Blog - Wild Roots

It’s Not Just About Plants: Honoring the Original Stewards of this Land

In the years since starting Wild Roots, we’ve often mentioned the long-term negative impact modern Americans (dating back to European settlers) had and still have on the degradation of local ecosystems. Invasive plants, extensive lawns, a lack of connection to or understanding of the natural world. It’s impossible to talk about how we got here — a country where 40 million acres of lawn and 4 million miles of paved roads smother natural lands where native plants once flourished — without mentioning the cause. But while our focus is and has always been on plants and repairing the earth starting in our own backyards, there’s a key element to this story that’s been missing here: the Indigenous people who protected land and waterways for generations, cultivating a deep understanding of the gifts from nature and sophisticated land management methods still referenced and used to this day. They are the original stewards of this land. Let’s start by acknowledging who we are referring to here in South Jersey: The Lenni-Lenape or Lenape (“Leh-NAH-pay”) people, who still live in South Jersey today as the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation. Lenapes, mistreated and misunderstood for hundreds of years, center their lives, culture, and spirituality around a reciprocal relationship with nature. They had and still have the wisdom many of us are just now beginning to seek, and have been on the side of the environment since the beginning, standing up against the terrible things humans do to our natural world: pouring chemicals into lakes, poisoning the land, ignoring rather than supporting native flora and fauna, blowing up mountain tops, and the list goes on. The Lenape who tended the ground we stand on today rarely (if ever) come up in conversations about native plants. Most books in our own library are written by white people, descendants of settlers, and feature gorgeous, sprawling private properties where people (thankfully!) are dedicated to restoring the local ecosystem — restoring it to regain what was lost after that land was taken. The people part of that history is a more difficult one to learn (or unlearn) than the benefit of a native plant. But the difficulty of coming to terms with truth isn’t even comparable to the pain that mistreatment in the form of the original sins and ongoing erasure continues to cause. It’s part of the story worth including. We’re going to try our best, knowing we…

Shelter and Place: In This New Normal, The Beauty is in the Details

Lindsay Ifill

Could this moment in time, when humans are forced to slow down and stay home, also become the moment the smallest details of nature get the attention they deserve? There are many lessons we’ll take from this strange, dark time. Lessons on hygiene, self-sufficiency, the importance of community and family, and the power of coming together as people who, across cultures and continents, have found themselves in a very similar and frightening situation. Here, on this blog, we write about gardening and the natural world, and so I’ll resist venturing out too far into my anxieties as a mother, daughter, and employee navigating this situation. Instead, I’d like to share my thoughts on what has helped our family find restorative moments during these long days. I’m hoping you’ll find some peace and purpose in what I’m about to share. I’m not going to suggest time-intensive projects, or anything even closely resembling a schedule. As a working parent of two, I’m acutely aware that not everyone’s got time for that. Instead, I’ll talk about small changes that might help you right now at this very moment and even have a lasting impact when all of this is over. Finding Respite In What’s Always Been There Light and beauty can be found so easily in times when you need it. It only requires learning to notice the small, amazing things happening in nature. When the news, personal circumstances and anxieties, and constant clutter from social media overwhelms and drags our attention into unhealthy cycles, research has found that connecting with the natural world counters the negative effect. This connection does not to happen on a mountain summer or a place far away. It can happen in whatever space you have. It’s common knowledge that gardening is good for our mental health, for our souls. Watering a plant, pulling weeds, and taking time to observe the diverse beauty found in leaves, blooms, stems, and trunks – all of this can be meditative. Connecting with nature also has proven positive impacts on our state of mind. The natural world offers respite, connects people, expands our minds, and can bring us closer to the place we’re from and where we live. When these two ideas are combined, the positive impact is more than double. Indoor plants — exotic ones we surround ourselves with and care for throughout the year — provide joy, distraction, and a…

