Resources for learning about plants, their habitat, form and function:

• UCONN Plant Database: This site is dedicated to the ornamental attributes, appropriate use, and identification of woody landscape plants: http://hort.uconn.edu/

• Connecticut Native Plant List: Connecticut Native Perennial, Tree, & Shrub Availability List | Integrated Pest Management (uconn.edu)

• Wild Seed Project - Links to learning more about Native Trees for our Northeast Landscape. (Note: Maine shares our Planting Ecoregion 59)

• UConn biodiversity database

• Dioecious (male and female flowers on separate plants) Native Shrubs for Wildlife

• https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/

• https://ctnofa.org/how-to-effectively-establish-native-plant-plugs-getting-started/

• https://www.wildflower.org/learn/guide-native-plant-gardening

• https://cipwg.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/244/2013/12/CTNativeShrubList_Lubell.pdf

• Understanding the Pollinator Pathway Project & Ecotype Seed Project:  Pollinator Pathway Project by Dina Brewster

• https://www.ct-botanical-society.org/

• https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Publications/Publications/Pollinator-Information

• https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation and https://xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/northeast and Xerces Pollinator Plants Northeast-Region

• List of Native Plants

• The Ecotype Project - Cultivating plants native to our Eco region Source: CT NOFA

• Click here to learn about Where to buy native plants with Easton's ecoregion in mind (Easton is in Ecoregion 59)

• Book: Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants by Douglas W. Tallamy

• Book: Native Trees for the Northeast Landscape. A Wild Seed Project Guide profiling 31 native tree species for urban, suburban and rrural landscapes of the Northeast.

Rain Water Gardens:

https://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/plants.phpingardens/plants.php

Invasive Plants: All across Connecticut native plants are being choked out by invasives. They’re everywhere and laying siege to landscapes all across the state. You can help!  Here are some guides to help you get to know invasive plants in our own backyards and what to do to remove them:

• Know these 12 invasive plants + how to remove them

• Quick ID Cards of Invasive Plants

• Resources and links from the UConn Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG):

• List of Invasive Plants with updated data sheets and pictures: Source: CIPWG

  Find more information and resources at ipm.uconn.edu and cipwg.uconn.edu!​

• How to time Non-chemical Management of Top 10 Invasive Plants

Invasive species:

Asian Jumping Worm:

https://extension.umaine.edu/invasivespecies/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/03/InvasiveSnakeWormsJosefGorres.pdf

https://www.eastongardenclubofct.org/blog-1/advanced-study-invasive-crazy-jumping-earthworms

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/CAES/DOCUMENTS/Publications/Fact_Sheets/Entomology/Jumping-worms-in-Connecticut.pdf

 https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/jumpingcrazysnake-worms-amynthas-spp

Upcoming conference on Jumping Worms: Jumping Worm Conference on Jan. 26 & 27, 2021 (Wed & Thurs) 9:00-11:45. This is a virtual conference from UMass Amherst. $25 a day or $40 for both days. ag.umass.edu. Check it out for deadlines for registration.

Seed resources to consider - most in our Ecoregion 59

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/

https://www.fruitionseeds.com/

https://hudsonvalleyseed.com/

https://shop.wildseedproject.net/

https://natureworksgardencenter.com/collections/seeds

https://www.homegardenseedassociation.com/  and specifically Seed Buying 101 and Seed buying 201

 Supplies and herbs:

Gilberties https://www.gilbertiesorganics.com/

https://www.herbsociety.org/

  Pruning:

https://news.extension.uconn.edu/2020/04/10/pruning-guide/

https://extension.unh.edu/blog/how-clean-and-sharpen-your-pruners

Video: How to clean and sharpen your tools: https://youtu.be/dNEDxKRjIwo

Maple Syrup:

http://www.ctmaple.org/maple-weekend.html

http://www.ctmaple.org/where-to-buy-ct-maple-products.html

 Community Partner links:

Federated Garden Clubs of CT: https://ctgardenclubs.org/

Aspetuck Land Trust: https://www.aspetucklandtrust.org/calendar

http://www.bartlettarboretum.org/

CT Northeast Organic Farming Association: https://ctnofa.org/ and March Conference reg link: https://nofawinterconference.squarespace.com/register

Federated Garden Clubs Annual Meeting & Lecture link: https://ctgardenclubs.org/

UCONN www.ladybug.uconn.edu

Federated Garden Clubs Annual Meeting & Lecture link: https://ctgardenclubs.org/

Master Gardener: https://mastergardener.uconn.edu/

UConn Resources:

• http://www.soiltest.uconn.edu/sampling.php

• http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/

• http://ipm.uconn.edu/root/

• https://mastergardener.uconn.edu/

Easton Pollinator Pathway in the News: Native Plants and Local Pollinators: How You Can Help Easton Pollinators Flourish and Protect the Local Food Web By Jean Stetz-Puchalski and Mary Ellen Lemay

Pesticide Primer: Quick read: Frequently asked questions about pesticides and herbicides

Advanced study, WEBINARS, and activities:

• https://www.eastongardenclubofct.org/events

• Composting: Free Recorded Webinar: Advanced Composting: Building Quality with Recipes, Testing, Nutrient Management & Environmental Planning Source: CT Compost Conference Webinar Series (Partnership of CRC&D, CT NOFA, CT DEEP and others), September 23, 2020. Speakers: Domingo Medina of CT NOFA/Peels and Wheels Composting. Dawn Pettinelli of the UConn Soil Science Lab and Master Composter Program, Jim Hyde of USDA NRCS.

