This is my favorite time of the year. I love autumn. You can see and feel the changes of the seasons. Prairies turn from green to brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Trees light up the landscape with vibrant fall color. Asters dot the landscape as pollinators search for the last remaining nectar in […]
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Excerpt from Kansas legislation: Whereas, This flower has to all Kansans a historic symbolism which speaks of frontier days, winding trails, pathless prairies, and is full of the life and glory of the past, the pride of the present, and richly emblematic of the majesty of a golden future, and is a flower which has […]
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Our prairie is getting all grown up. The 12-acre prairie reconstruction at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains known as the Prairie Window Project is reaching a noticeably new stage of maturity in its sixth year of growth. Deep root systems have developed to support a matrix of full-size grasses, a variety of colorful wildflowers, and […]
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We just finished our fall plant sale last weekend and I had many people ask if this is a good time to plant. My answer was “No. It is a GREAT time to plant!” In fact, it’s a perfect time to plant just about anything (other than annuals). I don’t know why this fall planting […]
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Lately, I have been watching old Western films. John Wayne always looks so calm and collected. He never sweats, even though he is wearing five layers of clothing. Have you ever wondered why they wear so much when it is so hot? Right now, I wish I had a sprinkler to run through or a […]
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I am always in search of the tough, resilient plants that stand out in any challenging landscape. Certainly, ornamental grasses fit into this category. They are increasing in popularity because of their texture, form/structure and interesting seed heads. Another reason their popularity continues to grow is that they require minimal care and provide year-round interest. […]
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On a recent trip to the Rocky Mountains, I visited the Denver Botanical Gardens. My family rolls their eyes because we always visit some garden while on vacation. They usually have a good time once they are there but their short attention span makes me hustle through the gardens. Anyway, I noticed some interesting native […]
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This is the beginning of a blog from the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains about native and adaptable plants, why they matter, how to utilize them in a landscape, and the beauty of the prairies. We want to have conversations and provide you an opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions about gardening and landscaping […]
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