Creating Nature in Our Communities

Tim Ifill

“Imagine a therapy that had no known side effects, was readily available, and could improve your cognitive functioning at zero cost. Such a therapy has been known to philosophers, writers, and laypeople alike: interacting with nature. Many have suspected that nature can promote improved cognitive functioning and overall well-being, and these effects have recently been documented.” -Berman, Marc G, John Jonides, and Stephen Kaplan. 2008. “The Cognitive Benefits of Interacting With Nature” Psychological Science 19: 1207-1212 By now, most of us have heard about hospital patients with views of trees recovering faster than those with poor (or no) views from their rooms. These effects are not only very real, but they’re part of a rising tide of research that’s identifying the same pattern over and over: encounters with nature, even on a very small scale, can have significant benefits on our well-being. But those encounters are exceedingly fleeting or nonexistent for the growing numbers of people around the world who live and work in urban environments. We need to be more focused on the broader idea of bringing nature – including native plant communities and the beneficial wildlife they attract – into communities in as many ways as possible. Not just into our parks and green spaces, but into our schools, hospitals, mental health centers, offices, streetscapes, and commercial spaces. It’s not only important from a sustainability perspective, but also a human one, as researchers keep finding more and more mental and physical health benefits stemming from even brief encounters with nature. Just the Tip of the Iceberg: A meta-analysis of 143 studies found wide-ranging health benefits associated with green space exposure, including “statistically significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure, salivary cortisol and heart rate.” [see sources below] Populations that are exposed to the greenest and most natural environments have the “lowest levels of health inequality related to income deprivation.” Access to green spaces reduces stress and stress-related illness for urban dwellers “regardless of the informant’s age, sex and socio-economic status.” Interactions with nature “improves cognition and affect for individuals with depression.” “Children with ADHD who play regularly in green play settings have milder symptoms than children who play in built outdoor and indoor settings. This is true for all income groups and for both boys and girls.” Employees with views of nature from their workspaces had higher job satisfaction and lower stress and took fewer sick days than…

Spotted Lanternfly: What It Is and What to Do

wildroots

The Spotted Lanternfly is a newly arrived invasive species that has been confirmed in Camden County, and it’s population is rapidly growing. They have the potential to do severe damage to our trees, crops, and other plants. The Spotted Lanternfly Spotted lanternflies feed on branches and tree trunks, and so that is where they are often found. Though they appear to have varied appetites, they are particularly attracted to Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), an invasive plant that “typically grows in clumps in sunny areas along highways or disturbed habitats such as the edges of crop fields, open spaces, or parks.” (Credit: Rutgers’ New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station) Its other preferred hosts include black walnut trees, red maples, grapes, hops, apples, and peaches. Because of this, the lanternfly is a great threat to New Jersey’s natural spaces and habitats, as well as vineyards and farms that grow hops, apples, and peaches. If you see a Spotted Lanternfly: Take a picture Kill it if you can Report it to the State via the lanternfly hotline, 1-833-223-2840 (BADBUG0), or send the location and photo to [email protected] and [email protected] If you see a Spotted Lanternfly egg mass: Spotted lanternfly eggs look kind of like a spot of mud. You can find them in all kinds of settings during the winter or early spring, especially on tree bark, and you should take the very little time needed to get rid of them. The eggs can survive over the winter, and a single mass could hold up to 30 to 50 eggs that will hatch when spring arrives. Scrape it off of the surface where you found it and put it in a baggy with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Alternatively, use a hard item to thoroughly crush the egg mass, making sure to pop each of the eggs contained in it. Look for others in the immediate area (it’s usually not one isolated mass). Lanternflies and Tree of Heaven: The invasive lanternfly seems to have a special relationship with Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). This invasive plant, purposely introduced to the United States in 1784, is accelerating the lanternfly’s spread. This Penn State Extension article provides a thorough overview of their relationship: Tree-of-heaven and the Spotted Lanternfly: Two Invasive Species to Watch Maybe the arrival of lanternflies can motivate us to pay greater attention to this tree, which is a nuisance in its own right. If…

Plant This, Not That: Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Lindsay Ifill

