plants, including ephemerals and ferns do best when they continually have decomposing leaves around them.

This blog post gives more depth to this idea including some actual data from MSU’s extension. I found it fascinating and I hope you will too.

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Do You Have This Plant?
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

Do You Have This Plant?

We often get messages from people requesting plants from us that are not listed on our website. Answering the messages is interesting. Sometimes the answer is “Yes! We do have that plant.” Other times it is “No.” and sometimes it sparks the idea to grow that plant in the future. This blog post gives more detail about this topic.

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What is an Ephemeral?
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

What is an Ephemeral?

What is a spring ephemeral? Where do they grow and do they actually need light?

In Michigan, our spring ephemeral show in the woods is not to be missed. Ephemerals grow under tree cover but before the leaves come out and hide the sun.

Come learn a bit more in this blog post.

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So, Let’s Talk about Ostrich Fern…
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

So, Let’s Talk about Ostrich Fern…

Great news! Even though most people ask for Ostrich Fern when they want a large fern, we will soon have Cinnamon Fern and Royal Fern as alternatives. Both are 3-6 feet tall, but spread less aggressively than Ostrich Fern. All three ferns are stately, large ferns that demand attention. Which one is right for your space?

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Soft Landings Part I: Ecology and Keystone Species
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

Soft Landings Part I: Ecology and Keystone Species

The term “soft landings” has been circulating around native plant circles. Heather Holm has an excellent infographic on her site and a description of what soft landings are. This series of three blog posts will dig into ecology, in depth discussion of soft landings, and how you can create them in your space.

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The World of Fern Reproduction
Sally Garrod Sally Garrod

The World of Fern Reproduction

Ferns have a different reproductive process than other plants. Rather than producing seeds, they produce spores. Come read about fern reproduction to understand why they live in humid environments.

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