James Dillon, PCH
@nativehavens.bsky.social
Owner of specialized landscape co. using (mostly) natives designing and installing gardens for people and planet that I hope will help slow the catastrophic extinction crisis wildlife is facing and sooth our souls.
Ridge and Valley Ecoregion 67b, Zone 7
Ridge and Valley Ecoregion 67b, Zone 7
The thought of potentially loosing employees to larger companies that can afford to pay for health ins. is depressing. We do good work here for people, pollinators, and planet and people like it here, but right now they have to choose between a job they love and health care. Doesn't seem right.
November 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The thought of potentially loosing employees to larger companies that can afford to pay for health ins. is depressing. We do good work here for people, pollinators, and planet and people like it here, but right now they have to choose between a job they love and health care. Doesn't seem right.
Mission #1: churn out as fast as possible ecologically rich landscapes that restore biodiversity and beauty to the places people live and work. Replace turf with diverse, native plant communities is essential to reversing the biodiversity crisis and building a more resilient future! #nativeplants
October 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Mission #1: churn out as fast as possible ecologically rich landscapes that restore biodiversity and beauty to the places people live and work. Replace turf with diverse, native plant communities is essential to reversing the biodiversity crisis and building a more resilient future! #nativeplants
Rendering of this design depicting late July. This design will also have a peak in late spring with 5 different Allium creating an effect. Having some grass matrix was also important to us here. Native grasses should be the backbone of any open canopy planting, holding the fall and winter.
October 25, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Rendering of this design depicting late July. This design will also have a peak in late spring with 5 different Allium creating an effect. Having some grass matrix was also important to us here. Native grasses should be the backbone of any open canopy planting, holding the fall and winter.
Can you smell it? Come in. Plant #nativeplants so wildlife can continue to share this amazing place with us.
October 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Can you smell it? Come in. Plant #nativeplants so wildlife can continue to share this amazing place with us.
Project w/ family. I'm not messing around when it comes to fairy gardens 💙
October 24, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Project w/ family. I'm not messing around when it comes to fairy gardens 💙
Not exactly sure what's happening here. It looks like this burl is supporting a tree directly alongside the main tree. Or, distorting the shape of the main trunk? Sorry, I don't have a pics from the other side. Curious!
October 19, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Not exactly sure what's happening here. It looks like this burl is supporting a tree directly alongside the main tree. Or, distorting the shape of the main trunk? Sorry, I don't have a pics from the other side. Curious!
Pic from August 30th after this planting roasted in the heat and drought for months.
October 19, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Pic from August 30th after this planting roasted in the heat and drought for months.
Senescence of the perennials leaves behind seed head points of black, grey and tan, the colors of winter.
October 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Senescence of the perennials leaves behind seed head points of black, grey and tan, the colors of winter.
I'm here tonight to remind you that it's awesome planting season out there right now. Not all plants, use your judgement. Perennials: only focus on things that either grow actively in the cool season, or don't go totally dormant. Seeds: yes, Woodies: go for it. Watch for voles.
Alligator River, NC
Alligator River, NC
October 13, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I'm here tonight to remind you that it's awesome planting season out there right now. Not all plants, use your judgement. Perennials: only focus on things that either grow actively in the cool season, or don't go totally dormant. Seeds: yes, Woodies: go for it. Watch for voles.
Alligator River, NC
Alligator River, NC
This garden has been prolific all year with succession of bloom and now it will shine into the winter. I do like when Coreopsis can be all black (foreground, due to the drought and heat stress this year) and actually add to the garden because of the beautiful contrasts in color, form, life/death.
September 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This garden has been prolific all year with succession of bloom and now it will shine into the winter. I do like when Coreopsis can be all black (foreground, due to the drought and heat stress this year) and actually add to the garden because of the beautiful contrasts in color, form, life/death.
I can't get enough Goldenrod and Allium. Here is A. 'Summer Beauty', S. 'Golden Fleece' (center), and S. 'Fireworks' (back right).
September 24, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I can't get enough Goldenrod and Allium. Here is A. 'Summer Beauty', S. 'Golden Fleece' (center), and S. 'Fireworks' (back right).
After the summer heat and drought, 'Ha Ha Tonka' Little Bluestem takes the stage. Bravo. #nativeplants
September 24, 2025 at 10:16 PM
After the summer heat and drought, 'Ha Ha Tonka' Little Bluestem takes the stage. Bravo. #nativeplants
Our designer chose to hug this front porch with lots of yellow in the fall :)
'Golden Fleece' Goldenrod (front center)
'Fireworks' Goldenrod (far left)
Yeah, another one on the right (sorry)
var. Fulgida Black Eyed Susan
And groundcover too, in between the taller plants :)
Plant more.
