Jesse Dutra Landscape

Swan family going for a dip

Sometimes we get unexpected visitors at our clients pool. Mother and father with six cygnets 🦢

We are offering a lawn alternative program. Start with a small or large area and break the mentality that we need a golf course for a back yard.

There’s only a few spots left for Emily’s Rethinking Lawns talk next week at headquarters at The Head!

Emily spent decades convincing clients to turn their backs on chemicals and pesticides for a healthier approach to lawn care.

She learned every bit of information that was available, and by the grace of her trusting clients, who wanted a healthier way as well, she never allowed synthetic chemicals, or traditional methods to pass through her properties.

There was a lot of trial and error, but lots of milestones too. Emily and her amazing team from Dutra Designs converted, established, and shrunk 100’s of lawns to be safer and healthier for our environment, families, and watersheds.

Come learn something new, see how these projects faired, and see how you can manage your own lawn with healthier practices. As well as multiple methods to reduce your lawn. There is something for everyone!
Register at https://www.westportwatershed.org/product-page/rethinking-lawns-with-emily-dutra

Peace, love and native plants!

With all these cost cuts and tariffs in the news our little helpers of nature are not being heard. Although they may be small and size they are a huge part of what makes our economy and world turn. Please share and let our small friends of nature be heard. 

🐝 More than 22% of native pollinators in North America are at an elevated risk of extinction, a new study released this week suggests. This is especially true for bees, with over one-third of native bee species at risk of extinction. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/03/28/north-america-pollinator-crisis-study/82649992007/

Love the use of these perennials in this garden that we planted designed by Piet Oudolf. Some of the perrinials are rattlesnake master, amsonia and sesleria just the name a few.

Never underestimate the power of nature

Research out of Estonia just lit a spark of hope for those battling chronic Lyme disease. Researchers at Tallinn University of Technology have discovered that compounds found in broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) significantly reduce the survival of Borrelia burgdorferi—the bacteria behind Lyme disease. 💥 “Plantain extracts inhibited bacterial growth, reducing the number of viable bacteria by up to 85%,” the study found. Even more promising? These humble herbs also disrupted biofilm formation—a critical defense Lyme bacteria use to survive. Lead researcher Merike Vaher and her team found that it’s not just one compound doing the work: “The combination of phytochemicals in the extract has enhanced antimicrobial activity.” In other words, nature’s synergy is powerful. This research, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, gives hope that plant-based therapies may one day support those still suffering after antibiotics fail. While it’s not a cure yet, it’s a powerful step forward. 🌿 “The humble plantain plants contain promising bioactive compounds, warranting further research.” Science is catching up with what folk medicine has known for generations. 📢 Share this post to raise awareness and bring hope to those battling chronic Lyme. Our community needs to know that research is finally catching up—and we’re not alone. 💬 Drop the word “link” in the comments if you’d like a link to the full study! #ChronicLyme #LymeWarrior #LymeDiseaseAwareness #NaturalHealing #LymeHope #LymeCommunity #PlantMedicine #HerbalRemedies #BiofilmBuster #PlantainPower #LymeSupport #LymeResearch #HealingNaturally #LymeTreatment #LymeSymptoms #Lyme #LymeLife #ChronicLymeDisease #Borrelia #LymeIsReal #HerbalHealing #LymeFight #ChronicIllnessWarrior #PTLDS #Lymie #LymeHelp #HolisticHealing #FightLyme #LymeDiseaseAwareness

Going back over 10 years ago, planting one of my first natural pools in Cambridge Ma. . 

Its good to know your pest but most of these problems can be avoided if you plant the right plant in the right space and have good soil health.

🌿 Identification of Pests and Plant Diseases
Here, we’ll help you identify the most common issues that can affect your plants so you can take action in time! 🧐✨
✅ Aphids 🪲: Insects that suck sap, causing leaf distortion. Beware of their rapid reproduction! 💧🍃
✅ Whiteflies 🦟: Causes yellowing on leaves and the appearance of fungi due to the honeydew they secrete. 🍯🚫
✅ Botrytis 🌫️: Gray fungus that attacks leaves and fruits, especially in cold and humid environments. 🌧️🍂
✅ Spider Mites 🕷️: These small mites cause spots and weakening of leaves. They prefer warm and dry environments. ☀️🍁
✅ Fungi 🍄: They appear in high humidity conditions, generating black spots on leaves. 🌧️🌱
✅ Mildew/Odium 🌿❄️: Fungal diseases that produce a white powder on leaves, affecting photosynthesis. 🌬️💨
✅ Mealybugs 🐞: Sucking insects that secrete a waxy substance, weakening the leaves. ⚪🌿
✅ Rust 🍂: A fungus that leaves rust-colored spots on leaves, weakening the plant. Act quickly! ⚠️🛑
✅ Poor irrigation 💧❌: An excess or lack of water can cause yellowing and wilting of leaves. 🌞💦

Gets me dreaming of summer a beautiful combination of rose mallow, switch grass and little blue stem.