Field notes

Notes from the yard.

Short, plain-language writing about understanding the place you live — what's coming up this season, how to read what's growing, and the small decisions that make a yard easier to love. No fluff, no filler.

We're just getting started. The first field notes are being written now — check back soon, or sign up to hear when they land.

A spring garden bed with new green shoots pushing through dark mulch.

Seasonal · Coming soon

What that early-spring green actually is

Before you yank it, learn to tell the welcome volunteers from the genuine weeds — a five-minute look that saves a whole season.

A shady corner of a yard where grass thins out under a maple.

Basics · Coming soon

Why nothing grows in that one shady corner

Spoiler: it's usually not your fault, and the fix isn't more grass seed. A plain look at shade, roots, and realistic expectations.

A cluster of native coneflowers with a bumblebee, late summer light.

Native plants · Coming soon

Three native plants that thrive on neglect in West Michigan

If you want more blooms and pollinators with less fuss, start here. Right plant, right place, almost no babysitting.

A homeowner's hand holding pruners beside an overgrown shrub.

How-to · Coming soon

When to prune (and when to just leave it alone)

Most pruning mistakes come from good intentions at the wrong time of year. A simple way to know before you cut.

Would you rather just ask in person?

A consult answers your questions about your yard, not a hypothetical one. Reading can wait — your garden won't.

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