Plant Profile: Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpureum)
Karen Purple praire clover is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the pea family, Fabaceae, that also includes lupines, mimosa, and black locust. It is native to central North America…
Book Review: Let it Rot! The Gardener’s Guide to Composting
Composting is an ancient activity yet here in the 21st century we are still trying to convince people to do it. More and more gardeners are getting into it but…
Drought Tolerant Native Plants: Herbaceous Perennials
All plants need some water during the growing season but some need a lot less than others. If you have an area in the garden that dries out quickly and…
Plant Profile: Two-Row Stonecrop (Sedum spurium ‘Fuldaglut’)
The small rose-red, star-shaped flowers of this low-growing sedum cover the plant in late summer but until then the thick succulent, maroon-tinged, leaves are attractive. In fall when the flowers…
Considerations for Choosing a Grass for a Lawn
Grasses vary considerably in many ways. They look different, require different climatic conditions, tolerate different kinds of use, and demand varying amounts of care. As you choose a grass for…
Plant Profile: Aromatic Aster (Aster oblongifolius)
Asters are always welcome in the fall when other plants are fading, and aromatic aster is one of the last asters to bloom. A profusion of blue flowers with yellow…
Book Review: The Secrets of Wildflowers: A Delightful Feast of Little-Known Facts, Folklore, and History
If you love plants for their own sake, this is the book for you! You don’t have to be a gardener or a naturalist to enjoy all the fascinating information…
Native Plants for Moist Places: Herbaceous Perennials
How many times have you seen in a plant description the phrases “resents wet feet”? or “likes moist but well-drained soil”? Plant roots need oxygen and the water prevents them…
Plant Profile: ‘Bowles Golden’ Sedge (Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’)
The bright yellow new growth of “Bowles Golden Sedge is the perfect plant to brighten up up a moist shady spot. The leaves are actually yellow with green margins but…
Lawn Make-Over: Getting Rid of the Old Turf
No matter how much you value your lawn and lavish time and money on it, bad stuff happens and the time may come when you decide to start over and…