Japanese Beetles
Japanese beetles first arrived in Northeast Kansas 4 years ago, and now have a strong foothold to the western wilds. Every year their numbers seem to increase, but then, so do the predators that eat them. Since their arrival, I have seen an exponential increase in tachinid flies and wheel bugs. History of Japanese Beetles […]
14 Common Butterflies of Northeast Kansas
Butterflies are one of the most looked for insects in the landscape, Their colors and flight patterns are observed by amateurs, professionals, and children alike. Everyone loves butterflies. I have a number of field guides for butterflies and for caterpillars, but none that show both caterpillars and butterflies together. There is a decided lack of […]
Controlling Squash Bugs in the Garden
When summer gardening time comes around, my most frequently heard question is: What can I do about squash bugs? Well, let us take a look into the problem and find a solution that will work for most home gardeners. What do we need to know about squash bugs? As we delve into the problem of […]
Perennials for Butterfly Habitats
Perennials can be the backbone of anyone’s garden – they certainly are for mine. I choose perennials that bloom in succession, support native insect populations, are pretty, and attract lots of butterflies! Despite living in Zone 5 in Northeast Kansas, where the weather is constantly changing, I have a very diverse garden. So what are […]
Creating a Butterfly Garden
by Nadine Champlin, Landscape Designer, Owner of Prairie Place Designs, Sabetha, KS Design Consultant for Grimm’s Gardens, Hiawatha, KS Why have a butterfly garden? A Native American legend tells us: “If you have a secret wish, find a butterfly and whisper your wish to it. When you release the butterfly it will carry your wish […]
Flowers for the Kitchen Garden
Kitchen gardens are usually referred to as vegetable gardens. I prefer to call mine the potager garden. Potager is the French word for kitchen garden. This is where you would grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers for use in cooking. Why add flowers? But why should I add flowers to my vegetable garden? Because, adding […]
Growing Lavender
Growing lavender in the Great Plains can be rewarding for gardeners. This aromatic plant can be used for a variety of different things, from soaps to jelly. I have grown lavender for years in my own gardens with great success. Where does lavender grow best? It is a Mediterranean plant and likes well-drained soils Lavender […]
Year in Review: Annual Color
Every year, I review the annual color performance to help decide what plants to plant next year at all my commercial and residential locations. This year was a tough one for annuals; we had winter that stayed around until nearly May, torrential rains of over 25 inches in May, another 20 inches of rain in […]
Kansas Gardener’s Garden June-July
Here is the second part to the garden tour. enjoy the photos and comments! Above you can see my driveway Border Garden. I had to put in this fence to keep visitors from parking too close to the edge of the drop off where the culvert it. I added some of my favorite rustic […]
