Flora

The Flora category honors the plant life that shapes and sustains Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary. Native shrubs, wildflowers, thicket species, medicinal plants, food forest guilds, and botanical companions all form part of a living landscape designed for ecological restoration and spiritual reflection.

Plants are teachers. Through them we learn about succession, resilience, cooperation, and interdependence. Native wild plums, serviceberries, pawpaws, hazelnuts, hawthorn, prickly ash, dogwood, and countless other species contribute to layered habitats that support insects, birds, mammals, and humans alike.

Many posts highlight native plant restoration and the importance of preserving species that are disappearing under industrial agriculture and development. Others explore edible and medicinal uses, seasonal changes, and the beauty of blossoms, fruit, and seed.

At Crossing Hedgerows, flora is both practical and symbolic. The thicket shelters wildlife. The blossom feeds pollinators. The fruit nourishes community. The pattern of growth reflects divine geometry written into creation itself.

In this category you will find plant spotlights, photo journals, ecological insights, and reflections from the forest — all rooted in gratitude for the green world that sustains us.

A Current View of the Woods

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:31:02+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

A current view of the woods... 🌸Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC

Lady’s Mantle: The Alchemical Chalice

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:17:10+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

One of the herbs we have in our Paw Paw, Aronia Berry guild is Lady's Mantle. She is one of the magical flora of the Druid tradition. "One of the most striking characteristics of this graceful plant is the way its leaves gather dewdrops. During the night the leaves fold like umbrellas, opening in the morning to reveal their watery treasure.Dew has been considered to have magical properties since ancient times, when in the Celtic lands maidens were ...

Honeyberries

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:31:01+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

Honeyberry Flowers with Bumblebee by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC taken on 5/2/22I'm sure I could feature a different plant each day of the year and still not cover all of the various ones at the farm and sanctuary. And the same goes for the pollinators and various wildlife. So I'll share a little about Honeyberries (Lonicera caerulea) today, and hopefully you will enjoy it. :)The honeyberries, which are a type of honeysuckle with edible berries, are flowering ...

Virginia (White) Bluebells

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:17:09+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLCAnother wildflower currently blossoming at Crossing Hedgerows is our white Virginia Bluebells. This plant was given to us by our friend Gary Urick, along with the Aconite which was mentioned in a previous post. According to the University of Wisconsin Horticulture, regarding Virginia Bluebells: "It is considered threatened in its native range, primarily because of habitat destruction and the prevention of natural flooding of rivers, and is increasingly found only in isolated locations." "The flowers ...

Biodiversity at Crossing Hedgerows

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:17:08+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

One of the exciting aspects of the farm and sanctuary is the incredible diversity of plants and wildlife that has been encouraged to flourish - partly as a result of re-wilding, and partly as a result of purposeful planting. I have shared some tidbits about this in the past, and thought it would be fun to continue to do so.In that spirit... here are a couple of plants that are popping up around the farm currently. MotherwortCatnipI chose these ...

Despite the Cold

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:30:58+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, Musings|

Though we are having a bit of a cold snap this week, there are still plenty of signs of spring. The daffodils, crocuses and tulips are starting to come up, and the garlic that was planted this past fall has sprouted. We've grown garlic here off and on since 2014, so I thought you might enjoy seeing a few pictures of previous years' plantings and harvests.Garlic Sprout - April 5, 2014Garlic beds on June 18, 2015 - you ...

Winter Aconite

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:17:05+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

Taken March 2, 2021One of the earliest flowers to bloom here at Crossing Hedgerows is Winter Aconite. It gives a splash of color in the late winter and early spring, and provides some of the first pollen and nectar for the pollinators. We planted it a couple of years ago, and it would be wonderful to plant some snow drops along with it as they blossom about the same time. So far it is only this tiny patch, ...

Chickens in the Springtime

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T21:49:05+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Flora|

For those who are counting down the days until spring, I think the chickens are going to be just as happy! Here they are happily foraging at Beltane in May of 2018. Violets and dandelions are healthy herbs for people and chickens alike. 😀 violets and dandelions, Luna, Penguin and Flame - Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC I hope you are all doing well! Jean

Cardinal Season

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:30:50+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Flora|

Cardinals and Forsythia BushThis is the time of year when we see whole flocks of cardinals around the farm and sanctuary. Today we have a fresh covering of snow and the cardinals are so beautiful against the white (and dull greens and browns) of winter. Five cardinals (three males and two females) in a cedar treeBirds are a high priority for us at Crossing Hedgerows. Many of the perennial trees, bushes, and herbs we have planted are not ...

