The Monarch Gardener
@themonarchgardener.bsky.social
Native plant nursery in Topsfield, MA. All plants are native to the Northeast US, a host for native caterpillars, and are beyond organic. The only things that touches the plants are rainwater, sunshine and organic potting soil. www.themonarchgardener.com
Seed Starting Secrets Workshop Sign Up Genius link is LIVE!!! For those who snag a spot I will email back info within 24 hours, if you don't hear back from me check your spa or email me at [email protected] www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BA5...
Monarch Gardener's Seed Starting Secrets 2025 Workshops: 4/27 1:00-3:00; 4/29 10:00-12:00; 5/3 10:00-12:00
Come spend two hours with me at the farm learning to do all that I do! Learn collecting, stratifying, starting and transplanting native seedlings. And go home with a 50 cell plug tray of your own plan...
www.signupgenius.com
April 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Seed Starting Secrets Workshop Sign Up Genius link is LIVE!!! For those who snag a spot I will email back info within 24 hours, if you don't hear back from me check your spa or email me at [email protected] www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4BA5...
Signs up for my Seed Starting Secrets Workshops goes LIVE Saturday at 10 AM!! A Sign up Genius link will post here and on my website. Dates: Sunday April 27th 1:00-3:00
Tuesday April 29th 10:00-12:00
Saturday May 3rd 10:00-12:00
Cost=$70, participants go home with their own 50 cell plug tray
Tuesday April 29th 10:00-12:00
Saturday May 3rd 10:00-12:00
Cost=$70, participants go home with their own 50 cell plug tray
April 2, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Signs up for my Seed Starting Secrets Workshops goes LIVE Saturday at 10 AM!! A Sign up Genius link will post here and on my website. Dates: Sunday April 27th 1:00-3:00
Tuesday April 29th 10:00-12:00
Saturday May 3rd 10:00-12:00
Cost=$70, participants go home with their own 50 cell plug tray
Tuesday April 29th 10:00-12:00
Saturday May 3rd 10:00-12:00
Cost=$70, participants go home with their own 50 cell plug tray
Love podcasts? I introduce you to Gardening for Hot People by the fabulous Cheryl Rafuse of Plant Magic Gardens and Katie Upchurch of Soy Much Brighter. The podcast explores gardening in an era of climate change. I was guest #2 and we had A LOT of fun! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKV... or streaming
Gardening For Hot People (Episode 04) Save the Monarch, Save the World
YouTube video by BevCam
www.youtube.com
March 27, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Love podcasts? I introduce you to Gardening for Hot People by the fabulous Cheryl Rafuse of Plant Magic Gardens and Katie Upchurch of Soy Much Brighter. The podcast explores gardening in an era of climate change. I was guest #2 and we had A LOT of fun! www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yKV... or streaming
Did you know birds tuck seeds into empty plant stems to snack on later? Took a lovely walk around my garden yesterday and found sunflower seeds hiding in last years Joe pye.😆 My neighbor is an avid feeder of his yard birds so it’s no surprise some ended up stashed in my ‘left natural’ winter garden.
March 12, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Did you know birds tuck seeds into empty plant stems to snack on later? Took a lovely walk around my garden yesterday and found sunflower seeds hiding in last years Joe pye.😆 My neighbor is an avid feeder of his yard birds so it’s no surprise some ended up stashed in my ‘left natural’ winter garden.
And now some not so good news....monarchs may have almost doubled last year, but butterflies in general have declined a whopping 22% since 2020. What to do? Ditch pesticides full stop, plant host plants, plant nectar plants. Create habitat.
xerces.org/press/study-...
xerces.org/press/study-...
Study Finds That US Butterfly Populations Are Severely Declining | Xerces Society
A new study published today in Science has found that populations of butterflies across the United States are declining. In addition to dramatic declines for individual species, the study concluded th...
xerces.org
March 7, 2025 at 1:19 PM
And now some not so good news....monarchs may have almost doubled last year, but butterflies in general have declined a whopping 22% since 2020. What to do? Ditch pesticides full stop, plant host plants, plant nectar plants. Create habitat.
xerces.org/press/study-...
xerces.org/press/study-...
GOOD NEWS! The Eastern monarch population numbers were just announced. The population is UP 99%!! It's still the 5th lowest amount recorded since counting began, but I'll take the win. We need every little win right now. More at: journeynorth.org/monarchs/new...
March 6, 2025 at 9:06 PM
GOOD NEWS! The Eastern monarch population numbers were just announced. The population is UP 99%!! It's still the 5th lowest amount recorded since counting began, but I'll take the win. We need every little win right now. More at: journeynorth.org/monarchs/new...
