Category: Plants

Mitlenatch Island comes alive on this wildlife catamaran tour

Explore the wilderness.

Not many people get to visit Mitlenatch Island, and the seabirds like it that way. This important nesting site rests in the middle of the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island. Mitlenatch means “calm waters all around” in the Coast Salish language. But visitors might wonder if they were joking. The wind often kicks up too much for folks to land on this island, which is only accessible by boat.

When I visited, my group got lucky and arrived on an idyllic spring day. Mitlenatch is in a rain shadow, so it only gets about 30 inches of rain annually — which is nothing in coastal British Columbia. We stopped off at Mitlenatch as part of a five-day cruise via posh catamaran with the Victoria-based company Maple Leaf Adventures. If you’re interested in birds or plants, it’s a fascinating trip to take.

How to reach Mitlenatch Island

Visiting Mitlenatch on a calm spring day was delightful. After walking on the island, we circumnavigated it by boat to watch sea lions and harbor seals lounging on rocks. Several tour groups and water taxis offer service from nearby Cortes Island or Vancouver Island. Depending on the weather and the condition of your muscles, it’s also possible to kayak to Mitlenatch.

A person kayaking on the water in front of coastal rocks.
You could kayak to Mitlenatch. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Cactus and wildflowers

Greg Shea, our boat’s naturalist, told us we were looking for cactus on Mitlenatch. What?! I’d never heard of cactus growing in British Columbia. But sure enough, we found prickly pears, thanks to the rain shadow.

Purple flowers growing near small cacti.
Wild cacti growing in British Columbia! / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Spring is also the time to see wildflowers blooming. Local species include purple camas, pink pea flowers, yellow monkey flowers, and chocolate lilies. While most of the surrounding islands have tall trees, Mitlenatch is mostly treeless due to the rain shadow and “shallow dry soils.” This lower flora profile makes for gorgeous wildflowers.

Black lilies growing wild.
Chocolate lilies. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Mitlenatch’s seabirds

Mitlenatch is a protected area for nesting birds. Over a thousand pairs of glaucous-winged gulls nest here, arriving in April to pick out their breeding territory. Pelagic cormorants nest on the island’s steep cliff faces and narrow ledges. Double-crested cormorants, northwestern crows, pigeon guillemots, and black oystercatchers also rely on the island for safe nesting. My group took turns in a blind, where we watched a colony of gulls on a rock outcropping.

Black birds on a rock formation.
Birds at Mitlenatch Island Nature Reserve. / Photo by Andrea_44

Volunteer projects

The only people allowed to stay on Mitlenatch are volunteers with the Mitlenatch Island Stewardship Team (MIST). I met Heidi Tonn and Rodney Mitchell, who have volunteered for a week every summer for 30 years. The couple had five students with them during my visit. 

“We do a whole bunch of different citizen science during our weeks here,” Tonn said. Volunteer stays coincide with the four-month-long seabird breeding season. “During that period of time, we’re here just to keep a presence, to keep it protected,” Tonn added. Volunteer activities include bird counts, beached bird studies, intertidal surveys, plant phenology, and removing invasive species.

A small wood sign reading "volunteers cabin" in front of a wilderness lodging area.
The humble but much beloved volunteer cabin. / Photo by Teresa Bergen

Grow your garden with these 8 easy-to-propagate plants

Develop your green thumb.

For plant lovers looking for affordable ways to expand their gardens, there’s no better trick than propagation. Plant propagation is the process of creating new plants. While people can propagate plants in several ways, home gardeners are likely most familiar with propagating plants with cuttings. Here’s how the process works, plus a few easy-to-propagate plants you can grow at home.

A cutting is, as the name implies, a cut piece of a plant. Hobbyist gardeners will likely want to start their propagation journey by using root or leaf cuttings. For pothos plants, propagation is as easy as cutting off a leafy stalk of the plant, placing it in water, waiting for roots to grow, then planting it in soil.

Try propagating for yourself with the tips below! This guide shares eight plants that are easy to propagate and helpful info to make the process simple.

Garden of Eden Arboretum invites you to discover heaven on Earth

It’s a scenic beauty.

A vacation in Hawai’i sounds like heaven to many people. The region’s pristine beaches and mesmerizing scenery make the islands a dream destination for countless tourists. If you can’t stop thinking about a trip to Hawai’i, feed your daydreams by learning about the wild beauty of the Garden of Eden Arboretum.

Does hiking through lush, flower-filled trails overlooking the ocean sound like a perfect day to you? Then the Garden of Eden Arboretum is a must-visit attraction. This extraordinary Hawai’ian sightseeing spot pairs verdant forest scenery with expansive ocean views.

