Id say theres a good 50-75% germination rate overall of a high-diversitty mix of shade & wet tolerant grasses, sedges, and forbs. For almost no prep, or aftercare other than spot-pulling weeds every few months id say thats pretty damn good! Haha on day ill make a plaque "sponsored by #GardenWild "
I think the #GardenWild #Stewardship really is my favorite "service " to offer, even though the installs may bring in more capital upfront. The chance to Steward a property holistically as a single entitty, managing for ecological health + curb appeal simultaneously, and regularly "tend" seems so..
Out cataloging species on INat at the Oak Savannah woodland, searching for the creek that disappeared into a crayfish hole 🧐- and walked up on the largest Mayapple patch I think ive ever seen in person😍 New surprises everytime I am here! #NativePlants #GardenWild #Spring #Stewardship
I keep thinking about the #GardenWild Community Nursery, and how I am going to consistently make sure "free plants" is intertwined to the point that it persists even once I am not longer a solo operator, or maybe eveb calling the shots at all... when I propose design ideas for a client , I always
#GardenWild #SoftLanding install inspired by Doug Tallamy, all sedges were sourced from wild patches on site, and soil was reclaimed from rootflair excavation! Its about ~4mo old but filling in nicely. Think im gonna relocate some mayapple here after it blooms this year
Patches. More than emulating true #PiedmontPrairie diversity here, the #GardenWild approach is to treat planted areas more like arcs of genetics, packing much higher genetic diveristy than whay you would normally find in comparable sized true native habitat. For this project we are going with
Photograph of lawn with 2 large piles of arborist woodchips. A lsrge house is visible in background
Large flowerbed with a dozen oak trees, rhe edge is curved and most is filled with spread woodchips. A few areas of grass are still visible in the bed.
Another angle of the bed. Much more grass visible on this side. A line of Japanese Cedar which were recently pla ted is visible on the left next to one mature oak trees. The bed visible in previous images, is visible in background
Another angle of the same curved bed and oak trees. Several patches of grass are visible. But ~75% coverage with woodchips
Still working to finish up this large #GardenWild project, installing a privacy hedge along with a large soft-landing for future strategic leaf-management. Thanks to #ChipDrop we got our first ~40CuYds. Despite a late start and only ~6hrs solo, I think i did pretty good! Lol finally shaping up💚
Doll's eyes (i believe) and Mayapple at a Woodland installation check-in this morning. At #GardenWild i am commited to building relationship, not just selling a product. Every install comes with 3 years of "courtesy check-ins" where I stop by several times seasonally
#VaNativePlants #NativePlants
Working at the original #GardenWild "Stewardship " client's property today. I've been managing for ecological health for about 7yrs now. This is going to sound like an "internet tale" but this is legitimately a wild occurring Cypridium Orchid (Lady slipper) sprouting& wasnt planted. #nativeplants
I am so bad at making these Habitat Assesments 🫠 and "too good" at talking. In theory, I have a checklist I use during my #GardenWild consultation process and do what I call a "Habitat Triage". In addition to talking about whatever the client it's "wants" are I assess what's working, what isnt, if
Found a nice big patch of Mayapple sprouting on a client's property while doing a storm check-in this morning. 😍 #VaNativePlants #NativePlants #GardenWild
I've been calling these "rain visits" for #GardenWild, where I visit during a rainstorm and just walk around watching the water. So far, only used in the Stewardship Program ... I think i like "Storm Audit" better🤔😅
To other hostas in a wildlife garden, for those who enjoy hostas as a whole but are trying to make their flowerbeds more beneficial to wildlife. Prioritizing natives every step of the way, it is non-natives exactly like this one that encapsulate #GardenWild s "Harm reduction" approach.
A sunny day gardening after good adder numbers on a sunny survey and now… #GardenWild
Directly via Cash app or Venmo @ GardenWildGuy on both.
To learn more about the current, and future, plans of #GardenWild visit me at www.gardenwildservices.com !
Stay tuned for updates. I CANT WAIT to show yall how this turns out! ,
Why yes, yes I did just right all my tools and my mower into the back if a Honda fit to start a clients job today because its Do what you can, Where you are, With what you have- all day everyday at #GardenWild 😅 ... no it wasn't fun. Yes I am 4hrs late. No I couldn't get my wheelbarrow. But 🤷♂️🤣
I believe we have a moral imperative. A direct obligation, to secure the ability of future generations to learn about the wonders in our natural world through direct immersion... and I guess that is what #GardenWild is all about. 🤷♂️
Farms themselves here in VA. Are now gone. The old dirt roads widened and paved over. The former ditches now smoothed under several inches of tarry blacktop.
Im not sure where I was going with this other than, these memories are a core reason I do what I do wkth #GardenWild
The woodland garden client just sent me another text, "look!" ... at least plant-excitement is still contagious. I think this is Blue Cohosh but not 100% , we're currently in the middle of a 80F stretch of weather so I imagine most of hers should be sprouting soon 😍 #nativeplants #gardenwild #rva
It never kills them all, and the birds definitely use it as a buffet!
I also happen to personally love how they look like little dioramas when you use large wood, too- like little nature exhibits in your own front yard , but im kinda geeky like that 😅 #Gardenwild #SoftLanding
Given her house is in a very upscale community with a well-know golf course , any house at all offering wildlife benefit and #NativePlants instantly becomes an island of "hope", and if "next best " is how we do that, #GardenWild. Celebrates it just the same! If yall need me... ill be over here 🍃 💚🫠
Photograph of a lawn mower blade showing significant damage, pieces are literally missing.
Mulching is hard on mowers , and #GardenWild does a LOT of mulching- I thought the rattling had gotten significant. That would be why 💀 🤣
My biggest concern was that even though install was in November, it was a warm spell. I waited until January to spread mulch, to be extra careful about insulting the soil too soon -by late January we already had a few #NativePlant sprouts Trout Lily, Blue Cohosh, and Foam Flower #RVA #Gardenwild
Talked them into sourcing arborist chips instead of dyed mulch, id like to experiment with some type of safety water-based dye for fresh ships I can spray on with a pump sprayer after spreading. I think it would reallt help "sell" to those not all-in on #rewilding #naturalLandscaping #gardenwild
I added 122 species total to a ~3000sqft area using a mixture bare root perennials, mature container specimen, and seed(strategically sown re: chips)Light ranges from deep dry shade to partial sun, alleopathic S Magnolia. #nativeplants #Gardenwild #Gardensky #EcologicalGardening #RVA #VaNativePlants
Photograph, closeup, small green leaf folded like a closed umbrella on a patio table, sprouting out from a bed of chipped wood. A mayapple
The first "official" #GardenWild install I did was for a woodland garden, and the client opted to let me "go crazy" with spring ephemerals. Lol During the summer, the ferns will carry the aesthetic but the blooms come early. She just sent me this Pic! The Mayapple are sprouting!😍 #nativeplants #RVA
Been trying to "brush up" on my painting ( 🥁 ba dun tsss) - I am definitely not a painter/artist, but atleast "barely made it through an art course" level, its just been 10yrs ir so since pulling out the easel...lol
#nativeplantgardening #fundraising #art #acrylic #gardening #GardenWild
