Edge Plantings

Edge Plantings

What is the edge? Well, it is the literal edge of the property. In most urban cases, planting along the edge of the property is considered bad form to the neighbor. However, in the rural world having edge plantings means having a separation between you and the neighbors, or a field. My mom’s house sits […]

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Rattlesnake Master – June Plant of the Month

Rattlesnake Master – June Plant of the Month

Rattlesnake master is our 2025 June Plant of the Month. This is one of my favorite native perennials, and for many reasons. The first time I came across this species was in the native plant garden at Kansas State University, while I was going to college there. I spent many hours in that garden, watching […]

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Big Perennials for Sun

Big Perennials for Sun

Sometimes, you need something big in the garden. Usually, gardeners fill large spaces with trees or shrubs. But sometimes that does not work. Say you have a large island bed in the middle of a big open space, and you want color most of the season, but you want it to have the potential to […]

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Best Annuals for Pollinators

Best Annuals for Pollinators

When we think about pollinators, most gardeners see swaths of perennial flowers in bloom, covered in bees and butterflies. But what are the best annuals for pollinators? Here in the Central Great Plains, I continue to expand my list of best annuals for pollinators. As each season progresses, I track insects coming into my garden, […]

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Bee-Mimic Insects

Bee-Mimic Insects

The insect world is a fascinating place. Within it, there are are many which mimic other insects, for a variety of reasons. The Viceroy butterfly for instance, mimics the Monarch in order to trick birds into not eating it. While the Monarch actually tastes bad to birds because of the chemicals its caterpillars ingest from […]

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As the Ash Tree Goes – What Are We Losing?

As the Ash Tree Goes – What Are We Losing?

With the introduction of emerald ash borer into the United States in 2002, hundreds of millions of ash trees have been lost. But what else are we losing with the invasion of this pest? Why are ash trees so important to the landscape of the Unites States and Canada. For years now, we here 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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Native Gardening – A Shift In Styles

Native Gardening – A Shift In Styles

As we continue into the future, native gardening has become more and more popular. I saw this trend coming years ago, when I was doing my internship in Minnesota. But I could not expect the delay it has taken to get here. Even when I was a kid growing up in the Smoky Hills of […]

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Do You Have a Healthy Landscape?

Do You Have a Healthy Landscape?

What exactly is a healthy landscape? Well, that term might mean something different to each one of you. But to me, as an ecological horticulturalist, it means how healthy is the landscaping in regards to overall habitat health. There are a number of factors which relate to whether or not a landscape can be deemed […]

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