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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 03/08/2026

This week's garden journal post is an essay exploration on the parallels drawn between my personal native gardening journey and... The Secret Garden (Week 31) Garden Journal feature on The Secret Garden story The Secret Garden The Secret...

themagikgarden.com

This week's garden journal post is an essay exploration on the parallels drawn between my...

The Secret Garden (Week 31) Garden Journal feature on The Secret Garden story The Secret Garden The Secret Garden (1993) is one of my favorite films of all time from...

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 17/07/2026

I have a massive announcement and update to make! On Tuesday morning, I took two exams, core plus category, to become a commercial pesticide applicator. I finally got the results today, and I've passed! That means I can now register The MagiK Garden a pesticide application business.

Apricot colored oleander aphids colonizing Asclepias syriaca. A few lacewing eggs are visible in the photo hanging off the edge of the leaf. Lacewings are a beneficial insect, predating on aphids and other tiny invertebrates.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 13/07/2026

Garden Journal Week 28, 2026 Garden Journal Week 28, 2026 Restoring Woodland Soil, Botanizing at Valley Forge, Planting The Woods How To Restore Woodland Soil This topic is a bit unusual for my garden...

themagikgarden.com

Garden Journal Week 28, 2026

Garden Journal Week 28, 2026 Restoring Woodland Soil, Botanizing at Valley Forge, Planting The Woods How To Restore Woodland Soil This topic is a bit unusual for my garden journal...

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 13/07/2026

The Garden Journal post for Week 28 (last week) is up! Features what's in bloom this week as well as a how-to guide on restoring woodland soil. Restoring soil is priority to restoring habitat, and the approach depends on site conditions. themagikgarden.com/garden-journ...

Leaf mold beneath a pile of autumn leaves from previous years.

View of Valley Creek while crossing the roadside bridge from Horseshoe trail to Mount Joy in Valley Forge

Silphium mohrii is blooming in the nursery

Lobelia cardinalis flowers opening up at The MagiK Garden's wet meadow planting

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 13/07/2026

Garden Journal Week 27, 2026 surviving the heatwave, studying for pesticide applicator certification, bumping up plants, slow...

themagikgarden.com

Garden Journal Week 27, 2026

surviving the heatwave, studying for pesticide applicator certification, bumping up plants, slow down

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 07/07/2026

Sida hermaphrodita is a highly underrated species that is both beautiful in the garden and extremely utilitarian. For some reason it's endangered in the US, but you can use it like hemp. As usual, Europeans seem to appreciate our native plants more than we do, and we need to change that.

Sida hermaphrodita aka Virginia fanpetals in bloom. This is a very tall species, so I have it growing against the very boring back of my house with its very boring windows and siding.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 06/07/2026

Garden Journal Wk 27 (highlights from the previous week) is live, including a more comprehensive list of what's in bloom in my garden in SEPA. All the species I currently have available in the nursery for sale are linked to the nursery, like this Phemeranthus teretifolius! Check link in bio!

Phemeranthus teretifolius, aka the Appalachian fameflower, shown blooming in a painted terracotta pot hanging on a wooden trellis. Below the pot is a mix of other native species, including ostrich fern, white wood asters, Gray's sedge, wild ginger, jewelweed, and a young wooly dutchman's pipevine.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 04/07/2026

Is your garden a bit of a dud right about now? Are you looking for inspiration? Have you been following my new Garden Journal blog posts I started 2 weeks ago? Every Monday morning, I publish a post detailing the previous week's events, including what's blooming in the garden.

Campanulastrum americanum with large, purple flowers. This is a biennial species.

Coreopsis rosea is just getting started in the garden.

Sabatia kennedyana is hanging on despite the heat and lack of rain. This is a wet meadow planting, with Scutellaria lateriflora visible to the left, Impatiens capensis in bloom next to it, and Iris versicolor (which is done blooming and gone to seed) visible in the bottom right.

Spiraea tomentosa has fragrant pink blooms that are highly attractive to pollinators. Lonicera sempervirens vines are are in the background.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 04/07/2026

Philly lily - which is commonly known as prairie lily but since it's Lilium philadelphicum, I like Philly lily more - is one I've attempted to sow and grow a few times now. Well, the third time's the charm!

128-cell seed flat with Lilium philadelphicum seedlings, one which still has the seed coat still stuck to it because it germinated recently. The soil is covered in a mix of chicken grit and oyster shell to discourage animals from digging into them. Seeds and bits from the seedheads from river birch are also visible on top of the grit, which help to keep out most weeds (undesirable other plants in this case).

