Common Butterflies of the Central Great Plains

Common Butterflies of the Central Great Plains

June is the time of year when a lot of our common butterflies start visiting the garden. We do have a plethora of butterflies, and some of them are quite spectacular. But many species are less likely to be seen or even known by many gardeners. There are 41 species of common butterflies found in […]

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Biodiversity for Birds, Butterflies, and Bees (And More)

Biodiversity for Birds, Butterflies, and Bees (And More)

Adding biodiversity to your yard and garden means an increase in all types of life. But what do I mean by “adding biodiversity”?. And what is biodiversity? Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem. And you add to it by adding what you life you can. For gardeners this […]

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Soft Landings – Protecting Pollinators With Plants

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 […]

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Thistles – The Good and Bad

Thistles – The Good and Bad

Thistles often get the worst reputation, because many are invasive in pastures and lawns. But did you know there are several native thistles which are important parts of the native ecosystem? We will go over the various thistles, both natives and nonnatives. It is always important to distinguish between the two, since there are insects […]

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Butterfly Lovers Buffet Plants

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 […]

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Maintaining The Butterfly Garden

Maintaining The Butterfly Garden

It feels strange to not do anything in the butterfly garden, but that is exactly the best thing to do. At least, as long as you have no invasive insects or plants. June is the month of flowers, bees, and butterflies, at least here in Northeast Kansas. It used to be “April showers bring May […]

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The Author’s 5 Favorite Trees for Leps

The Author’s 5 Favorite Trees for Leps

What are leps? Leps refers to Lepidoptera, aka moths and butterflies. I love moths, and butterflies too. So I am always looking to add trees, shrubs, and perennials to my landscape which are great for them. With trees, it is hard to find very many that are great for butterflies. Moths yes, some trees are […]

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How To Protect Monarch Butterflies with Gardening

How To Protect Monarch Butterflies with Gardening

Recently classified as an endangered species by the International Union For Conservation of Nature, the monarch butterfly is one of our most recognized insect species. For decades, gardeners, biologists, and entomologists have been watching the decline of these butterflies and pushing to get them on the list. But what does it mean to be on […]

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