An invasive species is one that is not only non-native to a region, but escapes cultivation and damages local ecosystems. They out-compete native species and disrupt the food web, causing harm to the environment, economy, and human health (such as water quality and increased populations of pests like ticks). Once you get to know the more common invasive species, you start to notice them everywhere. One prevalent example is English ivy. When you see that plant wrapped around the trunks of trees, crawling over branches, it’s killing that tree. Not very charming, right? Learn a simple way to remove English ivy here. As more people learn about the havok invasive plants wreak, groups are coming together to take action. Invasive strike teams here in New Jersey and across the country do the challenging but important work of identifying and removing the plants to protect our ecosystems. There’s even an app for reporting invasives in New Jersey. Still, it never ceases to amaze me how many of these plants are still widely available in garden centers and used by professional landscapers. Bad habits are hard to break, and some species simply look familiar to homeowners who have no idea about the damage caused. That’s changing, however, as interest in protecting the environment and planting natives grows. You can do right by wildlife and your local ecosystem, and encourage your neighbors to do the same, using these native alternatives to invasive species. Native plant alternatives to invasive species Here, we provide lots of examples of native plants that share certain visual characteristics with a common invasive, starting with English Ivy. Give some of these beautiful native alternatives a try. Not only will wildlife be happier, I think you’ll end up preferring them too. English Ivy Alternatives If you like English Ivy, a reminder of classic English gardens that really just strangling everything it climbs, there are a ton of alternatives you’ll love: Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), an evergreen groundcover that does well in shade but does need moisture. And guess what – this is a great alternative to Japanese Pachysandra too! Green-and-gold (Chrysogonum virginianum): This is an evergreen groundcover that produces masses of yellow spring flowers that bloom from April through October. You can divide larger clumps to cover more space over time. Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) – One of our favorite spring bloomers, foamflower has lovely, ivy-like leaves and beautiful white and…

Collingswood Farmer’s Market Native Plant Sale

Lindsay Ifill

We’re excited to be vendors at this coming Saturday’s (6/22) Collingswood Farmers’ Market. (http://www.collingswoodmarket.com) Come see us from 8 AM – 12 PM under the Speedline to cap off the end of Pollinator Week 2019. Species we’ll have: Milkweed! (Swamp, Butterfly, and Purple) Oxeye Sunflower Purple Joe Pye Weed Marginal Wood Ferns Coral Bells Orange Coneflower (a.k.a. Black-Eyed Susans) Plus a few other odds and ends!

Weekend Pop-Up Sales at Occasionette

Tim Ifill

Pop-Up Details: Saturday, June 8th from 11-2 at Occasionette in South Philly (825 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA) – Outside Sunday, June 9th from 11 AM – 2 PM at Occasionette in Collingswood (724 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108) – Inside the shop Come on out – our trailer will be set up on the sidewalk with some fantastic native plants! A lot of folks have been asking for milkweed, and we’ll have two species for our monarch friends. Full list of native plants for sale: Orange Coneflower aka Black-Eyed Susan – Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida Eastern Bluestar – Amsonia tabernaemontana Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis (low quantities) Coral Bells – Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ Threadleaf Coreopsis – Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’ Culver’s Root – Veronicastrum virginicum Red Twig Dogwood – Cornus sericea (one left) Inkberry Holly – Ilex glabra (one left) Lady Fern – Athyrium filix-femina ‘Lady in Red’ Little Bluestem Grass – Schizachyrium scoparium (low quantities) Shenandoah Switchgrass – Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’ Golden Dew Hairgrass – Deschampsia caespitosa ‘Goldtau’ Butterfly Milkweed – Asclepias tuberosa Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata Marginal Woodfern – Dryopteris marginalis

Memorial Day Plant Sale

Tim Ifill

Including 5 Plants for $25 with Free Local Delivery! Memorial Day Sales aren’t just for mattresses anymore. We’ve got a limited selection of leftover plants from our last two sales that are looking for a good home in your garden. All quarts are just just 6 bucks. But wait, there’s more! If you buy any combination of 5 or more quart-sized plants, you’ll get them all for just $5 each, and with free delivery to Collingswood, Oaklyn, or Haddon Township (otherwise plants can be picked up in Collingswood by appointment). Our selection is below – just email us with what you want and your address, and we’ll make arrangements for delivery or pickup. I’ll keep this post updated as availability evolves. Quarts for Sun/Part Sun Purple Milkweed, Asclepias purpurescens – SOLD OUTEastern Bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana – 9 availableWild Blue Indigo, Baptisia australis – 2 availableCulver’s Root, Veronicastrum virginicum – 10 availableLittle Bluestem Grass, Shizachyrium scoparium – 3 available Quarts for Shade/Part Shade Eastern Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis – 7 availableCoral Bells, Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ – 12 available Shrubs Red-Twig Dogwood, Cornus Sericea – 2 Gallon, $19 – 1 availableNew Jersey Tea, Ceanothus americanus – 1 Gallon, $14 – 1 availableInkberry Holly, Ilex glabra – 3 Gallon, $19 – 1 available

