My Meadow Garden – 3 Years Later
3 years ago I started my Meadow Garden, planting around an existing bed of native plants. I started this bed in order to create a “naturalized” space within my landscape where the only regular maintenance needed is yearly burning and occasional woody plant removal. What has changed in 3 years? How is it going? Is […]
The Kansas Gardener’s Garden – 2024
It is Christmastime again! And you know what that means, it it time to show you my gardens from this year. 2024 was the 9th year of gardening on our property, but that does not mean that things are safe. Gardening is always changing and the garden never looks exactly the same from one year […]
Soft Landings – Protecting Pollinators With Plants
What are soft landings? When I first came across this term at a native plant conference in winter of 2024, I had no idea what it was. And now, I see that I have been using soft landings most of my career, without even planning for it. Soft landings are plant filled places under key […]
Grass-Like Plants
In the landscape, the lawn has become more than just a breaking point for the plants. It has become the most important part for many gardeners. But it is only supposed to be a place to play and run, or as a separation between larger landscape beds. But what is our appeal with grass? The […]
Blunt Mountain Mint – 2025 Perennial Plant of the Year
It is not even the new year and already we have a perennial plant of the year. The Perennial Plant Association has named blunt mountain mint as the one to go get. And we carry it here at Grimm’s Gardens! Blunt mountain mint, also known as clustered or short-toothed mountain mint, is one of 19 […]
How to Create a Pollinator Paradise
How exactly does one create a pollinator paradise? The answer may surprise you. When my wife and I moved into our 5 acre property 10 years ago, it was not my intention to create a pollinator paradise. I just wanted gardens, native plantings, and a place to raise my kids. At the time, we did […]
Bluestem Grasses – October Plant of the Month
Bluestem grasses are our 2024 October plant of the month. What do I mean by bluestem grasses? Well, there are 2 species that are generally considered when talking about bluestem grasses. These are Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). This can get confusing when someone asks for bluestem grasses. You have to […]
Attracting Beneficial Insects to the Garden
What are beneficial insects? Well, I can think of many of them. But I have had a lot of experience. When I think about my garden, whether it is the kitchen garden or the cottage garden, I know that there will be problems. These problems stem from insect pests, fungi, and other organisms. But if […]
Lobelia – September Plant of the Month
Perennial lobelia is our September plant of the month for 2024. These native perennials are some of my favorite flowering plants for the wetland or bog garden. They also make great rain garden plants. Here in the Central Great Plains, there are 4 native species of lobelia, 2 of which can be successfully grown in […]
