This is the second post in a series, with the first one detailing my visit to the Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries found here. While my main goal in Mexico was to see butterflies, I never pass up a chance to botanize! There were some spectacular flowers in the understory of the Oyamel fir forest, most of […]
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South Central Kansas presents a unique challenge for gardeners: the region’s signature “oven-blast” summer winds and intense sun make shade a sanctuary, but the dense shade under established canopy trees can be a difficult place for typical bedding plants to thrive. Moving toward a native shade garden isn’t just an aesthetic choice; it’s a strategy […]
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The Essential Foundation of the Butterfly Garden Native milkweeds (genus Asclepias) are far more than just roadside weeds; they are the biological foundation of our resilient North American landscape. As the sole host plant for Monarch butterfly larvae, milkweeds provide essential chemical compounds that protect these iconic insects from predators. By integrating native species into […]
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This February I had an opportunity to visit the monarch butterfly overwintering grounds in the Sierra Madres mountains of Mexico. It was AMAZING! Yes, really, it was all-caps level cool. The trip was an absolute dream that I will surely be retelling for years to come. Starting now! Read on for info on the monarchs, […]
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It is hard to find things that will bloom in November. Usually the only things still blooming are asters and witchhazel bushes, but last year the scarlet globe mallow surprised me! The following photos are from November 14th, well into the cool season. It was still going strong and even attracting pollinators. This plant was […]
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