• UMASS Webinars: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education-events/invasive-insect-webinars

• Aspetuck Land Trust: Green Corridor Vision & info. Some resources courtesy of Mary Ellen Lemay, Land Owner Engagement Director:  

  • Native seeds in Winter. : While we are still spending much of our time at home, sowing seeds is a great activity to do on your own or with loved ones. Learn from Wild Seed Project's Heather McCargo how to do this. This is recorded so you can do this any day !

  • Native restoration with Ecotypes . You may have heard about the visionary initiative to collect our local native seeds and propagate true natives for our yards. Learn more from our local heroes of the Ecotype Project Dina Brewster and Darryl Newman.

Places for Pollinators: Native Plant Center Virtual Spring Conference https://www.sunywcc.edu/about/npc/spring-landscape-conference/

Join the Easton Pollinator Pathway

• Bluebird Conservation https://www.eastongardenclubofct.org/egc-bluebird-conservation-project

A short YouTube video by Catherine Zimmermann featuring entomologist Doug Tallamy speaking about native plants and meadows

“Native: a plant or animal that has evolved in a given place over a period of time sufficient to develop complex and essential relationships with the physical environment and other organisms in a given ecological community”

— Richard Darke, Doug Tallamy The Living Landscape 2014.

Kids Corner

Here at the Easton Garden Club we are all about inspiration - Thanks to our new friends Anna and Kelly, we are adding a Kids Corner where we will begin to list Books, videos, articles and resources for Kids. Thanks to you both for finding and using this resource library and helping us expand it.

First up, Anna’s pick for online resources for kids:

https://www.kremp.com/kids-guide-to-gardening/

Basic Tips for Gardening with Kids

• Gardening with Young Children: Dig in!

• Grow Flowers: A Guide to Different Flower Species

• Introduce Your Kids to Gardening

Do you have a favorite Kids resource to share? Contact us and get involved!

Books to get kids started available at our Easton Public Library:

What Will Grow? Jennifer Ward (Author), Susie Ghahremani (Illustrator)

Seeds can be big or small, round or pointy, and all sorts of colors. They can become flowers, trees, fruits, or vegetables, and they sprout all times of year, during spring, summer, fall, and winter.
But all seeds have one thing in common--inside each is a new plant life waiting to emerge. What kind of plant will bloom? Wait and see what will grow!
Including four gorgeous pull-out gatefolds, this lyrical and stunningly illustrated book includes fun facts about starting a garden.

Flowers Are Calling Rita Gray (Author), Kenard Pak (Illustrator)

Flowers are calling to all the animals of the forest, "Drink me!"—but it’s the pollinators who feast on their nectar. In rhyming poetic form and with luminous artwork, this book shows us the marvel of natural cooperation between plants, animals, and insects as they each play their part in the forest's cycle of life.

Bees, Bugs, and Butterflies: A Family Guide to Our Garden Heroes and Helpers (Discover Together Guides) Ben Raskin (Author)

This buzzing collection of exciting facts and activities will give you the inside knowledge on the power of pollination. Learn why pollination is so essential to the natural world through engaging projects and zany explanations--create characterful bug masks you can cut out and wear, play a game of Pollinator Pursuit (a fresh take on a traditional board game), and explore the menu at Predator Restaurant (who knew nematode nougat came in slug and vine weevil flavors?). By the end of Bees, Bugs & Butterflies you'll know how pollinators work and which creatures work with which flowers; you'll see how you can help pollinators by planting the right plants and creating safe homes for them; you'll learn about the amazing tricks plants play on insects; and you'll discover how to call nature's very own SOS team in to give our nectar-sipping buddies (and us) a helping hand

Compost: A Family Guide to Making Soil from Scraps (Discover Together Guides) Ben Raskin (Author)

Teach your kids that composting is fun with this funky guide that takes you from the nitty-gritty of compost composition and care to Worms and Ladders, a fresh take on a traditional board game. Find out the rules for setting up your very own Worm Lovers' Society, learn all about the garden-to-plate cycle together, and get your family's feet firmly set on the road to a planet-friendly lifestyle. Includes information on both kitchen and garden composting.