Eileen M. Stark's Blog, page 2

Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Pine (Pinus species)

Well over one hundred species of pine help support our planet, which makes the genus Pinus the largest within the conifer phylum known as Pinophyta, the woody cone-bearing plants. Found across the Northern Hemisphere, Pinus is of ancient origin, having appeared around 180 million years ago. In addition to the rich wildlife habitat, beauty, shade, […]

Gray Hairstreak Butterflies in Your Garden

If you watch carefully, you may notice lovely little hairstreak butterflies in your summer garden. A member of Lycaenidae, the second largest family of butterflies with over 6,000 species worldwide, the gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus) can be found from southern Canada to northern South America. Although they’re considered common, they are rarely seen in large […]

Five Ways to Make Your Yard More Biodiverse

  Every 30 seconds in the United States, a football field-sized chunk of natural area disappears due to development, according to research from the Center for American Progress. Most of the natural areas lost in the past two decades were on privately-owned land, which accounts for about 60% of all land in the country. Clearly […]

Green Corridors Begin at Home

To survive, most wild fauna must be on the move—to find food, water, safe shelter and breeding sites, mates, and, for some species, to migrate. But wildlife habitat is increasingly destroyed, degraded, or fragmented into small, isolated patches—by human-made barriers such as buildings, fences, lawns, and roads—which intensify their struggle to survive. Habitat loss is […]

More Than Flowers: How to Support Pollinators in All Their Life Stages

On the heels of National Pollinator Week — when we honor the hard-working animals who give so much, let’s remember that they need much more than flowers to survive. These fascinating creatures — from bees and beetles to butterflies and moths — face seemingly insurmountable threats, including habitat loss, the climate crisis, and pesticide use. […]

Just the Thicket … For Wildlife Habitat

If you’re looking for ways to counteract — in a small but significant way — the relentless destruction of the natural world and want to turn your yard into a place that supports the wildlife community, or you already garden for biodiversity, you know that appropriate habitat — food, water, cover, space — is essential. Food […]

Earth to Humans: “Wake Up!”

Fifty years ago today, my U.S. senator at the time, Gaylord Nelson, designated April 22 as Earth Day, a day for Americans to speak out about environmental crises. The “conservation governor” of Wisconsin for two terms and U.S. senator for 18 years, Nelson struggled at putting environmental issues in a prominent place in politics, but […]

Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Erysimum capitatum (Western wallflower)

Unlike the proverbial human wallflower, the Pacific Northwest’s native wallflower plant (Erysimum capitatum) isn’t shy or unassuming. Instead, it is bright, showy, sweetly fragrant, and attractive to pollinators like butterflies. Although it didn’t make it into my book, it is definitely worthy of some praise and recommendation. The genus Erysimum, a member of the cabbage […]

How to Grow Pacific NW Native Plants in Outdoor Containers

Although native plants will do best in native soil with light, moisture and soil as close as possible to what nature intended, many people have microscopic yard space or just a porch or balcony. With a bit of planning and time, quite a few Pacific Northwest native species can successfully be grown in pots or […]

Pacific Northwest Native Plant Profile: Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)

Although red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) is a deciduous shrub, it offers year round appeal and habitat, making it a favorite among Pacific Northwest gardeners and wildlife, alike. Not one December goes by that I don’t marvel at its ability to hold onto many of its seasonally colorful leaves until the solstice or beyond, and this year is no exception. […]