A great day at the 'Achieving Climate Resilience Through Urban Greening Symposium' at the Science History Institute lat March! From the opening session to the diverse panels, we walked away with fresh ideas and a deeper appreciation for collaborative, equitable approaches to green infrastructure and urban forestry. It was especially valuable to hear how different perspectives are shaping impactful, community-centered solutions across the greater Philadelphia area.

Check out the video below by Taino Studio that captures the day!

A large tree with green leaves standing in front of a stone building with arched windows and a tower, with a partly cloudy sky in the background. There are purple flowers and green plants on the ground.

The magic of spring at the woodland sanctuary at Laurel Hill. Project completion, fall of 2025. On bloom: Phlox divaricata 'Putnam Blue', Phlox stolonifera `Fran`s Purple`, Viola striata, Sedum ternatum `Gregg`s Gem’

Photo credit: Saskia Lucardi

Dreaming of spring? Start planning with a young gardener…

As we watch the snow persist outside our windows, many of us are already dreaming of spring, of blooms returning, pollinators buzzing, and color filling the garden once again. Winter is the perfect time to begin planning for the season ahead.

Why not invite a child, grandchild or even a “surrogate” grandchild (that’s who I count on!) to join you in imagining and designing your next garden? Planning together makes the process more joyful and offers a meaningful way to introduce the next generation to the beauty and importance of native plants.

My dear friend and colleague, Gregg Tepper, co-authored the charming children’s book Mirabelle Visits a Garden: A Native Plant Garden Adventure. In this delightful story, Mr. Muller and Mirabelle embark on an adventure through a native plant garden, discovering how plants support birds, bees, butterflies, and so many other creatures.

It’s a wonderful way to spark curiosity, inspire stewardship, and begin dreaming together about creating your own native plant haven this spring.

A children's illustrated book titled 'Mirabelle visits a Garden' held in a garden filled with colorful flowers. A black and white dog peeks from behind the book with butterflies and bees flying around.

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First planting phase completed at Harriton Preserve. This project is a collaboration with Gray Landscape Design for Lower Merion Conservancy and made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Program.

A building with stone and brick walls and a paved patio area, featuring outdoor seating with three round stools, under a clear blue sky with some clouds, surrounded by a garden with trees and greenery, and a decorative gate with an arch.

Our project is featured in The Connection, Laurel Hill’s newsletter.

Images of logs and lumber in a woodworking and construction setting, including a crane lifting a log, a bulldozer, cut lumber, and wooden beams.

The benches arrived! A 200-year-old damaged oak has been repurposed into beautiful benches for our project. We love the wood’s character and are happy that this tree will continue to serve the landscape for decades to come. Photo Credit Frank Mielkie

Photograph of a memorial wall with names engraved, featuring three potted trees and a man planting a new tree in a large pot, with a landscaped garden area.

From a quick sketch to a seasonal vignette.

It’s fascinating to see how the envisioned landscape compares with the one that ultimately takes shape. This garden is Phase III of the Chapel and Mausoleum of Peace improvements at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Laurel Hill was founded in 1836, as the second rural cemetery in the U.S. Today Laurel Hill is an accredited arboretum and the first cemetery in the U.S. designated as a National Historic Landmark.