Catch a glimpse of this natural wonder in the photos below, and check out even more Hawai’ian wonders in this gallery of the region’s volcanoes.

Make your way to St. Louis for one of the country’s best botanical gardens

Go gallivanting through the garden.

In the United States, nature enthusiasts have many options to choose from when looking for botanical gardens to explore. Tourists can delight in the topiary art featured at Maryland’s Ladew Topiary Gardens. Meanwhile, San Diego Botanic Garden visitors can explore everything from rainforest gardens to a dragon tree grove.

But out of all the country’s incredible gardens, Missouri might be home to one of the most stunning botanical sites. The Missouri Botanical Garden features everything from tram rides and a children’s garden to a massive Japanese garden and a domed greenhouse called The Climatron.

Discover these fascinating sights and more with this guide to the best attractions at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Watch out for these 6 invasive species running wild in the US

Out-of-control animals and plants.

Invasive species develop when certain animals and plants run wild in an unfit environment. Here’s what you should know about the troublesome species currently causing issues throughout the United States.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), “An invasive species is an introduced, nonnative organism (disease, parasite, plant, or animal) that begins to spread or expand its range from the site of its original introduction and that has the potential to cause harm to the environment, the economy, or to human health.”

Infamous examples of invasive species in the U.S. include kudzu vines sprawling across the South and starlings spreading disease. European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in particular have been plaguing several national parks for years.

Learn more about invasive species in the U.S. with this guide to six of the country’s most problematic animals and plants. And if you’re feeling inspired to combat the spread of invasive species, check out these tips from The Nature Conservancy.

Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Both predatory and invasive, the lionfish has disrupted marine ecosystems in the Atlantic. The USGS claims that the species was likely introduced through the pet trade.

A striped lionfish underwater.
Photo by Kevin Gessner

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Native to landscapes in Europe and Asia, this purple perennial is a nuisance for states in the Pacific Northwest and New England.

A field of purple flowers.
Photo by Liz West

Rock pigeon (Columba livia)

National parks are not fans of this avian critter. According to the National Park Service, these birds harm infrastructure with their droppings and can spread diseases to native birds.

A rock dove on a bench.
Photo by Allan Hack

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis)

Ever been told to only buy and burn local firewood at a campsite? These beetles might be the reason. Emerald ash borers have destroyed many ash trees across the country.

A green beetle on a leaf.
Photo by Katja Schulz

Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

The spotted lanternfly is native to China and feeds on various fruit trees. This species produces a sticky fluid that can cause mold to form on host plants.

Two yellow posters with lanternfly images and warnings about the species.
Photo by F Delventhal

Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)

What makes kudzu such a problem? The main issue with this plant is its fast-growing nature and ability to kill trees and other native plants by blocking out sunlight.

A small house with a red roof covered in kudzu
Photo by Natalie Maynor

The 5 fastest-growing trees for every region in the United States

Ready, set, grow!

Patience may be a virtue, but sometimes you just want to see results fast. If you’re looking to add some fast-growing trees to your garden, here’s what you need to know.

How fast can a tree grow? The answer varies depending on the species. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, slow-growing trees gain 12 inches or less per year. Meanwhile, moderate-growth trees gain 13-24 inches, and fast-growing trees gain 25 inches or more.

Find a fast-growing tree that suits your yard with the list below. Discover the best species for your region’s weather and how much annual growth you can expect. Ready, set, grow!

Enter a whimsical world of plants at the Ladew Topiary Gardens

Botanical wonders await you.

Topiary art dates back to around 44 B.C. and blends masterful sculpting skills with the natural beauty of plants. With an artistic vision and a pair of clippers, people can transform simple shrubs into complex living sculptures. In the United States, curious plant enthusiasts can explore one of the country’s best topiary experiences at Monkton, Maryland’s Ladew Topiary Gardens.

Visitors stepping into the Ladew Topiary Gardens may feel like Alice entering Wonderland. At this Maryland garden, plants aren’t just plants. Instead, they morph into swans, men on horseback, and regal pyramids.

The whimsical creations have earned Ladew a spot on Architectural Digest’s round-up of the world’s best topiary gardens. Even the Garden Club of America has recognized Ladew as the country’s “most outstanding topiary garden.” See the creations that inspired this praise in the gallery of Ladew Topiary Gardens photos below.

All about Angel Oak, South Carolina’s most famous tree

It’s a heavenly sight.

South Carolina’s Lowcountry landscapes have intrigued tourists for years. Deep within this coastal region, salt marshes and other coastal habitats support diverse animal and plant life. One of these plants, the Angel Oak, has a sacred and complex history that captures the attention of people throughout the United States. Here’s what you should know about this famous tree.

