When we think about spring, bearded irises often come to our minds. These resilient harbingers of spring often carry personal meaning for gardeners. Many have been shared and passed down from family and friends through the years. For my family, we have nice yellow and white bearded irises from my wife’s mother. They are beautiful reminders of […]
Read More
Last Monday’s spring equinox marks an interesting time in our calendar. We’re nearly three months into 2023, but following the seasonal calendar, a new year is just about to begin. The spring equinox is a time of paradox – spring is both here and not yet here. Each day, as the Earth turns in its […]
Read More
I have been reminded over the past few weeks about about the importance of keystone natives. There is a growing body of research that touts the benefits of keystone species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses to the food web. According to Doug Tallamy, landscapes without keystone plants will support 70–75% fewer caterpillar species than a […]
Read More
When a new plant is introduced into the market, it is more than just a fancy name. Plant breeders work for years, sometimes decades, to perfect and patent a distinct new plant variety. Sometimes this is the work of hybridization, complicated gene editing or human-aided crosspollination. But other times it starts by finding an interesting […]
Read More
While March can still be cold in Kansas and we can get some significant snow and ice, there are still opportunities to spend time in your garden. Here is a March gardening checklist that will prepare your garden to thrive in the coming year. Prune trees and shrubs This is a perfect time to be […]
Read More
Recently I paused in front of a display at Kauffman Museum in North Newton that featured a pair of whooping cranes and a single Eskimo Curlew. I thought again about the two stories that are told here. A story of loss and a story of near loss The story of the Eskimo Curlew is the […]
Read More
After my Native Plant School class last week, there were several good questions about native grasses that are worth addressing again. Question 1: How do you clean up native grasses in the late winter (Feb-March)? Grasses tend to remain attractive well into winter, providing texture, movement and continuity to the garden. However, they eventually need […]
Read More
This time of year, I am especially thankful for my prairie garden. While the rest of the non-native and plants are looking limp and frozen, many of my prairie plants are standing tall and providing excellent color, texture and shape. Lots of native species even stay green through the coldest days of winter! Stay Cool […]
Read More
As I was preparing for my next Native Plant School class on the Wonderful World of Grasses, I was reminded why I love grasses in the landscape. Here are a few thoughts about why ornamental grasses are such an important component of a successful habitat garden. Versatility There is so many different ways you can […]
Read More
I recently wrote a brief article on purple prairie clover for the newest edition of the Kansas Native Plant Society newsletter and thought it would be relevant to cross-promote on our blog. Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea) is the Kansas Native Plant Society 2023 KansasWildflower of the Year (WOY). Found throughout Kansas, this erect perennial […]
Read More
