Cooling Down Mother Earth

As I watch the news about record-breaking heat across the U.S. this week, I think about the impact we have made to bring new life to a tired property in a short time through our flower farm.  It’s truly miraculous to see the many birds and pollinators that arrive when you provide a bird bath and flower/shrub buffet!  We have planted over 20 trees and 250 shrubs, in addition to our tens of thousands of flowers each season, but to cool down and bring much needed shade and canopy to our land outside the flower farm, we have work to do! 

We inherited a huge lawn of dead, spotty grass that looks awful even after thatching, aerating, fertilizing, and regularly watering.  Just two trees were planted on this property when we arrived.  We will work to replace/rethink the sad lawn and plant native species as we go, things like Blue Spruce, Serviceberry, Ninebark, Cotinus, and Mock orange.  They settle in faster, need less water and attention, and grow like crazy!  I rely on this WSU Extension website for guidance:  https://extension.wsu.edu/spokane/master-gardener-program/home-lawn-and-garden/inw-gardening/native-plants/
And, here is a perfect year-round bird bath that heats in winter:  https://www.gardeners.com/buy/heated-bird-bath-with-three-legged-stand-black/8608877.html

So how can we garden and grow our way into a cooler, more beautiful, more sustainable place for ourselves, each other, and those who follow?  Let me know what you are doing to leave your part of earth cooler and better than you found it.  I’d love to help you brainstorm, dig or transplant!