The Bee Better Teaching Garden experiments with several types of fruit trees and shrubs. Our criteria first and foremost are the fruits performance without spraying. We also consider plants for an average residential property, so we look for varieties that are self-pollinating and also dwarf varieties.. Below is a list of the fruits we have in the teaching garden.
Most cannot deny the charming appeal of woven English wattle edging; and do you know just how easy it is to make?
English settlers brought the craft of making wattle to America, and even today in colonial Williamsburg the basket-weave rustic charm of wattle is used as a pedestrian barrier. But more than that, wattle can insulate young seedlings by blocking wind and can also elevate an otherwise ho-hum raised bed into a bedded charmer.
Beginning at seven years old, I can remember our first outdoor Christmas lights. It was around the time we also had our first TV. (No, I’m not that old, but it was during a time of significant new influences.) I remember each with equal fascination. During that time (circa 1963), there were limits on TV coverage and Christmas lights!
The holiday season can make us all a little stir crazy. Okay, make that a lot crazy. Instead, just chill. Try making these birdseed wreath recipes; a bird at a wreath is like two gifts off your list.
In the kitchen of Helen’s Haven, the demonstration garden for the non-profit Bee Better, Building Better Backyards for Birds, Bees, and Butterflies, I look to nature in making my gifts. With a Bundt pan, birdseed, and a few items from the pantry, I am able to whip up a delightful gift for the birds and the bird lovers on my list.
Nature bestows upon us a great gift each fall, festive color for us, and a windfall for the wildlife. Let's celebrate and #leavetheleaves! Click to Tweet!!!
Too often we forget the big picture. Once the leaves fall, and the color-glory is over, it’s just beginning for the life underneath. Let's remember the benefits those fallen leaves provide the soil and foraging birds, and food, cover, water, and a place to raise their young for the birds, bees, and butterflies.
Whether you use herbs fresh from the garden or line your pantry with cute jars filled with dried herbs, here’s the how-to on harvesting and drying.
Harvesting Herbs
Cut sprigs or branches in the morning after the dew has evaporated and before the heat of the day. The oils in herbs are what give aroma and flavor; and herb oils are at their highest concentration during the morning hours. Harvest herbs for drying just as the first flower buds begin to open.
Naturally, Helen Yoest
We Americans tend to find broken things worthless. In our deposable society, if it’s chip, cracked, crushed, or tattered, we carry it to the trash. We even do so with our trees. Think about it; we have a tree that died. Now what? We call in the tree service to remove the tree. We may or may not grind the stump; this decision is most likely based on where it is. If the stump is easily accessed, then grinding is likely. Mind you, if it is easily accessed, it typically is in an unsightly place. Thurs, call in the grinder!!!
Pollinators will find what they need, no matter what; yes, even shade-loving plants have a pollinator.
The first thing to consider in selecting plants for shade is knowing the type of shade you have. Here’s is a Bee Better Naturally post that will help with this.
Remember, too, there is a lot of overlap. Don’t get too worried if your area is part sun or part shade. Measure the amount so you know for sure! Also, when is it shady. Morning sun is kinder than afternoon sun.
Hypertufa troughs are an earthy and natural container that goes with every garden style. Modeled after ancient stone troughs that were once used to hold water and feed for livestock in England and the Orient; later they were repurposed into planters.
The look of these troughs as containers became very popular. When there weren’t enough to go around, or as they became too pricey, people began to make their own.
Bee Better Naturally is excited to announce to #Raleigh- area gardeners, Helen Yoest will be offering a seven-week sustainable gardening certification. This course will also be offered online within the year. Stay tuned!!!
To register, click HERE.
Certification in Sustainable Gardening—Seven-Week Course. We will be offering two classes. One on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 and the other on Saturday afternoon 1:00 to 3:00.
Naturally, Helen Yoest
Naturally, Helen Yoest
Want to give a gift that keeps on giving? No, I’m not talking about sunchokes, Helianthus tuberosus. Instead, consider making a homemade bird bubbler that will be popular with resident and migratory birds and fulfill your wildlife requirements. Although a birdbath will do, moving water adds additional value.
If I were to give you a butterfly quiz, I’m quite sure you could pass. No pressure. Here we go. Which butterfly has drastically decreased in populations during the last decade? Unless you’ve had your head in the sand, you probably know about the decline of the monarch butterfly populations, as upwards of 90 percent.
On a summer afternoon in early June, I had the luxury of visiting the Kirsch’s garden in Portsmouth, Virginia. Sitting on the back deck with a view of the Elizabeth River, Mike, Carolyn, and I basked in the environment.
As three nature-lovers sipped (very) good wine, the conversation flowed and only silenced long enough as we witness the squirrel’s antics on their dedicated peanut station or to watch the birds flock feeders. I can think of no other way to enjoy the day; time together continued, in our same spots, with coffee in the morning.
When that winter chill hits you such that all you want to do is sit at the kitchen table with a cup of hot cocoa and watch the birds, it’s time to put out the feeders. Bee Better readers typically plant for the birds, but when you want to attract the birds to a nice location to see from inside the home, fill your feeders and feed the birds!
Bee Better Naturally has a lot of exciting changes to come. While I’m still learning how to use Squarespace, my now website hosting site, I’m also learning how to create online courses. I thought the first mini-course would be ready by now, but I realized I was rushing things and have pulled back. Instead of an April 1st launch, I’m now looking to lunch on Earth Day, April 22nd. Stay tuned. The course is called the Monarch 95% Club.
Did you know in nature, only 5% of monarch butterflies reach adulthood? Our mini-course includes a members site and a download of ten of the most common milkweeds across the US with graphics.
The Monarch 95% Club is a membership site; and as a member commits to growing not only more milkweed but also raising monarch egg and caterpillars to adulthood, vastly increasing the survival rate up from just 5%.
Stay tuned!!!
As we grow our courses, we hope to expand our mailing list. If you haven’t already subscribed to our newsletter, where we off a free monthly maintenance gardening guide, please do so. For more than ten years I have been adding and tweaking these 12 posts to be more wildlife friendly including food and decorating. I hope those of you who have subscribed, find it helpful. If so, I’d love for you to leave a comment!
You may have heard I’m leaving Ferrington Village as one of their gardeners. I loved the work, but it was time to move on. It was the fastest two years and three months I can remember. Why? Well, there were several reasons, but I wanted to do more challenging and rewarding work, so I’m back writing and focusing on technical writing. I’ll be a technical editor and writer for Merck Pharm. I’m super excited. And knowing I’m back at a desk all day, I can save my physical strength to work in the Bee Better Naturally Teaching Garden!
Bee Better Naturally with Helen Yoest is alive and well. You’ll see even more from me. As mentioned above, I will be writing and producing online courses. These online courses will be challenging and rewarding.
So lots of exciting happenings with Bee Better Naturally. If you are on Facebook, click here to like our page at Bee Better Naturally with Helen Yoest.
Also if you subscribe to this site (see above yellow bar) you will also get a free download of Getting Ready for Bluebirds!
Until soon, Helen
