What if we threw more shade? 🌿⁠ ⁠ Not the subtle insult kind — the literal kind.⁠ ⁠ In a disrupted ecological world, some of the most powerful relationships in your garden happen in the shadows. Nancy Lawson introduces us to "nurse plants" — species that shelter more vulnerable plants under the safety of a shaded microclimate, sharing moisture, nutrients, and protection while they find their footing.⁠ ⁠ These relationships are everywhere once you start looking. ⁠ ⁠ In Hawaii, 'öhi'a lehua trees germinate in fern stems that supply them with moisture and nutrients. In Mexico, oyamel tree seedlings — the same trees monarch butterflies depend on for overwintering — grow best tucked under shrubs at high elevation. Underground, fungal networks quietly move water and nutrients between plants. Decay feeds new growth. Nothing is wasted.⁠ ⁠ Lawson eventually realized her plants were far better at organizing themselves than she ever was — and decided to follow their lead. Less rigid spacing. Les...