My hand holding a seedling of Lilium philadelphicum with bulb and roots visible, some soil still attached to them. The seed flat is visible in the background.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 03/07/2026

So many big wins from last month, it's hard to pick just one! • Thanks to a massive windfall from the closure of Russell Gardens, I was finally able to tidy up and organize my nursery. • Many new species listed on the site! • New-to-me male box turtle spotted moving in!

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 30/06/2026

My pocket pollinator paradise is looking absolutely lush, possibly my most favorite spot in the garden at the moment. Nobody would know this is right next to the road. This fits on a very small footprint. The outside of the design just gives you a hint, you need to peek in to see all of it.

"Pocket pollinator paradise planting" showing Lonicera sempervirens hanging off a trellis, Pycnanthemum incanum (possibly hybrid), Asclepias incarnata, Hydrangea arborescens, Hypericum kalmianum, Sorghastrum nutans, Senna marilandica, and in the distance a hedge of Myrica pensylvanica. Through the hedge the main road is visible, until the hedge finally fills in.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 18/06/2026

There, I fixed it. This is marketing a plant that is clearly not native to place based on the instructions to overwinter indoors. When will we start holding companies accountable for greenwashing? Pot came from my mom's used pots stash. I didn't buy this. Mexican heather isnt native there.

Pot from a commercial nursery claiming a tropical perennial (not annual) is a butterfly garden plant where it is clearly not native, based on the instructions to bring it indoors to overwinter. The verbage on the pot was corrected with a photo edit ti encourage people choose native-to-region plants instead to support butterflies.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 24/05/2026

A contender for the award for the best common name may be this species: Carex hirsutella. It's commonly referred to as the fuzzy wuzzy sedge. Easy to id, too. Havent met another fuzzy wuzzy sedge yet.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 24/05/2026

I just upgraded/rebuilt my PC, and my husband told me about this app to remove CoPilot from my Windows 11 (part of the reason for the upgrade, since microslop was forcing my hand). If you want to get rid of all the AI things, try this github.com/builtbybel/F...

github.com

Releases · builtbybel/FlyOOBE

Fly through your Windows 11 setup 🐝. Contribute to builtbybel/FlyOOBE development by creating an account on GitHub.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 24/05/2026

So one thing I don't get is how a post highlighting sedges ends up being my best post yet on Facebook, yet I can't seem to sell a single one at the farmer's market. Granted, I don't have this one (yet), but I have others. Still waiting for sedges to become the next collector's plant.

My hand holding the seedhead of Carex grayi which has inflated perigynia that resemble the points on a morningstar (weapon).

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 11/05/2026

I was watching a pair of wood thrushes collecting nesting material while potting up plants, until my neighbor's cat came into view, heading in their direction. I clapped loudly which startled off the birds and the cat, then chased the cat off. PLEASE KEEP YOUR CATS INDOORS!

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 06/05/2026

TIL: The plant that showed up on my property formerly known simply as Arisaema triphyllum could either still be Arisaema triphyllum or another closely-related species. I had no idea they'd split this taxon up, but not shocked. From what I can tell in the photo, the spadix does look clavate.

Clump of Arisaema triphyllum complex popping up among sweetgrass, aka Hierochloe odorata or whatever it's supposed to be now.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 06/05/2026

Another big happy moment yesterday: I found four new-to-my-awareness sedges on my property. Two of them popped up where I eradicated a lesser celandine patch. Others were present, but I kept forgetting to check when they had seed. Here's Carex gracilima in the skunk cabbage patch

Carex gracilima with developing seed heads growing in front of skunk cabbage

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 05/05/2026

Omg!!! I saved my black highbush blueberry! There were two problems. A holly had grown tall enough to shade it out entirely, and the deer kept decimating any new growth. So I cut down the holly early spring, and placed the branches around the base.

Young growth at the base of a black highbusg blueberry

Young growth visible at the base of the black highbush blueberry

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 30/04/2026

Why is the same word (amateur) used to describe someone who practices a skill or learns about a topic that isn't trying to profit from it, as well as someone who is inept or incompetent? What about incompetent professionals? Would that be an amateur pro?

