# @ahs_gardening on Instagram - **Type:** Image - **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DWCbNIvk97t - **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/60445555-ahs-gardening-instagram - **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/864fad1048.jpg - **Posted:** 2026-03-18T19:42:03.000+00:00 - **Account Owner:** American Horticultural Society | American Gardener Magazine (@ahs_gardening) β€” https://gondola.cc/ahs_gardening ## Caption What if we threw more shade? 🌿⁠ ⁠ Not the subtle insult kind β€” 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" β€” 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, 'ΓΆhi'a lehua trees germinate in fern stems that supply them with moisture and nutrients. In Mexico, oyamel tree seedlings β€” the same trees monarch butterflies depend on for overwintering β€” 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 β€” and decided to follow their lead. Less rigid spacing. Less obsession with light requirements. More trust that vulnerable plants do better with companions than alone.⁠ ⁠ Your garden already knows what it's doing. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of the way. 🌱⁠ ⁠ Read Nancy Lawson's "Gardening with Wildlife" column β€” current and past issues β€” at ahsgardening.org.⁠ ⁠ Not a member yet? Join at ahsgardening.org/join for full access to American Gardener magazine.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ Writer: Nancy Lawson (humanegardener) ⁠ Photographer: Unsplash, Erda Estrenera; Unsplash, Tatyana Rubleva ⁠ ⁠ #gardeningwithwildlife #sustainablegardens #americanhorticulturalsociety #ahsgardening #americangardener #throwinggoodshade #nurseplants #vulnerableplants #shadyplants #nancylawson #ohialehua #oyameltrees #gardentips #gardenlife #wildlife ## Stats - **Views:** 0 - **Likes:** 60 - **Shares:** 0 - **Comments:** 0 ## Tags americangardener, throwinggoodshade, gardenlife, ahsgardening, oyameltrees, nurseplants, ohialehua, sustainablegardens, nancylawson, americanhorticulturalsociety, gardeningwithwildlife, gardentips, shadyplants, vulnerableplants, wildlife --- Copyright (c) Gondola