Invasive species can evoke both frustration and terror in the hearts of gardeners. Noxious and obnoxious, these pernicious plants can be caught encroaching into your beloved garden beds, taking territory heedlessly as they go...but fear not, there is a period when these plants are particularly exposed and can be dealt with, and the time is now! This time of year, before most of our deciduous native trees and shrubs leaf out, is an opportune time to spot (and zap!) invasive species in the landscape.

Mt. Cuba Center recently released their Carex Research Report detailing 65 native Mid-Atlantic species and selections. If you’re wondering why Carex and why now—sedges are a large genus—and we are just learning there is a sedge to match every possible need in the landscape. Carex is quickly becoming a garden favorite for designers and homeowners alike. The humble appearance of the grass-like sedges blends well with any garden scheme and provides much needed texture, wildlife food and habitat, erosion control, and winter presence. If you’ve never experimented with sedges before, let this be your sign to give it a try!

After their homeowner association ordered them to replace their wildlife-friendly plants with turf grass, a Maryland couple sued. They ended up changing state law as Cara Buckley describes in her December 14, New York Times article which mentions Doug Tallamy’s book, “ Nature’s Best Hope.”

Read excerpts from Michelle Young’s article posted on “ Untapped: New York” about the Olmsted-Beil House, the abandoned home of Frederick Law Olmsted on Staten Island. Located in Eltingville on the south shore of Staten Island off Hylan Boulevard, the abandoned farmhouse, and property known today as the Olmsted-Beil House dates in part to 1720. Since 2006, it has been part of the NYC Parks system and has been a city landmark since 1967. The home is part of an original 125-acre farmland Olmsted’s father purchased and historians contend that it was an essential training ground for Olmsted’s later success in landscape design. A new video by Matt Falber tells the history of the house and the decades-long activism that saved it from demolition, along with the work still to be done.