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 30/04/2026

I think most people would be surprised to find out I'm an OG "gamer girl"... Although I don't have much time these days to play video games, long days like today result in an "I'm just gonna grab some fast food to avoid cooking and go chill with a game until I pass out" Currently: Coral Island

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 29/04/2026

In addition to things like spring sowing and winter sowing, I introduce to you something called OMG WTF IT GERMINATED IN THE FRIDGE CRAP CHANGE OF PLANS WE'RE SOWING aka emergency sowing that's what I'm doing Some of these plants are so radicle. (har har I'll see myself out, and back to the flats)

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 28/04/2026

Polygonatum biflorum in my woods is so tiny and skinny, you wouldn't even recognize it as the same species. I have lots of them, but they look nothing like the cultivated varieties.

My hand shows the scale of this tiny species, with a singular flower

Extremely narrow leaves on the varieties found in my woodland in southeastern PA

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 26/04/2026

I got my free trees from the township today! This was the line an hour before pick-up time. It extends all the way back by the time it starts. You have to show up early if you want the best selection of everything. I got Tilia americana, Carpinus caroliniana, and Magnolia virginiana 'Moonglow'

Parking lot with stacks of mulch and canopy visible in the distance, and a line of people stretching all the way forward. The line was already several hundred feet long.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 24/04/2026

Blue-eyed Marys are such a cool native winter-annual. I was really hoping to offer these this year, but only four of mine germinated, so I'll need to wait to collect seed from the ones that grew and try again next year. The trick is to get them going. Once established, they should happily re-seed.

Tiny blue-eyed mary (Collinsia verna) blooming in a plug tray with blue-white bi-color flowers.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 20/04/2026

Don't forget to protect tender new growth tonight from frost damage if possible, especially on your smaller plants. Native plants shouldn't be killed by frost (unless they're annuals, they might be), but the recent heat wave did speed up budding out.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 19/04/2026

number one question this market: "Can I grow it as a houseplant? I don't have a yard." ... y'all, I suck at taking care of houseplants and had long since given up on it, but I'll give it a shot for science.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 17/04/2026

This is why it's important to set boundaries. Businesses: pick a method for reaching customers and stick to it. If you do email, one per week is enough. Consumers: don't be reachable 24/7. Patronize those that are respectful of your time and assume you know how to find them without being clingy.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 17/04/2026

Come see me tomorrow at the Earth Day Celebration at Skippack Village! I'll be selling all sorts of awesome native plants next to the Earthware Sustainable Goods store (10am-5pm), like this native large-flowered chickweed (Cerastium strictum) which makes a lovely groundcover!

Cerastium strictum in full bloom at The MagiK Garden

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 15/04/2026

I am definitely bringing these along this weekend to the Earth Day Celebration at Skippack Village! Stop by my booth if you're in the area!

Cerastium strictum in bloom (large white flowers) at The MagiK Garden nursery

Aquilegia canadensis Little Lanterns in bloom (just like the standard red flowers, only compact) at The MagiK Garden nursery

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 11/04/2026

"Sustainable land use is that which meets the needs for production of present land users, while conserving for future generations the basic resources on which that production depends. Sustainability = Production + Conservation" - Anthony Young (Agroforestry For Soil Management)

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 07/04/2026

Trillium cuneatum, aka little sweet betsy

close-up of Trillium cuneatum reproductive organs and petals

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 05/04/2026

Neglected toebeans. Antennaria neglecta. I'm changing the common names of all Antennaria henceforth.

Antennaria neglecta blooming among pavers set in soil waiting for the plants to fill in, with a house in the background

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 28/03/2026

Totally coincidental (we must be on the same wavelength) when it comes to my "WTF Did I Sow?" page, NPSNJ recently posted a lecture with Dr. Randi Eckel. Randi is the owner of Toadshade Wildflower Farm, and a friend and inspiration to me as a nursery grower. Highly recommend checking it out!

youtube.com

Curious Cotyledons: Identifying Native Plant Seedlings

YouTube video by Native Plant Society of New Jersey

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 27/03/2026

As your plants and seedlings start popping up, I've created two really fun pages that feature mostly eastern US native plants, though there are a few veggie plants mixed in as well (because I have them, and why not). "WTF Did I Sow?" shows cotyledons, first leaves, and anything else worth noting.

themagikgarden.com

WTF Did I Sow? – The MagiK Garden

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 20/03/2026

Reminder that I'll be at the Abington Garden Festival tomorrow 1-3pm to kick off spring (event includes a free seed exchange, raffles, crafts, goats and wild animals)! Come on by with your family, and bring home some native plants to add to your garden (like the Little Lanterns in the photo)!

