Growing Dogwoods
Dogwoods have become a very important part of our landscapes, even as they have always been important to the natural landscapes around us. Did you know there are at least sixteen species of dogwood native to the United States? Only three of them are tree form. We use one of them quite regularly in our […]
The Honeybee – A Case Against It
The honeybee is one of the most well-known and iconic insects on earth. Especially here in the United States and among gardeners of all types. The honeybee is recognized for its importance as a pollinator, a producer of honey, and for its colony lifestyle. Most schoolchildren know something about it and most adults have formed […]
Blackhawks Big Bluestem – 2026 Perennial Plant of the Year
Surprise! I was totally surprised to discover that the Perennial Plant Association named a grass (Blackhawks big bluestem) as the perennial plant of the year for 2026. Has this happened before? Well, yes it has. Three times before now the PPA has nominated a grass as the perennial of the year. Little bluestem in 2022, […]
Plant Now for Next Year
Why do so many people ask if fall is a good time to plant? If you plant now, in the fall, then you will have much better gardens than planting in the spring. At least, that is how it works for most plants in the Central Great Plains Region of Kansas and Nebraska. Fall is […]
Milkweeds for North American Gardens
Milkweeds are fast becoming one of the most talked about if not grown plants in American gardens. Everyone is joining the effort in adding milkweed in their gardens to help our monarch butterflies. And the monarchs seem to be making a rebound. The 2024 season for the monarch was one of the lowest in 30 […]
Buttonbush – August Plant of the Month
About Buttonbush Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis, is our August plant of the month for 2025. Common throughout the Central Great Plains Region, buttonbush grows east of the high plains of the Great Plains to the Atlantic Coast. It can be found growing wild alongside lakes, rivers, and wetlands, with its feet partly in the water. But […]
Curlycup Gumweed – July Plant of the Month
Our July Plant of the Month for 2025 is Curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa). You have probably never heard of that eh? Well, this little known perennial native is actually quite common across much of North America. The only place it does not grow is along the Gulf States, except for Texas. It is quite common […]
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 […]
Wild Plants for Butterflies
Do I mean weeds? Well, yes. There are a variety of wild plants or weeds, which some of our most beautiful butterflies feed on. And if we are growing only tidy gardens, then we may lose out on seeing those butterflies. I am sure there are some new gardeners here, but many of you have […]
