"Desserts in the Garden"

Sunday, July 8, 2012 Wayne and I hosted our annual "Desserts in the Garden" Party. To our relief the day was cooler and there was less humidity. If you recall it was 95 + on the 4th of July.

Because I walk through the garden several times a day I know I miss some things, therefore I enjoy watching someone walk through for the very first time. I, too, then see through new eyes.

                                                 Enjoy this Smilebox I made of the day.

Wild Ones Members & July Garden Walks

Saturday July 20, 2012, Jim and Ruth Brueck and members of Wild Ones North Oakland Chapter, hosted a garden walk . Each member is integrating native plants to their established gardens. Due to several commitments that day, I was only able to view the Brueck land and lake shore gardens.

                                                          Enjoy Jim and Ruth's gardens,

Trish Hennig admiring the Butterfly Garden

The Brueck's live on a lake, and Jim has introduced native plants along his shoreline to help prevent erosion and to improve habitat for the insects and aquatic animals. The plants are so happy along his shoreline that they have spread to the neighbors. The agreeing neighbor is thrilled. Each property is enjoying an increase in insects, butterflies, frogs and toads and turtles. Native plants provide a win-win for everyone.


Hoary Vervain and Mountain Mint are two of the plants in Brueck's garden that I am going to introduce in mine.

Hoary Vervain

Mountain Mint

I could not resist taking pictures of the numerous insects I spotted throughout the gardens invited by all the native plants.  

The moral of the story: feed them and they will come. If you would like more information about Wild Ones North Oakland Chapter, please contact
Laura Gruzwalski at 248 535-3338 or visit the website. 

National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest

                         I have entered photos in the National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest.

Anhinga drying its feathers at Homosassa Springs, Florida

As a viewer, you can daily go and vote for my photos as your favorites. I can also be chosen for the cover of a future National Wildlife Federation Edition. Please Vote!!!

Lunch for a lady bug!

Bring Back the Monarchs Campaign

Recently hatched Monarch, drying its wings!

I am a member of North Oakland Wild Ones Organization. An email was sent to me from Jim Brueck, President of our Wild Ones chapter concerning the Bring Back the Monarch Campaign. Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist Candy Sarikonda is collaborating with The Oak Openings Region chapter of Wild Ones on a community wide campaign to educate and help members plant/grow native species of milkweed everywhere possible to create the nourishing habitat for the Monarchs. Brueck and others would like to see this program expanded to here in Michigan. 

Novice just out testing its dry wings!

North Oakland Wild Ones, under the leadership of Trish Hacker Hennig, American Roots Wildflowers, and Jim Brueck, have started such gardens in Depot Park, Clarkston, MI. Many plantings of Asclepias incarnata and  fewer plants of Asclepias tuberosa, (Milkweed varieties),  have been planted in the Children's Garden and in the Rain Garden there in Depot Park. Planted with the Monarchs of the area in mind to have a way station for them to nectar on as they pass through. Brueck and Hennig are encouraging us all to plant a few milkweed plants in our gardens to expand the way stations throughout our area.

The importance of such gardens, strategically located throughout the Midwest, is because so many of  the natural areas that the Monarchs are so dependent on are decreasing. Trish Hennig states in the email, "With the Round-up ready crops. . corn and soybeans, farmers are now spraying his herbicide on ENTIRE fields, (creeping in the food we eat or perhaps what gets fed to the animals we eat) and studies are showing that for some reason Monarchs prefer to lay their eggs on plants in the center of the fields..between the rows of vegetables, rather than on the field edges. So in a place that might have had milkweeds sprouting from cultivated roots in the past..now because of the herbicided fields there is no residual milkweed there at all... on acres and acres and acres across the Midwest."

More than enough reason for all of us to plant milkweed to start a way station of our own for our beautiful Monarch Butterflies.

On his/her way to Mexico.... Made in America!

If you are a member of Wild Ones, Hennig is offering a free milkweed plant. If you are not a member and would like to join, please contact Jim Brueck at mdbrueck@gmail.com If you even have a question about this program or what Wild Ones is all about drop an email to Jim. Happy Butterflying!

LinkedIn Conversation is still going.....

My small lawn cover is an accent to my gardens!

On June 4, 2012 my blog posting was about choosing the correct lawnmower  for your lawn. It started with a conversation with Nick Federoff of Things Green, and numerous others. I thought it was finished after a few days. NOT TRUE. It is still going on. Here are two of the most recent conversations: 

1. Ashok Trisal, Asst. GM ( Horticulture) at JPSI, India, has joined in with the conversation.

• Lawn grasses undoubtedly make most beautiful ground cover to look at and walk upon and generally do stand heavy pedestrian traffic. Since time is ripe to address ecological and other issues (reduction of bio -diversity where lawn areas are very large) and limited resources (water scaricity) other deep rooted ground covers can used in place of lawn grass in a big way . And, small lawn itself can be used as an accent on the landscape for visual interest / functional area rather than a dominant feature on the landscape in conjuction with hardscape elements. We have to be ready mentally for making aesthetic concessions in the switch over.                    

"Thanks linda Lapinski for your comments and for your untiring efforts to change perception of people addicted to big lawn areas. One practical solution may be to bring innovativeness in our lawn designs , the geometry of design should make small lawn look big (e.g. curvillinear design, varying grades etc.) . It will console lawn lovers to a great extent .
Secondly, unrelented awareness for need to strengthen our eco-systems ( promoting bio-diversity which is at odds with large lawn areas)

Change in perception cannot happen overnight but that does not deter a person to compaign for what is right. You fight is for a noble cause."

Bee Sanctuary in my lawn!

      2.   Judy Fraser, Architect, Fraser Designs, Washington D.C.Metro Area commented:     


 • Great discussion - from my perspective lawns are a waste of valuable habitat. While I don't begrudge anyone wanting a grassy area to picnic or play ball, the American lawn really has nothing to do with people's enjoyment of nature, or play, or even water management, which can all be met better with other forms of landscape. The American lawn is all about aesthetic fads, status, property value, and social pressure. (I work at a plant clinic - the other day a worried gentleman asked how to get rid of the clover in his lawn, I asked why? because his was the only lawn on his street with clover and he was concerned his neighbors would be mad - I told him the bees must consider it an oasis in a desert - call it a bee sanctuary)     


The pictures are of my home. I was overjoyed to think I have a bee sanctuary and a lawn that did not define my yard but accentuated my gardens.