Resources

Following are organizations, websites, and books to help you on your journey to a richer, more sustainable, more natural garden.

Organizations

I have affiliations with the following organizations. All are dedicated to sustainable landscaping and gardening.

Researching Your
Ecoregion & Plant Databases

For information about the most appropriate native plants for your ecoregion (click on the logos to visit their sites):

To look up your ecoregion.

Also lists locations to purchase plants and seeds

Native Plant Database

Native Plant Database

Native Plant Database

Presentations

See the Presentation PDF

Vocabulary

Colonization

noun
Colonization is the occupation of a habitat or territory by a biological community or of an ecological niche by a single population of a species.

Disturbance

noun
“any event that is relatively discrete” in time and space “that disrupts the structure of an ecosystem, community, or population, and changes resource availability or the physical environment” (White and Pickett, 1985)

Ecoregion

noun

area where ecosystems are generally similar.

Ecosystems

noun

a community or group of living organisms that live in and interact with each other in a specific environment.

Ecotypes

noun

a distinct form or race of a plant or animal species occupying a particular habitat.

Habitat

noun

the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Micro habitat

noun

A habitat which is of small or limited extent and which differs in character from some surrounding more extensive habitat.

Native

adjective

(of a plant or animal) of indigenous origin or growth.

Niche

noun
(1) the specific area where an organism inhabits, (2) the role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem, or (3) the interrelationship of a species with all the biotic and abiotic factors affecting it.
biologyonline.com

Plant Community

noun

a collection or association of plant species within a designated geographical unit, which forms a relatively uniform patch, distinguishable from neighboring patches of different vegetation types. The components of each plant community are influenced by soil type, topography, climate and human disturbance.

Senescence

noun
The condition or process of deterioration with age.

Site Analysis

noun

A study of the site or property to analyze the features found there including physical and environmental factors such as sun exposure, soil quality, drainage, existing structures or plantings.

Succession

noun

The process by which the structure of a biological community evolves over time. Two different types of succession—primary and secondary—have been distinguished. Primary succession occurs in essentially lifeless areas—regions in which the soil is incapable of sustaining life as a result of such factors as lava flows, newly formed sand dunes, or rocks left from a retreating glacier. Secondary succession occurs in areas where a community that previously existed has been removed; it is typified by smaller-scale disturbances that do not eliminate all life and nutrients from the environment.

Synergistic Gardening

noun

Synergistic gardening is a system of organic gardening where after establishing the garden, there is no further digging, ploughing or tilling, and no use of external inputs such as manures and other fertilizers, or pesticides. Soil health is maintained by the selection of plants, mulching, and recycling of plant residues.