Top Plants for Bees/Butterflies: June-July
Seems everywhere I go these days I hear about pollinator gardens, bee-friendly plants, and bee gardens. Everyone is finally getting into planting for bees and butterflies and not just to make their home look nice. Although it is easy to do both, have a nice looking landscape and have pollinator friendly gardens. So what pants […]
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is right around the corner, this corner to be exact. When I think back on all the things that my mom has done for me and is still doing for me, I think also of the ways in which she has influenced my life. When I go home, we walk and discuss the […]
Blooms on the Rise
Spring HAS finally come, and many trees and flowers are beginning to bloom. After waiting through snow and cold in April, we are going to have one great show of color, with many flowers blooming at the same time. Now is also a great time to plant strawberries and asparagus. For those who were wondering […]
Our Garden Buddies
While cleaning out some landscape beds this past week, we came across one of our favorite garden helpers, a skink. This little guy was quite surprised by our removal of his cover of leaves from the garden. I was able to handle him gently for a photo and then replaced him to his burrow. He […]
Spring Planting Time!
Spring is right around the corner, the days are getting warmer and we are starting have some spring storms. Now is the time to be planting your early spring vegetables in the garden. While most people think of St. Patrick’s day for planting potatoes, it is also time to be planting other things. I prepared […]
Fritillary Butterflies
Frititllary butterflies are one the most common butterflies in spring in Kansas. These showy fliers can be seen flitting among the early summer wildflowers on the prairie and in home landscapes. They are fond of milkweeds and thistles as nectar sources, along with many other native and introduced flowers. Here are the types seen in […]
The Ohio Buckeye
The Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is not what most people think about when they think of spring in Kansas, or maybe anywhere. Most think of the bulbs of Holland, planted here or there in a landscape bed, or the redbuds of the oak-hickory woodlands of eastern Kansas. However, here in the northeast corner of the […]
Year In Review – Diseases & Abiotic Disorders
What a year for diseases! With a cool, wet spring, followed by a warm, dry summer, and then into a cool, wet August, we have had a myriad of diseases popping up in landscapes. I also saw a few abiotic problems on trees-damage done by homeowners unknowingly. We are here to help you learn what […]
Year In Review – Insects
This year brought a new look at some insects I had seen little of in the past, and some outbreaks of major pests. I love insects almost as much as I love plants and I love photographing them-though it can be difficult with just smartphone! I will not show the over 1000 photos of insects […]
