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Our Actions Have Amplified Cowbird's Impact

ljmarkson

Mar 18, 20232 min read

Our Actions Have Amplified Cowbird's Impact

At the end of February, the when the red-winged blackbirds migrate North, their raucous noise is replaced by the gurgling murmur of a...

The Native Carolina Cherry Laurel Controversy

ljmarkson

Mar 14, 20234 min read

Native Plants

The Native Carolina Cherry Laurel Controversy

I recently watched a small flock of hungry cedar waxwings eat what berries (drupes) previous birds missed on my now blooming Carolina...

Children Care Deeply About Protecting Nature - Let's Nurture This

ljmarkson

Mar 5, 20233 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Children Care Deeply About Protecting Nature - Let's Nurture This

We pulled into our driveway from an outing and there was a mother with her 7-or 8-year-old daughter at our front door. The little girl...

S**t Happens - and Opens up Possibilities!

ljmarkson

Feb 5, 20236 min read

Coexisting with Nature

S**t Happens - and Opens up Possibilities!

One of the main lessons in my daily guided meditation is how our suffering comes from not being able to align our inner expectations with...

ljmarkson

Feb 2, 20232 min read

Native Flowering Vines

Native Crossvine is a Habitat Plant

I thought crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) was indestructible. It climbs by tendrils then attaches to trees with even more with roots to...

Plant Native Fruiting Trees in Public and Private Spaces

ljmarkson

Dec 8, 20223 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Plant Native Fruiting Trees in Public and Private Spaces

Earth friendly Steph and Josh of Atlanta aptly expressed their gratitude to nature on Thanksgiving Day by adding 46 native Georgia fruit...

Reclaim Nature and Add Habitat with a Brush Pile

ljmarkson

Nov 30, 20225 min read

Landscaping for Nature

Reclaim Nature and Add Habitat with a Brush Pile

I’ve tried to maximize the edge areas of my small, semi-urban, rewilded yard by tucking away a few brush piles behind shrubs and trees to...

ljmarkson

Nov 22, 20224 min read

Propagation

Grow a Native Buckeye Tree from Seed

Several of the multiple buckeye species that grow in North America are native to Georgia. Bottlebrush buckeye is native to Alabama,...

To Save Insects and Birds the Future is Now

ljmarkson

Nov 18, 20223 min read

Local Conservation and Education

To Save Insects and Birds the Future is Now

It turned out to be a great idea for the Intown Atlanta Chapter of the Georgia native Plant Society to squeeze one more event into this...

Add Coreopsis Integrifolia to the Home Landscape

ljmarkson

Nov 9, 20222 min read

Native Plants

Add Coreopsis Integrifolia to the Home Landscape

There are over two dozen coreopsis varieties in North American on BONAP and twenty grow in Georgia. Coreopsis integrifolia also known as...

ljmarkson

Nov 3, 20223 min read

Landscaping for Nature

A Dead Tree Branch Story

Last month I happened to notice a dead branch on a large pine tree in my front yard. Through my binoculars I could see a huge 20 or so...

Exploring Nature Conservation on a Jekyll Island Vacation

ljmarkson

Oct 2, 20225 min read

Conservation

Exploring Nature Conservation on a Jekyll Island Vacation

As we sped down the Georgia highway towards a beach getaway I found myself videoing the relentless GDOT pesticide destruction along the...

Intown Atlanta GNPS Native Plant Swap & Share FAQ

ljmarkson

Sep 7, 20226 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Intown Atlanta GNPS Native Plant Swap & Share FAQ

I'm helping organize the Intown Atlanta GNPS Native Plants Swap & Share as part of the Annual Meeting. Since this is the first time we're...

Intown Atlanta GNPS Pollinator Picnics are Family Friendly!

ljmarkson

Aug 13, 20224 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Intown Atlanta GNPS Pollinator Picnics are Family Friendly!

This year the Intown Atlanta Georgia Native Plant Society is making it easy for Atlanta families to participate in the Great Georgia...

FAQ for Intown Atlanta GNPS Pollinator Picnics

ljmarkson

Aug 7, 20227 min read

Local Conservation and Education

FAQ for Intown Atlanta GNPS Pollinator Picnics

What is the Great Georgia Pollinator Census Count? The Great Georgia Pollinator Census count (GGPC) is a citizen science project...

Strategies for Identifying Agastache Species and Other Native Plants

ljmarkson

Jul 19, 20226 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Strategies for Identifying Agastache Species and Other Native Plants

I don’t usually get fussy or wonky about different native plant species but when I learned the range for the most common hyssop called...

Nurturing a Firefly Habitat Also Helps Restore Nature

ljmarkson

Jul 7, 20226 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Nurturing a Firefly Habitat Also Helps Restore Nature

In the context of creating a healthy yard ecosystem fireflies are just another insect we need to provide habitat for. Yet 2,000 firefly...

Building a More Vibrant Intown Atlanta Native Plant Community

ljmarkson

Jun 28, 20224 min read

Landscaping for Nature

Building a More Vibrant Intown Atlanta Native Plant Community

On a hot June Sunday afternoon a varied group of around 50 or so people interested in native plants came together for a panel discussion...

Fernbank Forest - An Example of Protecting Nature for Future Generations

ljmarkson

Jun 22, 20223 min read

Local Conservation and Education

Fernbank Forest - An Example of Protecting Nature for Future Generations

I had no expectation when my friend Leslie of Pollinator Friendly Yards asked me if I wanted to meet her for a 2-hour guided walk in the...

How to Attract Bluebirds of Happiness to Your Yard

ljmarkson

Jun 10, 20225 min read

Birds

How to Attract Bluebirds of Happiness to Your Yard

This year I’ve been documenting the joyful journey of a darling Eastern bluebird duo and their precious offspring finally choosing a...

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