Something strange is happening to the Arboretum coneflowers… Several of the coneflower areas are showing odd protrusions, misshapen flower heads, stunted growth, and satellite flowers growing out of the disc. Unfortunately, these are all symptoms of a syndrome called Aster yellows. A Terminal Plant Disease Aster yellows is caused by a bacterium known as phytoplasma. […]
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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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Side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) from the grass family (Poaeceae) is the Kansas Native Plant Society 2026 Kansas Native Plant of the Year. Side-oats grama is an important perennial bunchgrass species of the mixed-grass and tallgrass prairies and it can be found in every county of Kansas. This 1-3’ tall sun-loving, drought tolerant warm season grass […]
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A ragged-looking leaf on our precious garden plants sets off alarm bells for most people. But why? I think this instict arises from the agrarian roots of human civilization. A threat to our plants, at one time, was a threat to our very survival. If an insect ate our crops, our town or village might […]
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The asters have been blooming prolifically this fall, probably due to the mild weather and frequent rains we have had. While we have many species of asters on our grounds, the newest additions are a hybrid type called ‘Thunderdome’, introduced in 2023 by Intrinsic Perennials. Read on to learn about this new aster, its origin […]
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When Ron and Kathy Smith moved to Newton from California, they had a bit of garden trouble. “If I just looked at stuff wrong, it died,” said Ron of his first attempts at landscaping. The growing conditions were totally different than what they were accustomed to. The Kansas climate was much more extreme, and the […]
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