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 […]
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 […]
Attracting Bluebirds
My kids just called me to share interesting facts about bluebirds they just learned. Since we started homeschooling in 2018, my kids have the ability to learn at their own rate, on things in the world around them, not useless facts and figures. And learning about attracting bluebirds is one of those things. There are […]
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 […]
New Plants – I Cannot Keep Up!
New plants are always coming down the wire. But there have become so many that I cannot keep up with them! In the past, we have always strived to bring the best product to our customers, from years of trialing in our own gardens and at the arboretum. But now there are so many new […]
Maple Trees
Maple trees are one of the most requested trees in the nursery here at the Gardens. Besides having amazing fall colors, they are durable, wind-tolerant, and fast growing. So maples are king in the tree world. I love maples too, for their color and fast growth rate. And I love maple syrup! But there is […]
Keeping Trees Healthy in Stressful Conditions
Keeping trees healthy can be one of the most challenging things for gardeners. I once heard a colleague from Kansas State University say that trees in Kansas cannot be healthy, because our environment is too tough on them. But there are ways in which you can keep a tree as healthy as possible. There are […]
Callery Pear Says Goodbye
For many years now I have been expecting to say goodbye (and good riddance) to the callery pear. Why? There are a lot of reasons to dislike something, but this tree takes the cake. I will divulge into the origins of this troublesome tree, cultivars, problems, why it is going away, and what to plant […]
Fall Blooming Flowers
When we think of fall, flowers are not the typical idea. Leaves turning colors are what most of thinks about. But there are a number of fall blooming flowers which can certainly add depth and color to the garden. Why talk about it in July though? Because if we are to have fall blooming flowers, […]
