Purple Flowers of the Mint Family
Purple flowers are very popular among insect pollinators. Especially those of the mint family. The 5 plants from the mint family that are landscape and garden favorites are as follows: hummingbird mint (agastache species), Catmint (Nepeta species), Perennial Salvia (Salvia species), Russian Sage (Salvia yangii), and Lavender (Lavendula species). Looking closely at the flowers and […]
Baptisia – May Plant of the Month
Baptisia is our May Plant of the Month. May is a month of beautiful flowers, of trees, shrubs, and perennials in the central Great Plains and Midwest. Our gardens are loaded with many wonderful blooming plants. So why choose baptisia over all the others? Also known as blue false indigo or wild indigo, this native […]
5 Easy to Grow Perennials that are Underused
There are 5 easy to grow perennials that are vastly underused in our landscapes. As a landscape maintenance foreman, I travel across Northeast Kansas and Southeast Nebraska. While doing so, I observe multiple landscapes and their plantings. What I have found is that most landscapes use the same plant pallette, though different cultivars. It is […]
Attracting Hummingbirds to the Garden
Attracting hummingbirds is one of nearly every gardener’s dream. We all want these brightly colored, quick-moving birds flitting about in our gardens. Watching them sparring over mates and territory in the summer is as fascinating as watching the sunset in the Flint Hills of Kansas. But how do we attract hummingbirds to the garden? Can […]
Coneflowers for the Garden
Coneflowers have long been one of the most widely planted flowers in our gardens. I have seen an explosion of cultivars in the last 15 years, making it very difficult to choose which to grow. It seems as if you get a favorite, then its pulled for a new color and size. But, with so […]
Mallows in the Garden – Tropical Additions
Mallows in the garden can create a tropical-like atmosphere, if used correctly. I like to use the shrubs, perennials, and biennials that grow well in my region to create the desired look. Once they are in place, I can look to adding non-hardy tropicals such a palms and elephant’s ears to my garden experience. The […]
Hostas – Growing for Success in Shade
Hostas are one of America’s favorite shade garden plants. We have seem to have a love of plants and shade, and so hostas fit right in. There are some 6100 registered hosta cultivars across the world. They originate from Northeast Asia, mainly from Japan, China, and Korea. Being successful with hostas is a lot easier […]
Lenten Rose – March Plant of the Month
The Lenten rose is not a rose at all, but rather a member of the buttercup family. This family also includes such plants as anemones, clematis, and delphiniums. Native to southern and central Europe, Lenten roses have long been a part of traditions around the Lenten period. Lent is the period of 40 days from […]
Definitions of Common Gardening Terms
There are many words used in gardening posts and blogs that people may not know the meaning of. Well, this post is the place to be if you really want to know what something mean. I will be defining to the best of my knowledge (and a dictionary) the following terms. Enjoy and I hope […]
