The ecological garden

The primary quality of an ecological garden is its biodiversity. Drawing on 30 years of research and experimentation in the field, the author answers the questions that arise when getting your hands dirty.

On sunny summer mornings, the number of insects that swarm there surprises anyone who strolls around: hoverflies and wasps forage on buckwheat flowers by the thousands; multicolored butterflies drink the nectar of echinaceas, cornflowers and liatris; bumblebees by the hundreds explore the flowers of cucurbits while bees load their baskets with pollen from the white clover established as ground cover between the vegetables; ladybugs devour all the aphids and mites they flush out; on the strongly veined cabbage leaves, lacewings with bright green wings tirelessly hunt bugs; cicadas hidden in the tall grass around the perimeter of the garden chirp without interruption.

A pair of mockingcats court each other, taking turns singing joyful serenades, while a flock of jays pierce the air with their shrill cries. Toads croak their throats. Rooted in the crumbly, living soil, countless plants unfurl their leaves of infinite shapes and colors to make the most of the sunlight.

Author: Yves Gagnon
Publication date: March 2013
Publisher: Colloïdales
Subject: Gardening
ISBN: 9782981027405