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Curved Pebble Bee

Andrew Mitchell

Curved Pebble Bee

The curved pebble bee is our pollinator of the month for August 2026. When I first learned about this curious bee, I was amazed by how it builds its nests. I observed pebble bees on my cup plant ( Sil...

bees native bees native plants natives pebble bees pollination pollinator gardening pollinator of the month pollinators

Aug 20, 2026

Champion Trees

Andrew Mitchell

Champion Trees

I knew about the Kansas Champion Tree Program before I came to Grimm's Gardens, because I was blessed to have a professor of Arboriculture at Kansas State who loved trees. When we went around the grou...

National champion tree arboriculture big trees champion tree program champion trees tree tree care

Aug 13, 2026

Cicadas

Andrew Mitchell

Cicadas

When August hits, cicadas and the annoying sounds they emit become the focus of many who live in the country or have large trees in their landscapes. But did you know that many cicadas emerge before A...

annoying insect cicada cicadas grasshoppers insects locusts true bugs

Aug 6, 2026

Switchgrass

Andrew Mitchell

Switchgrass

Switchgrass is our 2026 August Plant of the Month. This native grass has become one of the landscape industry's top performers thanks to breeding programs. Native from the Rocky Mountains east to the ...

August Grasses Native Grasses Ornamental Grass Switchgrass butterfly hosts host plants panicum plant of the month

Jul 30, 2026

Berries

Andrew Mitchell

Berries

Berries can be one the easiest ways to both add winter interest and attract birds to the garden. With the latest and greatest cultivars coming out more and more, there is a plethora of choices for ber...

Garden Planning Gardening beautyberry berries chokeberry cotoneaster dogwood flowering shrubs landscape design sandcherry serviceberry shrubs viburnum

Jul 23, 2026

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

Andrew Mitchell

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

When choosing the pollinator of the month, I really have not gotten into the whys yet. I just started this last month after reading a similar article in another blog. To choose this month's pollinator...

Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly Gardening butterflies butterfly gardening butterfly hosts pollination pollinator of the month

Jul 16, 2026

250 Years of American Horticulture

Andrew Mitchell

250 Years of American Horticulture

American horticulture certainly started before America's birthday of 1776. But most of the more important events surrounding America's horticulture story happened during the 250 years that our great c...

250 Years of American Gardening America's birthday Garden Answer Gardening Monrovia Organic Gardening burpee proven winners

Jul 9, 2026

Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)

Andrew Mitchell

Bee Balm (Wild Bergamot)

Our 2026 July Plant of the Month is bee balm , also known as wild bergamot and Oswego tea. This native perennial is a favorite for bumblebees and other pollinators throughout the country. Nearly every...

July Mint Family bee balm monarda perennials perennials for pollinators plant of the month pollination pollinator gardening pollinator plants pollinators wild bergamot

Jul 2, 2026

Poison Ivy Control

Andrew Mitchell

Poison Ivy Control

Poison ivy is the bane of nearly every gardener from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Coast. And those living east of the Missouri River have a triple chance of infection with poison sumac and pois...

controlling poison ivy poison ivy poison ivy control poison sumac weeds

Jun 25, 2026

The Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly

Andrew Mitchell

The Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly

The silver spotted skipper butterfly is our June Pollinator of the Month. It is one of the most recognized butterflies in North America. While it can be found throughout the continent, it is most comm...

June baptisia butterflies butterfly gardening butterfly hosts host plants legumes pollinator gardening pollinator of the month skipper butterflies skippers

Jun 18, 2026

The Chelsea Chop

Andrew Mitchell

The Chelsea Chop

When I first heard about this gardening technique, I was probably like many other gardeners, thinking "What is the Chelsea Chop?" This technique was called after the Chelsea Flower Show, which happens...

chelsea chop perennial cutback perennials pruning perennials rejuvenation

Jun 11, 2026

In Defense of Native Plants

Andrew Mitchell

In Defense of Native Plants

Typically, a week in June or the entire month of June is set aside as a month for natives. Native plants that is. The Kansas Native Plant Society has for years petitioned the Kansas Governor to make J...

Garden Planning Gardening Native Grasses butterfly hosts host plants meadow gardening native gardening native plants natives natural gardening pollinator gardening

Jun 4, 2026

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