A little green to cheer up your Wednesday 🌱
March 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
A little green to cheer up your Wednesday 🌱
SQUUEEEEEEEE! FIRST BUTTERFLYWEED SPROUT!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
March 3, 2025 at 10:50 PM
SQUUEEEEEEEE! FIRST BUTTERFLYWEED SPROUT!!!!!❤️❤️❤️
Noodles says "rabbit! rabbit!" and 'Happy March!" I'd usually post a link for a newsletter on the first day of the month. But I'm going to wait until the Mexican overwintering monarch population numbers are announced and do it then. Last year the news came out on February 7th, so it should be soon!
March 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Noodles says "rabbit! rabbit!" and 'Happy March!" I'd usually post a link for a newsletter on the first day of the month. But I'm going to wait until the Mexican overwintering monarch population numbers are announced and do it then. Last year the news came out on February 7th, so it should be soon!
Look what I just checked out of my local library! 'Soil' by Camille T. Dungy was recommended by a follower named Anika. I haven't started it yet but was sold in seconds when I read the book jacket. A perfect way to finish out Black History Month, I'll report back when I'm done 😉
February 26, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Look what I just checked out of my local library! 'Soil' by Camille T. Dungy was recommended by a follower named Anika. I haven't started it yet but was sold in seconds when I read the book jacket. A perfect way to finish out Black History Month, I'll report back when I'm done 😉
For 4 years now I've been trying to boost the germination of wild Essex Co. hempvine - Mikania scandens- seeds. Last summer a plant I grew, and planted in my garden, finally flowered. It's seeds from THIS wild offspring that are germinating like mad. Instead of 4 or 5 for sale I should have dozens!
February 24, 2025 at 7:07 PM
For 4 years now I've been trying to boost the germination of wild Essex Co. hempvine - Mikania scandens- seeds. Last summer a plant I grew, and planted in my garden, finally flowered. It's seeds from THIS wild offspring that are germinating like mad. Instead of 4 or 5 for sale I should have dozens!
With the world iced over this vacation week I was determined to find a outdoor place to take my cooped up 9th grader. And it dawned on me: the Stone Zoo! Bats, black bears, a yak, a porcupine, wolves and reindeer. Then our favorite, the snow leopards showing us their tummies. Cats will be cats 🤣
February 21, 2025 at 9:56 PM
With the world iced over this vacation week I was determined to find a outdoor place to take my cooped up 9th grader. And it dawned on me: the Stone Zoo! Bats, black bears, a yak, a porcupine, wolves and reindeer. Then our favorite, the snow leopards showing us their tummies. Cats will be cats 🤣
Jeff is my only winter-time employee, with one job: keep mice out of the greenhouse! He finally got off his floofy chonky butt today and for the first time this winter wandered in from the basement. He got straight 'to work' spreading his cat scent everywhere. Good boy Jeff! Extra treats for you!
February 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Jeff is my only winter-time employee, with one job: keep mice out of the greenhouse! He finally got off his floofy chonky butt today and for the first time this winter wandered in from the basement. He got straight 'to work' spreading his cat scent everywhere. Good boy Jeff! Extra treats for you!
82 species have germinated! And Mother Nature dumped 6” of fresh fertilizer last night, a bin is melting to use on the shrubs soon. Natives don’t generally need fertilizing but after a few months in the same dirt a little is always a good idea and snow contains usable nitrogen.
February 17, 2025 at 12:25 AM
82 species have germinated! And Mother Nature dumped 6” of fresh fertilizer last night, a bin is melting to use on the shrubs soon. Natives don’t generally need fertilizing but after a few months in the same dirt a little is always a good idea and snow contains usable nitrogen.
It's been a month since we checked in with the baby sweet pepper bushes, Clethra alnifolia. SO MANY BABIES!! I gently moved 72 into a cube tray today but could easily make up another 4. Who doesn't love what is the best smelling native shrub in the northeast? Baby and all grown up below.
February 13, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It's been a month since we checked in with the baby sweet pepper bushes, Clethra alnifolia. SO MANY BABIES!! I gently moved 72 into a cube tray today but could easily make up another 4. Who doesn't love what is the best smelling native shrub in the northeast? Baby and all grown up below.
5 big Monarch Gardener stars for Night Magic! One of the best nature books I've read in a long time! Each line is either a nature fun fact for me to store away, or feels like soft moss wrapping me in a hug. Henion brings you along on night time adventures with salamanders, fireflies, bats and more.
February 13, 2025 at 12:33 AM
5 big Monarch Gardener stars for Night Magic! One of the best nature books I've read in a long time! Each line is either a nature fun fact for me to store away, or feels like soft moss wrapping me in a hug. Henion brings you along on night time adventures with salamanders, fireflies, bats and more.
I dropped the ball on Valentine's seed packs! I am packing them now. If you're within driving distance of Ipswich, MA email me at [email protected] and I can give you info on how to get these from my Little Free Milkweed Seed Library in time for your kid's class Valentine's exchange.