The Angel Oak tree is a roughly 500-year-old Southern live oak (Quercus virginiana). Located on Johns Island near Charleston, South Carolina, the tree is a massive and striking landmark. While Southern live oaks are known for their sprawling branches, the Angel Oak still stands out for its incredible size. With branches measuring over 100 feet long, the tree has enjoyed local legend status in South Carolina for decades.

A large, sprawling oak tree with sunlight illuminating green leaves.
Photo by Charleston’s TheDigitel

“People told their children about that tree,” Septima P. Clark, a South Carolina civil rights activist and educator, said in a 1980 interview. “It was sacred, and it is sacred to them.” According to Clark, the tree was never segregated. “We could go in and have our picnic lunch, spend the day, the children would play under the tree and then we would come back.”

Today, Angel Oak remains free and open to visitors. The tree still stands tall, despite damage from Hurricane Hugo in 1989. And, according to Allston McCrady, a contributing writer for Condé Nast Traveler, the site continues to provide visitors with a sense of “spirit-lifting awe.”

“The experience itself is a total immersion in nature,” McCrady wrote in a review, “which is surprising considering you pass gas stations and even a McDonalds right before the turnoff.”

A large live oak tree.
Photo by Charleston’s TheDigitel

What does the future hold for Angel Oak? Since the Lowcountry Land Trust (LLT) purchased the land in 2013, stewardship plans and improvements have been in the works. In 2022, the LTT announced the Angel Oak Preserve initiative, described as “a 10-year effort to unify an existing 9-acre city park with the surrounding 35 acres once threatened by insensitive development.”

As of 2023, the LTT is seeking feedback from community members on “near-final” designs for the preserve. Explore design renderings and stay updated on the project here.

9 full-sun plants that will thrive in your summer garden

Sunny summer beauties.

Plants need sunlight to survive — that’s a gardening basic even kids know. After all, sunlight is an essential part of the whole photosynthesis process plants use to grow.

But just like humans can get burned after too much sun exposure, some plants can suffer when placed in full, direct sunlight. That’s right, even plants can get sunburned. Instead of turning bright red, plants that get too much sunlight can develop crispy brown (aka “scorched”) leaves.

Avoid scorched leaves this summer by filling your garden with sprouts that can tolerate light and heat. Explore the list below for nine full-sun plants that flourish in summer.

What is guerrilla gardening, and is it illegal?

A bewildering movement.

Even the gardening community has its secrets. One of those secrets is the curious practice of guerrilla gardening. Here’s what you should know about this plant-focused movement.

So, what is guerrilla gardening? Since the 70s, the term has referred to gardening in unauthorized areas. Often, guerrilla gardeners choose to cultivate plants in neglected or derelict spaces.

In “On Guerrilla Gardening: A Handbook for Gardening without Boundaries,” author and guerrilla gardener Richard Reynolds wrote: “I do not wait for permission to become a gardener but dig wherever I see horticultural potential. I do not just tend existing gardens but create them from neglected space. I, and thousands of people like me, step out from home to garden land we do not own. We see opportunities all around us.”

A guerrilla garden of flowers on a street corner in Italy.
A guerrilla gardening project in Italy. / Photo by OggiScienza

Is guerrilla gardening illegal?

Upon learning the definition of guerrilla gardening, most people’s first question is whether or not the practice is legal. The answer? No, guerrilla gardening is not legal in many U.S. communities. The Community Law Center explains why on its website.

“Guerrilla gardening can be an easy, low-cost way to beautify a neighborhood and to prevent negative consequences of vacant land, including illegal dumping and other crime. Guerrilla gardening is, however, by definition, against the law: a civil trespass against the land of the landowner.”

Guerrilla gardeners can face trespassing charges for planting in unauthorized spaces. However, this does not deter many people who engage in the practice. Some guerrilla gardening projects, like the Liz Christy Bowery Houston Garden in New York, have even gained approval from city officials (after much petitioning). Others, like Activist Adam Purple’s “Garden of Eden,” were eventually destroyed to make room for official projects.

A field of flowers.
The results of seed scattering in a public park. / Photo by citytransportinfo

Guerrilla gardening tools and terms

Not all guerrilla gardening is as involved as creating an established garden. For some, simply tossing seed bombs (balls of seed bound together with biodegradable materials) into a field qualifies as guerrilla gardening. Some gardeners also call guerrilla gardening “bewildering,” as it introduces wild plants to neglected areas.

Learn more about bewildering, seed bombs, and more on Reynolds’s guerrilla gardening website. Those fascinated by this phenomenon can also research guerrilla gardening groups in their community.