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.

Permaculture Farm

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-09T21:00:51+02:00January 31st, 2026|Events & Celebrations, Flora, News|

Along with the Sanctuary land, which includes beautiful woodland and wetland areas with trails, we also operate a permaculture farm and enjoy sharing the farm experience with our members as an added bonus. Today I wanted to give you an update on how the farm is doing with several photos of the annual crops we're growing right now. garlic in the front garden A few of our chickens Basil ...

Multi-functional Plants

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-10T01:42:50+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, Insects|

One of the priorities we have in designing the "non-wild" spaces of the farm and sanctuary is to choose multi-functional plants. In this video, you can see the bumblebees gathering nectar from the blossoms of the comfrey. I've also seen many other pollinators, and even hummingbirds, sipping from the comfrey flowers. Comfrey is likewise a medicinal herb used in salves for healing wounds, and occasionally a tea (for very specific conditions - not to be used long-term ...

Magical May

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

Today's post features scenes from the woods taken during the month of May.Photos by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography. You can find more of her work on Instagram @brennahcavanaugh

A Merry Day in May

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

Today I'm sharing a few photos taken in the woods yesterday. These spring ephemerals don't last long, but while they do, it is magnificent.Our group Member Walk and Bonfire for May will be next Sunday, the 23rd at 2:00 p.m.. And as members, you are also welcome to arrange to come at other times too. If you've had the tour, and know your way around, you can choose to take in the Sanctuary on your own, or ...

Aronia, the Super Berries

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

Ok, I won't go into all the health benefits of aronia berries, but this is another of the perennials we planted that has been incredibly productive. As you can see in the photos, the aronia bushes were only a couple of inches tall when we planted them in 2014, and are now five or six feet tall. Even the very first year, they had started producing berries. Over the years, we've made lots of aronia crumble to share ...

Autumn Olives

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

The fragrance of the Autumn Olive flowers in the springtime is fabulous. It's such a joy to walk back towards the woods and be greeted with their sweet smell rich in the air. The blossoms are now beginning to fade away, but they have been a great source of pollen and nectar for the pollinator insects. Their speckled leaves are now coming in fully, and when fall rolls around, they will produce their yummy speckled berries (which ...

Sunchokes

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

Continuing from my previous post about food forest crops, sunchokes are one of the perennials we've planted around the farmstead area. As you can see, they have a gorgeous flower which blossoms in late summer. They're a type of sunflower with an edible tuber root which can be used similarly to potatoes, though they have perhaps more of a water chestnut consistency. Also they can be eaten raw, sliced up on a salad with a bit of ...

Shagbark Hickory

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

I'd like to highlight in my coming posts some of the many forest crops we have at the Sanctuary. Many we have planted around the Cavanaugh homestead. Others have been planted by birds, wind, and the ways of Mother Nature and we have allowed them to flourish. And some were on the land already when we arrived. The Shagbark Hickory is one in the last category. Hickory trees do not produce nuts every year, so one has to ...

Incredible Abundance

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

There is so much life bursting upon the scene right now, it's impossible to mention it all. Hyacinth and daffodils and tulips are gracing the scene. Rhubarb, Egyptian onions, mint, lemon balm, tarragon, and various other herbs are popping up. The currant bushes, peach and apple trees, serviceberry, and wild plum are blossoming. Mayapples are in their full glory in the woods. These are a few of the many perennials we have planted around the farm and sanctuary. ...

Spicebush

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

One of the main understory shrubs in the woodlands area of the Sanctuary is Spicebush. The photos in this post are ones that Brennah has taken across the seasons showing the blossoms, berries, and fall foliage. She has even captured a shot of the Spicebush Butterfly (which I didn't realize was a thing, but she had identified long ago).I happened upon an excellent description of Spicebush this morning on the Indigenous Landscapes site which I will share ...

All in its Own Time

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

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~ Lao TzuYesterday we had another lovely Member Walk and Bonfire, which I will share some pictures from soon. We had a small ritual in the woods together, while the Red-Winged Blackbirds loudly serenaded us. A big thank you to members, such as Alissa Addy, who have spread the word to friends so that more people can be aware of all that we are offering here at the Farm and ...

Life Emerging

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T05:19:28+02:00January 31st, 2026|Fauna, Flora, Musings|

We are at the time of year where the reptiles and amphibians are stirring, the willow catkins are at their finest, the marsh is at its marshiest, and the leaves and blossoms are beginning to peak out. The territorial battles between the various spring peepers and frogs is deafening when you head back to the woods and towards the wetlands area. I hope you enjoy these photos of late March at the Sanctuary taken by Brennah.Wishing you ...

Pollinator Plants

By Jean Cavanaugh|2026-03-07T05:19:28+02:00January 31st, 2026|Flora, News|

Yesterday we received a batch of seed packets we ordered, so we can add a few more varieties of pollinator plants to the farm and sanctuary. We love wildflowers! Some we will plant this spring and some need to be planted in the fall.Welcome to our new seeds! May they grow well and be happy.Jean

Rotting Logs

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

Excerpt from The Overstory by Richard Powers: The judge asks her to elaborate. Dennis was right It is like talking to students. She describes how a rotting log is home to orders of magnitude more living tissue than the living tree. "I sometimes wonder whether a tree's real task on Earth isn't to bulk itself up in preparation to lying dead on the forest floor for a long time."The judge asks what living things might need a dead ...

Plant Allies

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

One of the many wonderful aspects of the Sanctuary is the wide variety of plant life. (The featured photos are of St. John's wort taken by Brennah Cavanaugh*. We have a couple different varieties of St. John's wort, in fact.) It's exciting to consider all the different sorts of ways we can appreciate these plant friends and share knowledge about them. Thank you for all your wonderful support. We appreciate you so much.Jean * You can find ...