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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

Whispurr Pink Catmint

Andrew Mitchell

Whispurr Pink Catmint

Our June Plant of the Month for 2026 is Whispurr Pink catmint. Catmints (Nepeta species) hail from Europe and Asia, mainly along the Mediterranean Regions. But they have been widely cultivated and nat...

June catmint plant of the month pollinator gardening pollinator plants whispurr pink catmint

May 28, 2026

Perennial Pollinator Plants

Andrew Mitchell

Perennial Pollinator Plants

Even though the springtime brings warmer temperatures, leaves on everything, and sunshine, the flowers really do not shine until June. But there are still many perennial pollinator plants for gardens,...

April flowering baptisia bees butterflies may flowering milkweeds perennials perennials for pollinators pollinator gardening pollinator plants wasps

May 21, 2026

Japanese Maples

Andrew Mitchell

Japanese Maples

Are you looking for an understory tree for a shady spot in your yard? If so, then consider the Japanese maple ( Acer palmatum ). Despite not being native to North America, these are one of the more ic...

Japanese maple maple trees small trees trees

May 14, 2026

8 Mistakes New Gardeners Often Make

Andrew Mitchell

8 Mistakes New Gardeners Often Make

I started gardening when I was 5 years old, but I can still remember many of the mistakes I made. I am still making mistakes now! They are just different mistakes than the ones which new gardeners oft...

Gardening Organic Gardening garden irrigation gardening mistakes landscaping pruning watering

May 7, 2026

Siberian Iris

Andrew Mitchell

Siberian Iris

Our 2026 May Plant of the Month is Siberian Iris. This perennial hails from Europe and Asia, being widely cultivated since the Middle Ages. There are records of of cultivation of it by Monks in Britai...

Gardening May Siberian iris cottage garden iris perennials plant of the month

Apr 30, 2026

Clematis for the Garden

Andrew Mitchell

Clematis for the Garden

Many gardeners have a love and hate relationship with clematis. They either love it because it blooms so well, or hate it because it will not bloom at all. What camp are you in? I have been blessed to...

Jackman clematis arbor clematis ornamental vines perennial vines pergola sweet autumn clematis trellises

Apr 23, 2026

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