'Golden Fleece' Goldenrod (front center)
'Fireworks' Goldenrod (far left)
Yeah, another one on the right (sorry)
var. Fulgida Black Eyed Susan
And groundcover too, in between the taller plants :)
Plant more.
September 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Our designer chose to hug this front porch with lots of yellow in the fall :)
'Golden Fleece' Goldenrod (front center)
'Fireworks' Goldenrod (far left)
Yeah, another one on the right (sorry)
var. Fulgida Black Eyed Susan
And groundcover too, in between the taller plants :)
Plant more.
'Golden Fleece' Goldenrod (front center)
'Fireworks' Goldenrod (far left)
Yeah, another one on the right (sorry)
var. Fulgida Black Eyed Susan
And groundcover too, in between the taller plants :)
Plant more.
A perfectly healthy Hickory was demolished directly across from my house yesterday. These people picked the one place to put their driveway where there was a 100+ year old tree growing that rose up eighty feet into the sky. There was already 2 driveway cuts into this property. My heart is torn apart
September 17, 2025 at 11:11 AM
A perfectly healthy Hickory was demolished directly across from my house yesterday. These people picked the one place to put their driveway where there was a 100+ year old tree growing that rose up eighty feet into the sky. There was already 2 driveway cuts into this property. My heart is torn apart
I've been busy working on a design that uses almost all native plants for this large yard. I want a fairyland like feel here, with butterflies flying everywhere and host plants galore.
September 16, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I've been busy working on a design that uses almost all native plants for this large yard. I want a fairyland like feel here, with butterflies flying everywhere and host plants galore.
This means so many things... a life devoted to helping creatures smaller than myself, a constant reminder that we are only a piece of a much bigger system, the power wildlife has to heal and comfort, our obligation to Mother Earth to protect her and all her inhabitants. GARDENING IS CONSERVATION!
August 23, 2025 at 10:52 AM
This means so many things... a life devoted to helping creatures smaller than myself, a constant reminder that we are only a piece of a much bigger system, the power wildlife has to heal and comfort, our obligation to Mother Earth to protect her and all her inhabitants. GARDENING IS CONSERVATION!
Lot's of yellow options. Here's 'Little Henry' Sweet Coneflower in a rain garden.
July 28, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Lot's of yellow options. Here's 'Little Henry' Sweet Coneflower in a rain garden.
With an amazing talented team of native plant landscape designers, we're going to change how people perceive planting and show them the multitude of stacked ecological services available like pollinator conservation, stormwater management, reduced maintenance, carbon sequestration, aesthetic, etc.
July 28, 2025 at 12:01 AM
With an amazing talented team of native plant landscape designers, we're going to change how people perceive planting and show them the multitude of stacked ecological services available like pollinator conservation, stormwater management, reduced maintenance, carbon sequestration, aesthetic, etc.
Planted strip of land w/ native plants leads into a small rain garden slowing and capturing stormwater before it can enter the Potomac river. I'd have these at every house and structure, on every street, along every parking lot, every border to a farm, every area of turf. Responsible development.
July 19, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Planted strip of land w/ native plants leads into a small rain garden slowing and capturing stormwater before it can enter the Potomac river. I'd have these at every house and structure, on every street, along every parking lot, every border to a farm, every area of turf. Responsible development.
A mix of things.... mostly #nativeplants
July 18, 2025 at 10:34 PM
A mix of things.... mostly #nativeplants
In the mood for Butterfly Flower, always. No, not Butterfly Bush! (that's invasive). I'm talking about Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, it's starting to makes seed pods now.
July 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
In the mood for Butterfly Flower, always. No, not Butterfly Bush! (that's invasive). I'm talking about Asclepias tuberosa, Butterfly Weed, it's starting to makes seed pods now.
I've created a culture in my company based on learning, science, and respect for all the living things and each other. Seven strong now, we're going to sustain a pocket of empathy here and show folks that native planting can have a profound effect on the environment and our souls.☮️
July 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I've created a culture in my company based on learning, science, and respect for all the living things and each other. Seven strong now, we're going to sustain a pocket of empathy here and show folks that native planting can have a profound effect on the environment and our souls.☮️