February 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I dropped the ball on Valentine's seed packs! I am packing them now. If you're within driving distance of Ipswich, MA email me at [email protected] and I can give you info on how to get these from my Little Free Milkweed Seed Library in time for your kid's class Valentine's exchange.
I did a little experiment yesterday to see if I could coax more tree seeds out of dormancy. I placed these flowering dogwood seeds on a damp paper towel in a plastic bag and set them in a sunny window. I should say it worked. Overnight 7 popped. It's amazing how much heat really gets natives awake.
February 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I did a little experiment yesterday to see if I could coax more tree seeds out of dormancy. I placed these flowering dogwood seeds on a damp paper towel in a plastic bag and set them in a sunny window. I should say it worked. Overnight 7 popped. It's amazing how much heat really gets natives awake.
Long time followers know I'm a sucker for blue. So I am very excited today to have sown some of the thousands of seeds I collected from bottle gentians, Gentiana clausa, I started from Maine ecotype seed now growing in my yard, shown below. These need light to germinate, so I sow on the surface.
February 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Long time followers know I'm a sucker for blue. So I am very excited today to have sown some of the thousands of seeds I collected from bottle gentians, Gentiana clausa, I started from Maine ecotype seed now growing in my yard, shown below. These need light to germinate, so I sow on the surface.
Brace yourselves for a big SQUEEE as I swoon over these baby black elderberries basking in the sun. OK, so elderberries can't solve all the world's problems but they can host 37 caterpillars, and the birds who fatten up on their fall berries sure have a better world with elderberries in it.
February 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Brace yourselves for a big SQUEEE as I swoon over these baby black elderberries basking in the sun. OK, so elderberries can't solve all the world's problems but they can host 37 caterpillars, and the birds who fatten up on their fall berries sure have a better world with elderberries in it.
Me again with your regional drought report. My area has slipped back into a moderate drought! I'm in Essex County, the Cape Ann coastal area north of Boston, MA. But look at parts of New Jersey! Extreme drought there 😱 I wish you lots of gentle precipitation where ever you are in the northeast.
February 6, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Me again with your regional drought report. My area has slipped back into a moderate drought! I'm in Essex County, the Cape Ann coastal area north of Boston, MA. But look at parts of New Jersey! Extreme drought there 😱 I wish you lots of gentle precipitation where ever you are in the northeast.
On a trip over to the farm this morning to grab 10 fresh bags of potting soil I did a quick check of my stored nursery benches. Look what the chipmunks left me! It fills my heart to know that somewhere in the world a chipmunk is happily hollowing out acorns oblivious to the follies of us humans.
February 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
On a trip over to the farm this morning to grab 10 fresh bags of potting soil I did a quick check of my stored nursery benches. Look what the chipmunks left me! It fills my heart to know that somewhere in the world a chipmunk is happily hollowing out acorns oblivious to the follies of us humans.
Daddy Owl says "It's 5:00 PM and STILL light!" And, "have you contacted your Massachusetts State Rep and Senator to tell them to back the new bill to phase out rodenticides?" You can do so at the link below, or find your rep's and senator's local office hours.
web.massaudubon.org/site/Advocac...
web.massaudubon.org/site/Advocac...
February 4, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Daddy Owl says "It's 5:00 PM and STILL light!" And, "have you contacted your Massachusetts State Rep and Senator to tell them to back the new bill to phase out rodenticides?" You can do so at the link below, or find your rep's and senator's local office hours.
web.massaudubon.org/site/Advocac...
web.massaudubon.org/site/Advocac...
HAPPY DANCE TIME!!!! NEW SOIL IS HERE!! Did you know Coast of Maine heats all its potting soil up to 130 degrees F for SIX WEEKS guaranteeing no hitchhikers of any worm kind!?!??! Huge thank you to the guys at the Essex County Co-Op for bringing this over to the farm for us today.
February 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
HAPPY DANCE TIME!!!! NEW SOIL IS HERE!! Did you know Coast of Maine heats all its potting soil up to 130 degrees F for SIX WEEKS guaranteeing no hitchhikers of any worm kind!?!??! Huge thank you to the guys at the Essex County Co-Op for bringing this over to the farm for us today.
Did the groundhog predict six more weeks of winter? YES
Has spring come anyway at the nursery? ALSO: YES
Lovers of seaside goldenrod and wild bergamot will be pleased to know I'm having fabulous germination this 'spring'.
Has spring come anyway at the nursery? ALSO: YES
Lovers of seaside goldenrod and wild bergamot will be pleased to know I'm having fabulous germination this 'spring'.
February 2, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Did the groundhog predict six more weeks of winter? YES
Has spring come anyway at the nursery? ALSO: YES
Lovers of seaside goldenrod and wild bergamot will be pleased to know I'm having fabulous germination this 'spring'.
Has spring come anyway at the nursery? ALSO: YES
Lovers of seaside goldenrod and wild bergamot will be pleased to know I'm having fabulous germination this 'spring'.