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 […]
Plants for the Autumn Garden
With the year finally beginning to wane, we are looking forward to the changing of the leaves and prepping for winter. However, before we put our tools away for good, we need to assess and evaluate our current gardens. Then we can decided which perennials and grasses would be beneficial for autumn color. Pollinator Plants […]
Coming Soon – Plant of the Week
Starting in March, we will be showcasing a different plant of the week, each week until mid-November. Our team has picked from their favorite annuals, perennials, grasses, shrubs, and trees. We have also decided to showcase some of our best sellers and some award winners as well. I tried to format each week’s plant pick […]
Year in Review – Annual Color Program
What a year this has been! We have had a lot of ups and downs with the weather, and a long dry spell through the summer. The annuals we put in have had to be tough and most of them looked awesome through summer and late fall. I did not get very many photos of […]
Mums the Word
Autumn is here! After spring, this is my favorite time of year. Hayrack rides, fall potlucks, the bounty of gardens spilling across the table, jelly making, and my family’s annual pumpkin carve party brings in the bounty of the autumnal season. And of course, chrysanthemums blooming! Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, are a favorite part […]
Landscape Maintenance: The Who, Why, What, and When
When friends and neighbors ask me what I do for Grimm’s Gardens, I have a difficult time explaining my job. As the landscape maintenance foreman, I have a job that entails much attention to detail, a vast knowledge of plant life and growth stages, electrical and plumbing maintenance, and a willingness to work in all […]
Prairie Plantings: Improving your Quality of Life
There something so simple and calming about the prairie. Growing up in north central Kansas, I knew too well the heat and drought of the plains states. Even in the shade of the wooded creek bottoms near our house, it was sultry and hot. Later, when I lived in Manhattan, KS, a quiet walk on […]
How to Cut Garden Flowers for Floral Arrangements: Fall Floral Design
Ever wonder how to use your landscape to create beautiful floral designs? Follow the step by step guide in this second edition of How to Cut Garden Flowers for Floral Arrangements. (See first edition here) Materials: Vase Scissors Permission to cut plants in the landscape Water 6 or 7 stems of Miscanthus (Maidenhair) Grass 1 […]
Using Native Grasses in the Landscape
Native grasses have always fascinated me. Living in the Great Plains, and growing up in the Smoky Hills Region of Kansas, I got to find grasses from two separate ecoregions. The tall grasses of the east and short grasses of the west seemed to collide in my backyard. Now, I use native grasses and sedges […]