Ahimsa, a word and concept I learned in my Yoga practice. I chose to name my garden Ahimsa Garden because we need to understand current yard scape / lawn scape practices are causing harm. However, we can choose to bring Ahimsa to our landscaped places.
Plant Installation day. Notice the brown dirt and lack of vegetation. 
Late spring. A few months after initial installation. Pada Pada. Step by step, all things in good order. Notice the Fringe Tree in the upper left taking hold nicely. 
Starting to fill in. 
Fall is under way. Leaves have a high ecological value.
I quietly focus my mind on this word Ahimsa and learn to apply it to myself and my landscaping practices. Solutions are implemented through love, understanding, grace, gentle education. Ahimsa.
Creating Diversity or Beauty?
- White Turtlehead
- Blue Mistflower
- Jewel Weed
- Woodland Sunflower
- Carex amphibola – Creek Sedge
- Purple Love Grass
More than JUST a garden
Building Community.
Native plant gardens build a community for not only bees, pollinators, birds, butterflies and moths, they also build a community of people. I was fortunate enough to share the garden with a local student who was studying at The Clifton Institute.
Devil’s Walking-stick. The fall color of this prickly plant is well worth the care required to not get pricked.
A lovely surprise on a crisp November day.
The year 2020 was not without pain and sorrow but remember is was also not without Ananda (bliss).
We have much choice as we journey through each year. I will choose to give more attention to the joys, blessings, accomplishments and friendships that made 2020 a beautiful, peaceful, non-violent year.
Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Ahimsa Garden - A Virginia Native Plant Residential Teaching Garden 
Love your approach to gardening and your wealth of information! I will be using your blog as a resource to plant my own yard. I first have a huge amount of ivy that has spread throughout the yard. Any ideas as to appraoch?
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Hello Nancy. Thank you and I am glad you find the information helpful. I have pulled lots of ivy over the years. I can help you for sure. Quick tips; for ivy that has grown up trees cut a 4ft section of the vine between the ground and up the tree, then paint the cut ends with heavy brush killer. Make sure you paint it on the cut ends, don’t spray. For vines covering the ground I hand pull and burn the vines in a fire pit or burn barrel following county burn laws. You will have to keep on top of it for a few years but trust me it can be done. I have done it. You hit on something .. I will follow up with a blog post on controlling this pest. And feel free to use the contact me section where I can send you some resources to help you further. Happy habitat planting!!
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