James Dillon

Horticulturist, small business owner, garden designer, husband, animal lover. I believe our gardens can help slow the extinction crisis and soothe our souls.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

#monarch waystation I designed for @MonarchWashCo was approved as a Habitat Success Story by @MonarchsJV.
https://t.co/dultvxfDRh

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

My good friend and musician, Tim, is fighting cancer. Any help would be so greatly appreciated. Please support this GoFundMe by donating or sharing if you can—every bit of help makes a difference. https://t.co/g0LdqngW3i

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

I just donated to Xerces Society Inc! Will you join me in supporting their cause? https://t.co/mWjTnJmLdM

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Help support Foundation of the State Arboretum of Virginia by donating or retweeting. https://t.co/rQvl0CE6qc

[Bill Marchel @BillMarchel]

So many species of birds and mammals relish crab apples, even Ring-necked Pheasants, as demonstrated by this hen. If you landscape for wildlife, I highly recommend including crab apple trees in your plan.

[Grateful Dead @GratefulDead]

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃Grateful for the community of Dead Heads who keep the music and legacy of the Dead alive, sharing it far and wide.

[Wonder of Science @wonderofscience]

A group of butterflies is called a kaleidoscope.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Things will be right in my mind when an expert like @DustinDemmer doesn't have to also maintain the plantings he designs/installs. If landscapers had the knowledge and experience to guide an ecological project with diverse native flora towards success, he could plant more sites.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

My name is James Dillon and I promise to do what I can for the rest of my life to help insects, the backbone of Earth's ecosystems. Seeing Douglas Tallamy's presentation last night has reinvigorated my commitment. Now, off to create another layered garden with native plants...

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Missing this guy!

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

I'm excited to follow and learn from Travis' cover crop experiences.

[Hey Gardener 🌱 @heygardener]

The contrast of fresh green from the winter rye cover crop with the fall leaves seems like magic. ✨

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Heuchera villosa flowers emerge from our study of native ground covers with evergreen foliage. Not seeing much mulch? Exactly.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

This cohousing development views invertebrates as their neighbors too.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

'Winter King' Hawthorn, a favorite of mine!

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Looking back to late June of this meadow's 2nd year. We stack ALL the cards in favor of success. If one thing not perfect (ex. existing vegetation, turf grasses, weeds from the soil seed bank) = totally different outcome. We learned how to do this by attending NDAL symposiums.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

If I were to redo this seeded meadow, I wouldn't change a thing. The absolute key here was beginning with a 100% bare soil situation with essentially zero starting weed competition or weed seed present in the seed bank. Pic 7/26

[Kerria @Kerria]

Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness.

~Leo Tolstoy

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Going through the motions today, feeling crushed. Someone I've played chess with for 100+ Sunday AM's decided to uninvite me after a 10 minute political conversation. No trying to understand the other person, just an end to the beautiful tradition, the friendship. Just like that.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Mystery solved! I'd been wondering what pollinates a Closed Bottle Gentian flower that never opens. Today I found out and was surprised that it was something as large as a bumblebee and that it spent a full minute inside before re-emerging. Nature is just too cool.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

@NatureEnjoyer_ Thank you very much : )

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Haven't seen the Pacific in a long while, was so nice. I pulled my phone out at just the right time to catch this gull soaring by.

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

Another complete front yard removal, yes it's a postage stamp size, but it's gone, 🎶it's gone,🎶📢 the turf's all gone!

[James Dillon @NativeHavens]

where I like to walk in the morning, to connect with nature and get my head right before the day. The Broomsedge makes a straw colored ribbon in the foreground.