Aquilegia canadensis 'Little Lanterns' photographed in bloom April 24, 2025. Nursery plants are in their 2nd year of growth and will likely put out some blooms this year!

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 15/03/2026

This is the largest bird's nest fungus I've seen yet. Usually the ones I find are a bit smaller, maybe half that size. I still enjoy finding them. They'd probably make a good dollhouse bowl or something that goes in a diorama of sorts.

Dark brown, almost black bird's nest fungus cups with some black eggs in some of them surrounded by a bed of woodchips, and a small maple leaf back-side up stuck tucked underneath the top cup

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 13/03/2026

I'm starting to experiment a bit with gibberelic acid. Ibought some a year ago but was afraid to use it until now. I know the dangers of overdoing it. That being said, Deno was a huge fan of them, so I wanted to give it a go and see what happens. Enemion biternatum responds well to the treatment.

Photo showing the difference between treated and untreated Enemion biternatum seed. On the left is an undeveloped seed that hadn't been treated. On the right, treated Enemion biternatum seed is much more developed. Both were in warm moist treatment for 3 days (post treatment and control)

Treated Enemion biternatum seed is starting to germinate.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 12/03/2026

Is Rupert Sheldrake reading my zines? 👀 (I know, I'm behind by 2 weeks... was taking advantage of the false spring, plus cleaning up for my son's birthday playdate this weekend. I'll get back to the zines soon enough.)

youtube.com

Once You See This About Plants, You Notice It Everywhere » Findings From My Research

YouTube video by Rupert Sheldrake

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 11/03/2026

Alnus incana subspecies rugosa in bloom

Dangly catkins on speckled alder, planter visible in background

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 09/03/2026

More cotyledons! Similar to Apios americana, it would appear Phaseolus polystachios is also a hypogeal germinator, meaning the cotyledons remain below-ground. Instead, here we see true leaves. Desmodium glabellum has interesting kidney-shaped cotyledons. Strophostyles helvola is really neat.

Trifolium carolinianum tiny cotyledons growing in cell tray covered in chicken grit

Phaseolus polystachios true leaves emerging from a cell tray covered in chicken grit

Strophostyles helvola bean-shaped clamshell structure with leaf emerging within growing in cell tray covered in chicken grit.

Desmodium glabellum kidney-shaped cotyledons emerge from cell tray covered in chicken grit.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 09/03/2026

nevermind, back to ragebait He doesn't even notice he doesn't get many likes/views on these compared to his more thoughtfully-written helpful posts. Otherwise he just sounds like he's virtue-signaling for asspats.

Prairie_up posted 20 hours ago on Threads: Somebody told me in response to something I posted that they wished everybody would stop easily succumbing to things that foment hatred and anger and division. And I'm like yeah you mean the war and racism and sexism I was just posting about??? Take your colonial white privilege and stuff it.

Five hearts, one comment

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 07/03/2026

Host plants for humans are starting to germinate! So far, a few of the home-grown asparagus and several cucumber varieties take the lead. Last year's brush with food insecurity plus my own past early struggles with growing veg made me decide to start adding heirloom starts to my nursery. 1/2

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 06/03/2026

It's a bit last minute, but I highly recommend going to my friend Katie Fisk's lecture about transforming her front yard into a native garden. I promise, it's not like other native gardening lectures. This one includes battles against ordinances and rage against a tree-hatin' beech of a neighbor.

eventbrite.com

A Journey to Backyard Biodiversity

Discover why native gardening matters now more than ever and gain practical tips to start your own journey, no matter where you live.

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 06/03/2026

I'm trying to document cotyledons of some of our native plants. Here we have Lupinus perennis, Lespedeza capitata and Apios americana.

Lupinus perennis cotyledons in a plug cell covered with chick grit. White text on teal reads "Lupinus perennis"

Lespedeza capitata cotyledons in a plug cell covered with chick grit. White text on teal reads Lespedeza capitata

Apios americana first leaves? In a plug cell covered with chick grit. White text on teal reads Apios americana

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The MagiK Garden @themagikgarden.com · 05/03/2026

I've been calling my basement my "greendungeon," and I guess nature finally decided to move in properly. I'm curious if any other ferns start popping up after all the ones I'd sown this year. I just noticed this, but it must have sown in months ago. I never peek behind the shelves.

Fern growing out of a french drain at the base of a concrete wall in the basement, just barely visible behind plug trays covered with chick grit.

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