The balance of nature depends on the activities of parasites and predators, the majority of which are insects. Many insects, including caterpillar hunter beetles, pirate bugs, and praying mantises, keep populations of herbivorous insects in check. Equally important are parasitic insects, a prime example being braconid wasps. Conservation Biological Control eliminates the use of pesticides and chemicals by promoting the population of these beneficial insects.
Foamflowers are closely related to Coral-bells (botanical name Heuchera), with similar sprays of airy flowers during mid to late spring. The foliage of this species has heart-shaped green leaves with red veins, and clouds of white flowers when it blossoms. Having a running habit is make an excellent spreading groundcover for shady woodland areas.
Lincoln Landscaping Inc. of Franklin Lakes is pleased and honored to announce their association and membership with the Ecological Landscape Alliance. Since its founding in 1992, the Ecological Landscape Alliance has been a leader in promoting sustainable approaches to landscape design, construction, and management.
Commonly called American elderberry, Sambucus canadensis, is native to eastern North America. It is a deciduous shrub that typically grows to 5-12’ tall. Having small lemon-scented white flowers that appear in large flat-topped clusters in May and June, it tolerates medium to wet, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The flowers give way to clusters of black elderberry fruits (called drupes) in late summer.
Barren-strawberry is a carefree, semi-evergreen groundcover that forms a mat with strawberry-like dark green foliage and profusely blooming yellow flowers in early to mid-spring. An exellent choice for woodland garden beds it tolerates partial to light shade
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a deciduous holly shrub with a height of approximately 6 ft to 15 ft and is native to the eastern U.S. The most important role played by Winterberry is as a fall and winter food source for songbirds: the fleshy, bright red berries of this shrub are an excellent source of sustenance for fruit-eating birds such as robins, catbirds, mockingbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, and Cedar Waxwings to name a few.
Forget burning bush, Itea Virginica ‘Henry’s Garnet’ is not only a native plant that is pollinator friendly, it’s just as colorful and even more useful as within the realm of landscaping! It grows in full sun to full shade.