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Native Plants as Edging Plants
In the spring I’m often outside adding, moving, editing, and potting up plants until it’s so dark outside that I can’t see my hands. I’m...

ljmarkson
Apr 28, 20233 min read


Local Earth Day Activism Needs to be Every Day
The magical Earth Day event at Zonolite Park organized by hosts Steph Johnson and Josh Wayne raised awareness about protecting the...

ljmarkson
Apr 25, 20233 min read


Spring 2023 - Atlanta Native Plant Nurseries & Plant Sales
It’s the time of year for native plant fans to visit local native plant nurseries, pop-up seasonal sales, and plant swaps. I’ve written...

ljmarkson
Apr 4, 20235 min read


Organizations are Not People - A Cautionary Tale
I’m sharing the following lengthy and raw personal journey post in the context of helping others who want to help repair our natural...

ljmarkson
Mar 23, 202311 min read


Yard Restoration and the Battle to Remove Invasive and Non-native Plants
I often go outside to work in my yard with a plan of action yet end up doing something completely different. Recently, my idea was to...

ljmarkson
Feb 18, 20233 min read


S**t Happens - and Opens up Possibilities!
One of the main lessons in my daily guided meditation is how our suffering comes from not being able to align our inner expectations with...

ljmarkson
Feb 5, 20236 min read


Plant Native Fruiting Trees in Public and Private Spaces
Earth friendly Steph and Josh of Atlanta aptly expressed their gratitude to nature on Thanksgiving Day by adding 46 native Georgia fruit...

ljmarkson
Dec 8, 20223 min read


To Save Insects and Birds the Future is Now
It turned out to be a great idea for the Intown Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia native Plant Society to squeeze one more event into this...

ljmarkson
Nov 18, 20223 min read


Exploring Nature Conservation on a Jekyll Island Vacation
As we sped down the Georgia highway towards a beach getaway I found myself videoing the relentless GDOT pesticide destruction along the...

ljmarkson
Oct 2, 20225 min read


Intown Atlanta GNPS Native Plant Swap & Share FAQ
I'm helping organize the Intown Atlanta GNPS Native Plants Swap & Share as part of the Annual Meeting. Since this is the first time we're...

ljmarkson
Sep 7, 20226 min read


Counting Pollinators and Making Connections at Pollinator Picnics
On August 20 people of all ages counted pollinators and helped highlight the importance of native plants as a host, habitat and nectar...

ljmarkson
Aug 28, 20221 min read


Strategies for Identifying Agastache Species and Other Native Plants
I don’t usually get fussy or wonky about different native plant species but when I learned the range for the most common hyssop called...

ljmarkson
Jul 19, 20226 min read


Nurturing a Firefly Habitat Also Helps Restore Nature
In the context of creating a healthy yard ecosystem fireflies are just another insect we need to provide habitat for. Yet 2,000 firefly...

ljmarkson
Jul 7, 20226 min read


Building a More Vibrant Intown Atlanta Native Plant Community
On a hot June Sunday afternoon a varied group of around 50 or so people interested in native plants came together for a panel discussion...

ljmarkson
Jun 28, 20224 min read


Why We Need to Support Local Native Plant Retail Nurseries
Recently, I drove over an hour in traffic each way to visit North Georgia Native Plant Nursery to buy two one-gallon native mountain...

ljmarkson
May 15, 20229 min read


Native Plant Habitat Tour Offers Insights for Backyard Habitat Restoration
Bill and Carol Pardue's yard, one of the six properties at the first GNPS Intown Atlanta Native Plant Habitat Tour. is proof that a small...

ljmarkson
Apr 7, 20223 min read


Atlanta Area Spring 2022 Native Plant Sales and Nurseries
Spring native plant buying season is here! It’s exciting to see most of the native plant sales and nurseries are once again in person...

ljmarkson
Mar 16, 20226 min read


Gardening Advice Turns a Corner
Out of curiosity I visited a popular gardening guru’s FB page. Winter lawns, various Roundup products and a flowering (invasive) mahonia...

ljmarkson
Feb 5, 20224 min read


Winter Sowing Tips for Native Plant Seedlings
Last spring, I meant to write a native plant seedling update to my winter sowing posts. I even made notes, but never actually wrote the...

ljmarkson
Feb 2, 20225 min read


Native Plants to Winter Sow for Summer Blooms This Year
I thought I was done winter sowing in the first week of January when I planted 100 different native plant seeds and put the trays outside...

ljmarkson
Jan 23, 20227 min read
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