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Helpful Hints - articles related to native plants and ecological restoration

Butterfly Plants

A list compiled by Bill Schneider - Larval Host Plants

Restoration in a changing landscape – what’s a native plant nursery to do?

When I started the nursery in 1996, I wanted to grow not just native plants but genetic wild types. 

Where Will These Plants Grow? 

An article by Bill Schneider - Where plants are found in the natural environment offers some clues to where they will thrive in residential, commercial, and conservation plantings. But our customers...

Right Plant, Right Place

An article by Bill Schneider - Choosing the right plant for the right place is an important consideration for all types of gardening and landscaping. For most of my customers the objective is to select plants that will not only thrive but also help create a...

Genetically Speaking 

An article by Bill Schneider - We see our aim as preserving the native flora and the genetic diversity found in our local populations. Therefore, unlike many commercially grown ornamental...

Support the Wildlife! Throw a Party! 

An article by Bill Schneider - I am often asked which of our species will attract wildlife. The answer is simple—all of them. Although a particular native plant may not conspicuously attract wildlife, its value should not be...

Everything has a Season 

An article by Bill Schneider - We have all observed the Christmas season starting earlier each year. The day after Thanksgiving once marked the beginning of the shopping season. Now Christmas displays are commonly seen before Halloween...

Got Anything Better to do than Weed the Garden? 

An article by Bill Schneider - Weeds plague all gardeners and landscapers. Plenty of time and money is spent each year in the battle. We think some of this expense and energy is misdirected - addressing only the symptoms but not the cause. While we certainly...

Getting the plants to Grow Can Be the Easiest Part 

An article by Bill Schneider - Every year we are pleased to hear from our customers how well our plants are doing in their yards. However, there are times when a cherished plant may grow too well in your garden setting. All the money...

It Ain't Easy Being Green

An article by Bill Schneider - Here at Wildtype we like to think of ourselves as ecologically oriented and worthy of the moniker “green business.” Actually being green has proven to be an ambiguous and elusive goal –much more challenging than we could have ever thought...

When Good Soil is Bad

An article by Bill Schneider - The horticulture of native plants sometimes gets tangled up in traditional horticulture or agriculture, especially as it relates to the understanding of soils and soil fertility.  The gardening dogma has been to extol...

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