Choosing Plants
Garden in the woods
Native Plant Trust. (2023). Celebrate native plants. https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/
This website is a go-to resource for anyone who wants to learn more about native plants. There is a lot here that will be of interest to an experienced gardener, but the site is easy to navigate for beginners as well, with sections like "Why Native Plants?" and a 5-step guide to creating pollinator gardens. It also includes an excellent database where you can search for plants by name using "quick search," or narrow results based on plant type, flower color, bloom season and other characteristics. The Native Plant Trusted is based in Framingham, Mass, at Garden in the Woods (pictured here), and runs year-round programs across New England and online.
Plant primer
Lorimer, U. (2022). The Northeast native plant primer: 235 plants for an earth-friendly garden. Timber Press.
Uli Lorimer is director of Horticulture at Garden In The Woods, the home of the Native Plant Trust. In this 250-page sourcebook, he provides one-page descriptions of 235 native Northeast plants to help gardeners pick the right plants for their site. It is divided into sections -- trees, shrubs, vines, wildflowers, ferns, grasses, sedges, rushes, and annuals -- with large and detailed photographs. Not surprisingly, Lorimer has a strong point of view and distinguishes his book from other native plant references in that he recommends "only species of natives and no cultivated varieties at all." There’s a lot of information conveyed succinctly, and this book is easy to pick up and scan. A 20-page "Getting Started" section is helpful in pointing out the importance of becoming acquainted with the environmental conditions at your site. Find a copy in your library via WorldCat.
Plants for birds
National Audubon Society. (2023). Audubon. https://www.audubon.org
"We protect birds and the places they need". We think of birds when we think of Audubon, but the National Audubon Society website also offers lots of information for the gardener interested in growing native plants that attract and protect birds. Resources include a one-page guide with simple steps to create a bird-friendly backyard and advice for prep and research before you go to the nursery. Of special interest is Audubon's Native Plant Database where you can enter your zipcode and discover the best plants for the birds in your area. (Pictured here is a ruby-throated hummingbird on a butterflyweed. Photo by Dave Maslowski.)
Perennials and more
Jaffe, D., & Richardson, M. (2018). Native plants for New England gardens. Globe Pequot Press.
This book is a useful and beautiful guide to 100 native perennials, trees and shrubs, ferns, grasses and vines. These are all plants that will thrive in New England's varied micro-climates. Large photos offer detail and will help in plant identification. There's a lot of information here, and a reader, especially a beginning gardener, might feel overwhelmed by the choices. As a shortcut, there's a very helpful appendix with lists of "top 10 plants" for various conditions (sunny, shady, dry, moist to wet) and gardening goals (songbirds, groundcovers, strong winter interest). Find a copy in your library via WorldCat.
Small is beautiful
Coulson, C. (2021, May 5). Container gardening: Sarah Raven’s 7 tips for perfect flower pots. Gardenista. https://www.gardenista.com/posts/container-gardening-sarah-ravens-7-expert-tips-for-perfect-pots/
Many would-be gardeners don't have a yard, and container gardening offers a way to create pollinator mini-gardens whatever your space constraints. In this short article, the author serves up advice from U.K. flower designer and "lifestyle guru" Sarah Raven on choosing plants for arrangements that are vibrant and long-lasting. This is not an in-depth read, but the tips offer a new way to think about arranging plants in containers, large and small. For example, says Raven, "cram them in" -- use only half the space between plants than you would normally use in a garden border -- and restrict yourself to key palettes like cool pastels, deep jewel colors, or warm shades.