by An elite approach to Better Homes and Gardens
In the world of professional wrestling, where larger-than-life personalities clash in dramatic fashion, one unlikely voice has emerged as a passionate advocate for sustainable gardening. “Hangman” Adam Page, the anxious millennial cowboy turned outraged outlaw, has become equally famous for his down-to-earth gardening wisdom shared through the growing social media platform, BlueSky.
The Revolutionary Act of Doing Nothing
“Newsflash dumbass, leaves IS plants,” Page declared in his characteristically blunt style when posting a lovely photo of a pile of oak, maple, and beech leaves, among others. But beneath this rough exterior lies a profound understanding of garden ecology that many aspiring garden enthusiasts might benefit from learning.
The practice of leaving fallen leaves where they land isn’t laziness – it’s science. These natural mulch layers provide essential winter shelter for beneficial insects like lightning bugs and butterflies, while simultaneously enriching the soil as they decompose. As our cowboy gardener pragmatically points out, they’re “a pain in the ass to move anyway so just leave them where you can.”
The Joy of Native Planting
Among Page’s favorite plants is bee balm, a flower that is native to the North American Southeast, that attracts pollinators and adds vibrant color to any garden. His commitment to this plant sparked one of his most memorable quips: “If sowing bee balm seeds is a mid-life crisis, I will die at 66.” His enthusiasm is infectious, particularly when it comes to native plants like beautyberry bushes, which he proudly shares will soon become a feast for local birds.
While his intent may have been to share his gardening adventures in a playful way with the wrestling community, it has also given an added benefit of making his gardening advice more accessible for aspiring gardeners and those looking to begin landscaping and cultivation with native plants in their own homes and gardens.
Practical Tips for the Rebellious Gardener
Taking a page out of Page’s ecological approach, here are key practices for maintaining a wildlife friendly garden:
- Leave the Leaves: Rather than bagging fall leaves, use them as natural mulch in garden beds and around trees and garden beds. This provides shelter for insects like lightning bugs (which, with their diminishing numbers, need as much protection as they can get!), as well as a warm blanket of mulch for your soil.
- Plant Native Species: Choose plants that are native to your region that support local wildlife and naturally thrive in your area. Here is one website that may help you locate native plans for your area.
- Create Wildlife Sanctuaries: Allow some areas of your garden to remain “wild” during winter months to protect beneficial insects and provide shelter for small animals. During summer months, you can do the same to invite pollinators to thrive in your yard.
- Protect The Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, birds, bats, a host of other insects, and some small mammals all use pollen in one way or another to grow and thrive. Some use it as a food source, while others may brush up against it while in search of a mate or in building their nests. Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem, in the fertilization of plants, the propagation of seeds, and in the overall health of native ecosystems
- From Ashes to Growth: Like the outraged outlaw, if you find yourself with a small amount of wood ash (in Hangman’s case, perhaps from the ashes of a rival’s burnt childhood home), you can incorporate a small amount of these into your compost piles. These ashes add valuable potassium and lime to your soil, helping to balance pH levels and boost plant growth. Just remember to use them sparingly to prevent raising the pH of your compost too high – even outlaws know the importance of moderation.
- Cowboy Shit: You can also add a small layer of animal manure in your compost bins. Many livestock manures can add beneficial elements like potassium and nitrogen to your compost, which helps replenish the nutrients of your soil and give an additional benefit to your plants as well! If you’re planning on approaching this through your own animal’s waste, here is a detailed site explaining how it works with various mammals. You can also purchase manure in your locally owned and operated gardening stores.
The Future of Gardening Under Bright Blue Skies
From the moment Hangman Page settled into the friendly skies of BlueSky, he warned his followers, “Oh my god you guys are gonna be so pissed when all i do is talk about gardening on here.” But his fusion of wrestling stardom with ecological gardening has created a unique platform for spreading environmental awareness.
This unlikely combination of professional wrestling and gardening wisdom reminds us that expertise can come from unexpected places. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newcomer inspired by a wrestling environmentalist, the message is clear: sometimes the best gardening practice is to step back and let nature do its work.
Just remember: If anyone asks why you’re leaving those leaves on the ground, you can channel your inner Hangman and remind them that “leaves IS plants.”
