Wholistic.botanist

14/04/2025

Spring 🌷

01/06/2024

Late spring blooms 😍

19/05/2024

31/12/2022

More flowers of 2022 😍

30/12/2022

2022 flower dump 🌻

11/09/2022

Join in on Tuesday. Link in bio 👆

20/11/2021

LOAMY goodness!

This here is loam. Loam is nutrient dense, humus packed soil composed of clay, sand, and silt.

Loamy soil is great for new plantings, veggie beds, amending/top dressing. This soil come jam packed with microorganisms that create an underground network to support the plants growing above.

Outdated land management practices have depleted our deciduous ecosystem in the ever urbanizing Philadelphia suburbs.

Composting is a way I restore balance to my garden. Layers of the tree leaves, branches, and herbaceous cuttings from my yard get broken down by decomposing insects, fungi, and bacteria. The final products is a rich humus to put back into the garden beds.

Creating this closed system strengthens ecosystem health because it creates a dense microorganism network over time.

26/08/2021

It’s funny when you realize everything is connected. For the last decade I have studied ecosystems near and far, observing how important diversity is. Diversity in flora, fauna ( this includes humans), microorganisms, ideologies, societies…. The list is endless!

I’ve been amazed at my garden diversity this year. Some returning visitors, some new (or at least to my eye).

Insects play a huge role in ecosystem stability. They are a food source, decomposes, biological controls, keystone species, pollinators, and much more!

Please enjoy these cuties feasting on the garden bounty. 🌱🐛

10/07/2021

Chef’s kiss to my summer blooms.

This season I played with vibrant colors. The gladiolus (pic 4) are🔥. They might take first place.

I planted them last summer to remind me of a flower market I visited in Cape Town, South Africa.

Gardening is intentional. Each one of these cut flowers Are planted for a purpose. Experimental, sentimental, ecological— I enjoy creating landscapes that tell a story.

Being intentional is being mindful. Go get out and garden!

26/06/2021

The life cycle of a lady beetle 🐞

I really like observing life. It has giveb me a more compassionate outlook of the world.

Stumbling upon a community of lady beetles the other day was pretty sweet.

Swipe ⬅️ to view the various stages of their lifecycle. Sorry about the last pic… I’m a big fan of 🤪.

05/06/2021

Spring bb alters! 🚨🐛

One reason I plant Dense herb populations in the garden is to promote benificial insects. These over-wintered near by and has found a favorite snack to gain some energy for its transformation to a butterfly. Papilio polyxenes are native to North America. Catipillars prefer plants in the Apiaceae family (think carrots and parsley). Adult butterflies will forage on a variety of nectar.

This bronze fennel is winter hardy and keeps its color year round. I use it in planters for height, texture, and depth.

17/04/2021

Seedlings are starting!

Gardening encourages mindfulness because it gives you opportunities to be patient, observe, connect, and much more!

Starting seeds is my favorite time because it’s Spring. New beginnings are all around as life awakes for another cycle.

As I plant seeds and nurture them to start their life, I’m reminded to nurture myself and direct my focus to self growth!

I encourage everyone of all ages to give seed starting a try! It feeds the soul watching tiny seeds emerge from the darkness, grow into strong plants, and blossom in the summer sun!