Columnar Trees
What are columnar trees? In short, these are trees that have narrow, upright canopies. They are usually dense in foliage too. Columnar trees have many purposes, even though the average homeowner cannot see it when they visit the nursery. I do not get a lot of requests for these trees, but we always keep some […]
Dandelions
April 4th is National Dandelion Day. What? A day for dandelions? Most gardeners are trying to get rid of dandelions from their yards, and especially their lawns. But there are many who not only see the benefit in them, but also celebrate them. It is true, I do enjoy seeing the bright discs of yellow […]
Legumes for the Landscape
What are legumes? And why do we want them in the landscape? Legumes are plants which produce bean-like pods of seeds and produce their own nitrogen, with the aid of a nitrogen-fixing bacteria. By putting more legumes in the landscape, we can help our gardens flourish and reduce the need for extra, synthetic fertilizers. Nitrogen […]
Butterfly Lovers Buffet Plants
Butterfly lovers should plant a variety of plants, from trees and shrubs, to grasses and perennials for butterflies. But what are some of the best plants to attract butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden? How can butterfly lovers plant such a buffet of perennials, grasses, and other plants to attract the widest variety of […]
Peach Fuzz – The Color of the Year
Peach fuzz is the 2024 color of the year, according to Pantone. Each year, Pantone picks a color as a snapshot in time, trying to connect with our emotions and deep-seated feelings. Peach fuzz is a hue not really pink and not quite orange. It captures our desires to nurture kindness, compassion, and connection, all […]
Medicinal Plants in the Garden
What are medicinal plants? When you think about medicine, what comes to mind first? Probably not plants. But there are a host of plants in the garden which are not only used by the pharmaceutical industry, but are also useful directly by homeowners. Warning: Medicinal plants are both useful and dangerous. This post is meant […]
Native Bees
As the winter turns into February, I begin to really long for spring. And the native bees are the first pollinators to arrive. On dandelions, toothwort, dicentra, and other early spring wildflowers, I see native bees. There are around 4,000 native bees in the United States and about 400 in Kansas. And it may be […]
Evergreen Plants for the Central Great Plains
Evergreen plants can be anything that does not lose its leaves in winter. That would include groundcovers, perennials, shrubs, vines, and trees. But to keep it modest, I will go over some of the trees and shrubs which are evergreen in our region. These are some of the best choices for our area. I will […]
Shade Groundcovers
Shade groundcovers are suited best for areas under, well, shade. But what are groundcovers exactly? Many new gardeners are not sure about the role or purpose of groundcovers in the garden let alone for shade. Shade is any area under trees, overhangs, or structures such as pergolas, which recieves less than 8 hours of direct […]
