Growing Green: The Johnson Property

Growing Green: The Johnson Property

It’s Saige again, and this time I volunteered with the Southington Land Trust at one of their properties, the Niles and Linnea Johnson Family Wildlife Sanctuary. This land is the remaining portion of the Johnson family farm, part of which was taken during the...

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Connecticut Native Plants Guides

Connecticut Native Shrubs for Beautiful Landscapes, by Jessica Lubell Connecticut Native Shrubs for Beautiful Landscapes, by Jessica Lubell and Bryan Connolly Native Plants For Butterflies Native Plants for Birds Native Plants for Bees

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Roll Back Your Turf

Roll Back Your Turf

Originally published in the Native Plant News, Spring/Summer 2024 – Native Plant Trust, all rights reserved. How to reduce your lawn and choose native plants that work

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Protect Wildlife and Their Habitat

Protect Wildlife and Their Habitat

IN YOUR COMMUNITY Support local & regional efforts to protect natural habitats and wildlife corridors (like the Southington Land Trust!) Teach children respect for wildlife and wildlife habitats Volunteer at your local nature centers and wildlife sanctuaries Watch...

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Nature’s Good Neighbor Policy

Some ideas for helping create and improve habitat for native plants and animals. 1. Lawns. How much lawn do you really want or need? Lawns are the highest maintenance item in the backyard. Lawns require a lot of time, attention and money. They also are heavy consumers...

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Recognizing Burning Bush

Recognizing Burning Bush

Burning bush are invasive species and home owners are encouraged to remove them from their property and wooded areas as they take over space needed for native plant species that support native animals. The State of CT highway department no longer plants these along...

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Water Conservation – what can I do?

Water Conservation – what can I do?

Water has entered my conversations a lot lately. It comes up when I walk at the West Hartford Reservoir with my best friend and we discuss the news of the MDC sale of water to the Niagara bottling company, it comes up when I catch up on another friend’s daughters, one in California and one in Texas both battling serious droughts and wildfires, it comes up when chatting with neighbors about their yellowing lawns. Water may be the next resource we begin to lose, and we should start now in our own backyards to use it wisely.

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How Green is Your Yard?

How Green is Your Yard?

How Green is Your Landscape? Now is a good time to look around your yard to see how many evergreen plants you have growing. Evergreens not only provide food and shelter for wildlife but also provide color to brighten our winter days. Click on this link to learn more:...

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