Plant A Patch : Aromatic Aster -- (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
An exceptional plant for the fall pollinator garden, the showy bluish-purple Aromatic aster blooms are beloved by birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators and they make excellent cut flowers.These asters, that typically grow in a mounded shape 24 inches tall, thrive in full sun and tolerate dry, rocky or clay soils. …
The Not So Secret Life of Bees
Two years ago, when we moved into this house, I planted the beginnings of a butterfly garden. Last summer it didn’t amount to much — the perennials were small and it just didn’t have many winged visitors. There was a little more interest this summer; I’ve had several types of swallowtails, lots of cabbage whites …
Plant A Patch: Wild Ginger -- Asarum canadense
Looking for a ground cover for that consistently moist, totally shady spot where nothing else seems to grow? Wild ginger may be what you are looking for! This moisture loving native perennial is grown primarily for its stemless,heart-shaped, dark green leaves, but also features attractive ground hugging purplish -brown flowers in the spring. …
The Golden Hour Garden
Every now and then it just so happens that you are in the right place at the right time and something extraordinary happens. Bear with me while I explain. The presenter at the last design workshop I attended spent a large portion of the time talking about the importance of light in the …
Plant A Patch -- Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
For a stunning blanket of early spring (April to June) blue blooms that gently sway on drifts of ladder-like stems, plant Jacob’s Ladder in a moist, well-drained and partially shaded location. Its clumping form typically reaches about 15 inches in height and 12 inches in width. It easily self-seeds under the right conditions …
"Fall-en" for Shade Trees
This article was first published November 11, 2017. It has been updated and revised. When you really stop and think about the big picture, planting trees is one of the most important actions you can take for yourself, your community and even the planet. On a personal level, trees provide beauty, promote wellness and …
Plant A Patch -- Prickly Pair Cactus
Bring a taste of the desert to your Midwestern garden by planting some Prickly Pear Cactus. Prickly pear prefers dry, rocky soil in the full sun, but will tolerate other well-drained soil types. Unlike most succulents, this species is winter hardy, although it may tend to wither in the colder temperatures. Prickly pear has …
Fifteen Faux Pas -- The Most Common Landscaping Mistakes
A few days ago I took a minute to sit down, relax and look at my yard. Unfortunately, what I thought was going to be a pleasant experience turned into a disappointing reality check. My early fall yard was awful to look at and as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t honestly blame it …
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