It’s Spring! Pre-order New Jersey Native Garden Kits and More

Tim Ifill

Our popular garden kits are ready for pre-order! Hopefully you’re aware of the benefits of native plants and their value to pollinators already. But if your yard is lacking in those areas, it can feel daunting to start from scratch. That’s why we’ve put together two ready-to-plant pollinator garden kits, one for sunny spots and one for shady spots, to help you turn a patch of yard into a beautiful, sustainable wildlife habitat. Both kits and trays are made up of landscape plugs, an economical short-cut to establishing larger-scale plantings that are usually harder to come by outside of the landscape trade. They’re much cheaper than full-sized plants and nearly will reach full size nearly as fast. Each kit will fill a 25-square-foot (5′ by 5′) and comes with a planting guide and sample layouts. So yup, that’s a whole garden’s worth of plants in that box in the photo. Our plants have been selected for their beauty, their wildlife value, and their suitability to low-maintenance plantings in South Jersey. In other words, we chose these plants because they are native to this region – they’ve evolved to grow well here without much fuss (no green thumb required). The kits also offer a succession of bloom times and plant forms so your garden will show off new beautiful elements all throughout the growing season. You’ll need to order by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday May 2nd, and plants can be picked up in Collingswood on Saturday, May 11th – Mother’s Day weekend. If you’ve been thinking about starting a pollinator garden or replacing part of your lawn with hardy native perennials, now’s a great time to do it. For those of you interested in Collingswood Community Habitat Project or the National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat Project, our kits would get you one or two steps closer to certification. Oh, and as your garden grows, also consider adding your property to the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge map. Order Now!

Habitat Garden Planning: Starting with a Clean (or Messy) Slate

Lindsay Ifill

We’ve heard from a few people over the past couple of months who’ve moved into new homes with outdoor space, want to garden with the environment in mind, and aren’t quite sure how or where to start. We’re not professional landscape designers, but we are environmentalists with a modest budget and big dreams with experience doing exactly that. We’ve learned a lot — and are learning something new all the time — as we transform our own backyard of turf grass and invasives to a wildlife- and family-friendly habitat. Here are a few tips for getting started on your own gorgeous, peaceful, eco-friendly landscape: Seek inspiration from books (most of all!), Instagram, Pinterest, and websites. Grab a beer or a cup of coffee (or whatever drink you choose) and settle in with books that are both beautiful and informative, like American Woodland Garden, The American Meadow Garden, and Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes, or spend some time on Pinterest. (This activity isn’t just a great first step toward planning your garden; it’s good for the soul.) Learn what type of landscapes, designs, and plants you connect with most, bookmarking images and taking notes of plants and layouts you like. Is it the photos of dense meadows that make you happy? Do images of fern-heavy woodlands bring you a sense of calm? It might be something simple like a bench surrounded by shrubs, a patio bordered by sedges or a walkway bordered by a blend of grasses and flowers. Plants that work for a cottage in the English countryside won’t be appropriate here in Jersey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve the same vibe with low-maintenance natives. See a non-native you love? Post a comment below and we can help suggest a similar native plant. Look for inspiration in the wild. Another great way to determine how you’d like to approach your own ecological garden is to learn more about the plant communities in natural areas you love. In the Pine Barrens, for example, you’ll notice a mix of ferns, blueberry bushes, and pines. The sad truth is that we’ve destroyed most truly natural spaces around here, so this isn’t always easy. That said, we highly recommend visiting Mt. Cuba Center and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and other managed natural areas that educate and inspire. Get to know your yard’s conditions: the light, the…

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