The Plant Ecologist's Blog

How to Plan a Native Plant Raised Bed

How to Plan a Native Plant Raised Bed

Gabriella de Souza

A practical guide to planning, building, and planting a native species raised bed for Zone 7b-9b gardens. Covers bed sizing, soil mix, and five native plants that carry the bed...

How to Plan a Native Plant Raised Bed

Gabriella de Souza

A practical guide to planning, building, and planting a native species raised bed for Zone 7b-9b gardens. Covers bed sizing, soil mix, and five native plants that carry the bed...

Native Plants That Build Soil: Five NC Species Working Underground

Native Plants That Build Soil: Five NC Species ...

Gabriella de Souza

Five NC native plants that improve soil health through nitrogen fixation, deep root systems, erosion control, and organic matter cycling — and why they work better planted together.

Native Plants That Build Soil: Five NC Species ...

Gabriella de Souza

Five NC native plants that improve soil health through nitrogen fixation, deep root systems, erosion control, and organic matter cycling — and why they work better planted together.

Native Shrubs for North Carolina Coastal Gardens: Six Species Worth Growing

Native Shrubs for North Carolina Coastal Garden...

Gabriella de Souza

Six native shrubs that work across NC coastal plain landscapes — from Wax Myrtle and Inkberry to Summersweet and Fothergilla — with guidance on provenance and what to look for...

Native Shrubs for North Carolina Coastal Garden...

Gabriella de Souza

Six native shrubs that work across NC coastal plain landscapes — from Wax Myrtle and Inkberry to Summersweet and Fothergilla — with guidance on provenance and what to look for...

Native Grasses and Sedges for North Carolina: What to Plant Instead

Native Grasses and Sedges for North Carolina: W...

Gabriella de Souza

NC yards are full of liriope and Mondo grass — both non-native and ecologically inert. Here are the native grasses and sedges that fill the same design roles while supporting...

Native Grasses and Sedges for North Carolina: W...

Gabriella de Souza

NC yards are full of liriope and Mondo grass — both non-native and ecologically inert. Here are the native grasses and sedges that fill the same design roles while supporting...

Tropical Milkweed vs. Native Milkweed: What Monarch Butterflies Actually Need

Tropical Milkweed vs. Native Milkweed: What Mon...

Gabriella de Souza

Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is widely sold in garden centers, but its year-round persistence in warm southern climates can increase OE parasite loads and may disrupt monarch migration. Here are...

Tropical Milkweed vs. Native Milkweed: What Mon...

Gabriella de Souza

Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is widely sold in garden centers, but its year-round persistence in warm southern climates can increase OE parasite loads and may disrupt monarch migration. Here are...

Conference Chatter

Early Career in Wilmington: Organizations Worth...

Gabriella de Souza

A practical guide to Wilmington-area organizations for early-career professionals in environmental science, food systems, supply chain, and conservation — where to apply, where to volunteer, and who to get in...

Early Career in Wilmington: Organizations Worth...

Gabriella de Souza

A practical guide to Wilmington-area organizations for early-career professionals in environmental science, food systems, supply chain, and conservation — where to apply, where to volunteer, and who to get in...