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CW Native Plant Farm Newsletter November 2026 Three New Educational Presentations I was talking with Charlotte one day. I had an idea for a series of classes/talks on plant communities and she helped me clarify exactly what I wanted to do. We decided to draft these together and co-present them next year - Plant Communities in Waterways, Forests and Meadows in WNY. This will be a deep look at these ecological categories and the plants that live there. Plant Communities in t

What Is Winter Sowing? Winter sowing is a simple way to start seeds outdoors. You sow seeds into recycled milk jugs, set them outside, and let the winter weather do the work. There are no grow lights, heat mats, or windowsill trays. When spring warms up, the seeds sprout on their own schedule. Why Winter Sowing Works for Native Plants Many native plants need a period of cold, moist conditions before they will germinate. This is called cold moist stratification, and it is what

Sneeze weed and Iron Swamp rose mallow What are Keystone Species and Why do we Need to Plant them? Keystone species are those species...

February 2025 What does it mean to be a Native Gardener? Native gardeners have some core beliefs, values and design ideas. Many, if not...

January 2025 January is the perfect time to take stock of your garden and make plans. The new year offers lots of opportunities to read...

Awaiting publication in Butterfly Gardener Magazine The Spring and Summer of 2017 In April 2017 I was rushed to the hospital for...

Posted on the Friends of Iroquois NWR Dec 2020 Dr. Doug Tallamy has written a number of books on native plant gardening. Bringing Nature...

by Kathleen M. Contrino 1. Introduction An increasing threat to the environment comes from habitat loss. One way to mitigate the threat...

By Veronica Serwacki and in collaboration with Kathleen Contrino Fall and Spring Preparations for Growing a Pollinator Garden We are...

Lazy Gardener, published in The Release June 2019 Kathleen Contrino In this world of divided opinions many wonder if American’s can agree...