Cedar, Juniper, and Sage Smoke Bundles

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:17:02+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, Musings, News|

Cedar Smoke Bundles made from cedar at Crossing HedgerowsMost of you are likely aware that sourcing of products we use in our spiritual practices are not always ethical. So I won't go into detail about that, but instead I would like to offer some resources to share with you as members of the Sanctuary. For those at the Friends level and above, or those who volunteer at least once a month, you are welcome to harvest Cedar, ...

Speckled Alder

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T04:30:42+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

Unopened catkins, a dried leaf, and buds on a speckled alder branch - January 2019Dried flower "cones" and dried leaves on an alder branch - January 2019Back in 2015, several years before the nonprofit was started, the Cavanaughs were planting quite a few different kinds of trees. We moved to the property in 2013 after having lived in South Florida for 14 years. Many of those years we were learning permaculture design techniques and growing tropical edible ...

Hazelnuts

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T01:50:39+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

Look carefully for the nuts inside the "wrappers" The photos I'm sharing today are from a hazelnut harvest we did last February. This is the time of year when they're ready, but in our experience you can collect them anytime you get around to it, as long as the squirrels don't beat you to it. Our hazelnuts are the wild, native variety which are smaller than cultivars, but their taste ...

Yule Trees 🎄

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T03:08:46+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

For our members at the $25 level, and those at the $10 level who have also been regular volunteers (this includes those who have helped with rituals, helped on the farm, and board members), we would like to offer you the opportunity to come and cut one of our spruces for your Christmas tree. We purposely planted them too close together when we created our wind breaks, so we would be able to harvest some of them ...

Preserving Natural Habitat

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T03:18:47+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

In my last post, I talked about the construction plans for the Sanctuary. I want to make clear that this is part of a larger plan that allows for many wild spaces, much of which will not be touched by the construction at all. The area where we are creating the pond, along with the future building site and food forest, includes about five acres. It was all a cultivated farm field with very degraded and compacted ...

Mushroom Days

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-01T03:30:34+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

The woods have been filled with mushrooms this fall, which is a nice change of pace from the mosquito filled summer. A big thank you to Brennah for once again generously sharing her photos with us.

Wildflowers

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T21:33:21+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora|

For your weekend enjoyment, here are some pictures of a few of the wildflowers now blossoming around the farm and sanctuary. I love how you can walk the same path every day, and it will never be the same walk twice. There is always something different to see in nature. bull thistle New England aster jewel weed boneset goldenrod evening ...

Yesterday’s Gathering

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T22:50:36+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Events & Celebrations, Flora|

We had a relaxing gathering yesterday. It was spent mostly sitting in the shade of a mulberry tree whilst sharing a potluck together. We were serenaded by a catbird, one of which Brennah captured in this photo a few days prior. Gray Catbird by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC According to the Cornell Bird Lab, "Catbirds are secretive but energetic, hopping and fluttering from branch to branch through tangles of vegetation. Singing males sit ...

Catnip and Sunbathing Chickens

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T23:05:38+02:00January 31st, 2026|Birds, Flora, Insects|

Catnip is one of several types of plants we have on the farm to help keep the mosquitoes at bay. There has been a noticeable difference since we've added them to the landscape. Unfortunately, the wilder parts of the Sanctuary, that don't have these plantings, are currently still plagued with the little buggers. Our hens, Amelia, Little Wing, and Chezabu hanging out among some catnip and hops This video shows how much the ...

Portrait Gallery

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-08T23:45:30+02:00January 31st, 2026|Fauna, Flora, Musings|

A recurring theme that is emerging in these posts is the portrait gallery. I occasionally select some of Brennah's photos (with her permission) which highlight the inhabitants of the Farm and Sanctuary. Brennah captures the magic of each of her subjects exquisitely and you are often the first to see her most recent work. A young Kildeer next to the pond Tiger Swallowtail butterfly on Teasel plant A true ...

Joyful June

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-09T01:40:19+02:00January 31st, 2026|Fauna, Flora, Musings|

A few more photos from the Farm and Sanctuary to greet you today. A lone cicada wing found lying in the fire circle, festive nasturtiums in the gardens, and creatures often looked at with annoyance all have their own joyous spirits and beauty. cicada wing by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC nasturtium flower long-legged fly by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography LLC nasturtium flower garter snake ...