The Importance of Milkweed: The Monarch Life Cycle

Milkweed is essential to the monarch butterfly life cycle. It’s the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs—and the sole food source for hungry caterpillars. Without milkweed, monarchs can’t survive. Planting this native plant supports pollinators and helps protect this...

Native Plants vs. Cultivars vs. Nativars: What’s the Difference?

When planning a New England garden, you’ve probably come across terms like native, cultivar, and nativar. But what do they actually mean—and how do they affect pollinators, local wildlife, and your garden’s long-term health? Let’s break it down.   What...

Grow Milkweed and Host Plants for Butterflies!

When you think of butterflies, you probably picture them fluttering gracefully from flower to flower. But did you know that before they become beautiful butterflies, caterpillars are some of the pickiest eaters in the garden? Unlike adult butterflies, who sip...

Pollinator Friendly Fertilizers: Feed Your Garden, Protect the Pollinators

When you plant a pollinator garden, you’re not just creating a pretty backyard haven — you’re building a vital food source and habitat for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other essential wildlife. But did you know the type of fertilizer you...

Father’s Day Gifts for Every Kind of Dad | Mahoney’s Garden Centers

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Mahoney’s Garden Center (@mahoneysgarden)   Looking for great Father’s Day gift ideas? Mahoney’s has something for every kind of dad—whether he loves to garden, grill, relax outdoors, or care...

It’s Not Too Late to Plant Your Vegetable Garden!

  Still Plenty of Time to Grow While early spring might be ideal for cool-season crops like peas, broccoli, and lettuce, June is prime time for planting summer vegetables. Warm-season favorites like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, beans, and eggplant...

Creating a Pollinator Paradise: Why Water and Shelter Matter

Pollinators are some of the hardest-working creatures in your garden. They buzz from bloom to bloom, helping plants produce fruits, vegetables, and seeds. We often focus on feeding them with nectar-rich flowers, but they also need two other essentials: fresh...

butterfly garden from seed

How to Start a Butterfly Garden from Seed

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing butterflies flitting around your garden, balcony, or even a sunny front stoop, you’re in luck—it’s not too late to get started! Growing a butterfly garden from seed is easier than you think, and you...

Create a Butterfly Garden with KidsGardening

A Fun Activity for the Whole Family Who doesn’t love butterflies? These fluttery little friends bring joy, color, and life to any garden. Planting a butterfly garden is not just a treat for the eyes—it’s a chance to invite your...

Why Native Plants Matter in Massachusetts

On April 1, 2023 Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy signed a proclamation officially declaring April to be Native Plant Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. June is National Pollinator Month and it’s the perfect time to celebrate not only pollinators but...