Prairie Notes

Plant Profile: Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)

Have you noticed the redbud trees blooming this year?  They have really been putting on quite a show.  For some reason, they have really popped in the landscape this year.  Maybe it’s because they are a stark contrast to the drab landscape that is slowly coming to life. Or maybe it’s because they are a […]

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Saving Butterflies

For more than 20 years, entomologists (scientists who study insects), have reported worrying annual declines in insect populations at the rate of 2% per year. As part of the insect world, butterflies, whose bright colors have enchanted people around the world for centuries, are no exception. Historical records and citizen science data make it possible […]

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Eupatorium Emporium

Stuck inside during the cold days of January and February, I spent some time working on the 2025 Native Plant Guide. It takes many hours to revise the list every year – double check the native ranges, add new species and take off those that are no longer available, and constantly correct my sloppy spelling! […]

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Rest the Water

Over the past few years, I have taken up the hobby of fly fishing.  It has been challenging to say the least.  Learning the basics of casting, choosing the right fly or flies, reading the water and so much more has taken me to new heights of frustration and sometimes elation. Like many hobbies, learning […]

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The Making of a Meadow

One of the lesser known services the Arboretum provides is native landscape consultation and design. We have had the privilege of working with many homeowners who want help creating aesthetically pleasing and ecologically friendly spaces in their yards. These are sometimes small plantings around a mailbox, or huge, multi-layered installations. Each is unique, and staff […]

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